Christianity developed from Jewish traditions and the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Gospels written by Jesus' followers tell of his life, teachings of compassion, and that he was sentenced to death by crucifixion. Christianity spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire due to missionaries appealing to concepts of salvation and equality. It faced persecution until Emperor Constantine ended it in 313 AD. Today, Christianity exists in three main forms: Catholicism, Greek Orthodoxy, and Protestantism.

1. Christianity Development, Teaching, and Spread of the Religion