Christian history begins with Jesus of Nazareth, a Jew who was born in a small corner of the Roman Empire.
Little is known of his early life, but around the age of 30, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and had a vision in which he received the blessing of God.
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After this event, he began a ministry of teaching, healing, and miracle-working.
He spoke of the "kingdom of God," condemned religious hypocrites and interpreted the Mosaic Law in new ways.
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He spoke before crowds of people, but also chose 12 disciples whom he taught privately.
They eagerly followed him, believing him to be the long-awaited Messiah who would usher in the kingdom of God on earth.
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After just a few years, however, opposition mounted against Jesus, and he was ultimately executed by crucifixion by the Romans. (Occupied State)
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Most of Jesus' followers scattered, dismayed at such an unexpected outcome.
But three days later, women who went to anoint his body reported that the tomb was empty and an angel told them Jesus had risen from the dead.
The disciples were initially sceptical, but later came to believe. They reported that Jesus appeared to them on several occasions and then ascended into heaven before their eyes.
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The remainder of the first century AD saw the number of Jesus' followers, who were soon called "Christians," grow rapidly.
Instrumental in the spread of Christianity was a man named Paul, a “zealous Jew” who had persecuted Christians, then converted to the faith after experiencing a vision of the risen Jesus.
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Taking advantage of the extensive system of Roman roads and the time of peace, Paul went on numerous missionary journeys throughout the Roman Empire. He started churches, then wrote letters back to them to offer further counsel and encouragement. Many of these letters would become part of the Christian scriptures, the “New Testament."