The First Thousand Years

A Global History of Christianity

By: Robert Louis Wilken

Narrated by: Bob Souer

Length: 17 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

How did a community that was largely invisible in the first two centuries of its existence go on to remake the civilizations it inhabited, culturally, politically, and intellectually? Beginning with the life of Jesus, Robert Louis Wilken narrates the dramatic spread and development of Christianity over the first thousand years of its history. Moving through the formation of early institutions, practices, and beliefs to the transformations of the Roman world after the conversion of Constantine, he sheds new light on the subsequent stories of Christianity in the Latin West, the Byzantine and Slavic East, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Through a selected narration of particularly noteworthy persons and events, Wilken demonstrates how the coming of Christianity set in motion one of the most profound revolutions the world has known. This is not a story limited to the West; rather, Christian communities in Ethiopia, Nubia, Armenia, Georgia, Persia, Central Asia, India, and China shaped the course of Christian history. The rise and spread of Islam had a lasting impact on the future of Christianity, and several chapters are devoted to the early experiences of Christians under Muslim rule. Wilken reminds us that the career of Christianity is characterized by decline and attrition as well as by growth and expansion.

©2012 Robert Louis Wilken (P)2020 Tantor

wide ranging history

Unlike several other introductory books that I have read, Wilken devotes time and chapters to churches in Egypt (and I did not know that Copt is derived from Aegyptis with the first and last syllables dropped), Armenia, Spain, North Africa and China amongst others. While the title refers to Christianity, singular, Wilken shows that different churches had different beliefs on dogma, dating, and which books are canonical. Unlike some other reviewers, I did not find Wilken to be judgmental (although every work possesses some subjectivity), nor did I find it hard to follow. The latter may be because I listened to the Audible version for which Bob Souer did a very good job. The only parts that lagged for me were the sections on art and aechitecture (and music to a certain extent). For these topics, pictorial representations would have helped immensely. After all one picture is worth a thousand words, and I presume that the book does include illustrations.
But even those sections were good while the rest was tremendously intriguing. This is not a short introductory work, but pruning any of it would be a mistake. The best work that I have read on the subject.

Excellent: Best Early Church History book I’ve read

This is easily the best early Church history history book I’ve read. I have a history degree and currently at a seminary. I am well read in church history, and I am currently taking a class on church history. The author goes into great depth that many other church history books merely gloss over as unimportant.

The author provides an in-depth and charitable view of the early church, while not staying away from the controversies and political character of the early church after Constantine.

I greatly appreciate how the author focused on Christianity in Persia, India, China, and Africa. This is often overlooked, but it is essential to understanding the spread and character of Christianity. If you are looking for a history of Christianity in regions outside of Europe, this is a great place to start.

The in-depth discussion on Islamic belief and practice was also illuminating. The author was respectful towards Islam and was careful in describing their spread and treatment of Christians under their rule. It was refreshing to see a scholar treat the spread of Islam and not portray them as a menace.

I cannot recommend this book enough. This should become a standard for church history courses.

A very approachable historical book

I was able to learn so much through this reading! I could not listen at times for more than 30 minutes because I was curious about more information on that chapter. This book has peaked my interest in many “new” parts of church history that I was unaware of before listening! I can’t wait to continue my early church history knowledge as I dive in deeper to areas discussed in this book.

Excellent Summary!

Very unbiased presentation of the history of the early Christian which does not go into too much detail. Great entry book for those wading into church history.

excelent book

I enjoyed this book very much , well written and well narrated , highly recommended for anyone interested in early Christianity ..