Did you know that the Catholic Church is the oldest institution to exist in the Western world? The Catholic Church has a history that spans over two thousand years, and it began with none other than Jesus Christ himself. At least, that is what modern popes believe. But at first, there was just one church, and there was no division between Catholics, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, and other branches of Christianity. Christians all over the known world were united, and together, they made their spirituality bloom. Their religion took over the lives of villagers, nobles, kings, queens, and even newly-arrived pagan armies that came to conquer Europe. This book strives to give a simplified answer to the complex question of the Catholic Church's existence. It deals with the topics of the foundation of the church, its legitimacy, papal supremacy, authority, and the church's right to dominate the spiritual lives of people. But to answer these philosophical questions, we have to dive into the history of the Catholic Church and touch on topics such as the existence of Jesus Christ, the persecution of Christians, the development of monasteries, and the Catholic dominance over the church. The long existence of the Catholic Church makes it one of the most interesting institutions to observe through the lens of history. This book will attempt to treat Christianity and the Catholic Church objectively. The many successes and victories that the Roman Catholic Church achieved are recognized in the pages of this book, as well as its flaws, defeats, and scandals it caused. Continue reading Catholic History to find out: How Christ built the church on the rock that is Saint Peter Learn about Christianity during the age of Apostles How the first monasteries came to life Why Christians were persecuted through the ages How one emperor embraced the faith and legalized it The Great Schism that divided the Christians How the pope founded the Holy Roman Empire How emperors asserted their authority over the church Why Martin Luther revolted against the church Who started the reform of the church Who were the Jesuits, Jansenists, and Gallicans How the church survived the Age of Reason How the French Revolution influenced the papacy How liberal Catholics rose to power Why Pope Pius IX issued his famous Syllabus of Errors How the Catholic Church developed outside of Europe and traveled to the Americas What the role of the church is in the modern world and how the popes changed the conservative views of the medieval church into democratic and liberal ones Scroll up and click the "add to cart" button to learn more about catholic history!