How did a small, persecuted Jewish sect from a remote province transform the greatest empire the world had ever known? The Roman Empire's conversion to Christianity is one of history’s most influential moments that reshaped the very soul of the West. This eight-lecture journey traces the often turbulent process that turned a pagan empire into the foundation of medieval Europe. We’ll move beyond simple tales of conversion to explore a gripping story of clashing worldviews, political opportunism, spiritual fervor, and astonishing adaptability.

*Note: This course approaches Christianity as a historical subject. We will explore how and why Christianity spread throughout the Roman Empire using historical sources and scholarly analysis, without seeking to promote or evaluate religious beliefs.

The module will follow an 8-session structure as shown below:

Outline	8-Session Structure
Week 1	Session 1: A World of Many Gods: Pagan Rome Meets a Jewish Sect
	Session 2: The Offensive Faith: Why Christianity Was Different
Week 2	Session 3: Seeds in the Cracks: Growth and Adaptation in the Second and Third Centuries
	Session 4: The Imperial Convert: Constantine and the Cross of Victory
Week 3	Session 5: From Faith in Caesar to Caesar's Faith: The Christian Empire Takes Shape
	Session 6: City of God vs. City of Man: Collapse and Reinvention
Week 4	Session 7: The Christian Landscape: Rites, Rivalries, and the Erasure of Paganism
	Session 8: The Imperial Church: Justinian's Dream and the Legacy of a Baptized Rome