Course Faculty
Dr. David Santos, PhD
Associate Professor of Applied Faith
HIST1201 provides a comprehensive survey of the history of Christianity from the time of Jesus and the Apostles through the late Middle Ages, culminating in the threshold of the Reformation. The course examines the historical, theological, and sociopolitical contexts in which Christianity developed, spread, and evolved. Major topics include the early Church under Roman rule, the formation of doctrine and biblical canon, the rise of Catholic Christianity, theological controversies and councils, the role of monasticism, the relationship between church and state, and key figures such as Augustine, Gregory the Great, Charlemagne, Thomas Aquinas, and Erasmus.
Students will explore critical themes such as the struggle for orthodoxy, the influence of empire and culture on Christian development, the impact of persecution and heresies, and the emergence of reform movements. The course also addresses the major schisms, medieval theological developments, and preReformation challenges that set the stage for the Protestant Reformation.
Through lectures, readings, and discussions, students will engage with primary and secondary sources to critically analyze the historical trajectory of the Church and its theological foundations. By the end of the course, students will have a deeper understanding of the Ch examines the history of the ancient world through study of the emphases of each book of the Greek New Testament and focusing on the history of each and relating each book to the larger picture of New Testament history