Who really was Jesus Christ? How did Christianity spread around the world? And how has Christian belief changed over the last 50 years? Providing the answers to these and many other questions, this book charts the 2,000-year-long history of the world's largest religion. This richly illustrated overview covers everything from the world of the Old Testament to Christianity in the 21st century, including topics such as the early martyrs, the birth of the monasteries, the Crusades, the Reformation, and the rise of the Church in the Americas and Africa. It examines the wide-ranging beliefs and doctrines found within the Church, and illuminates the role Christianity plays in ordinary people's lives. With its fresh, highly visual approach, this book introduces the key events, figures, and movements that helped shape the Church.