Examine the profound impact of the Crusades with acclaimed Church historian and bestselling author Christopher Bellitto.Few events have affected the course of civilization as profoundly as the Crusades, a centuries-long period of violent conflict and competition between Islam and Christianity. The Crusades brought destruction and violence to the third monotheistic faith of Judaism as well. Resurfacing frequently in present-day political conversations about clashes ...

John Paul II was truly a pope for the ages. Join celebrated Church historian Christopher M. Bellitto as you embark on a fascinating journey through Saint John Paul II’s life and legacy.John Paul II: Understanding His Life, Faith and Legacy takes you on a behind-the-scenes look at the pope''s life, powerful writings, and ideas of faith, both specifically for Roman Catholicism and the world at large. The first non-Italian pope in hundreds of years, John Paul II was also the ...

Who was Alexander the Great? Was he a brilliant, ambitious conqueror or a self-obsessed leader who put his men in harm’s way? A divine figure or a god in his own mind? In this audio course, join acclaimed historian Christopher Bellitto to explore this famously complex figure.Alexander the Great (ca. 356-323 BCE) was a Macedonian general who brought Greekcivilization to the edge of modern-day India. After studying the Iliad, he believed himself to be Achille...

The year 2017 marks the five-hundredth anniversary of the Reformation, if that event is dated from the posting of Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses. Admittedly, 2017 is an arbitrary and somewhat artificial milestone. Nevertheless, anniversaries can be special occasions that allow for an appreciation and evaluation of memorable persons and events. As a number of Reformation anniversaries approach, the historical significance of the Reformation merits increased attention. Employing a variet...

One may read about the "early church" or the "Renaissance popes" without a clear idea of the who-where-when-what-why-and-how of those eras. This easy-to-read volume answers the basic question "what did the Church look like in this particular period?" for the four traditionally recognized eras of Church history: early, medie-val, Reformation, and modern.

No civilization is so intertwined with the history of Christianity, and the greater Western world, as Rome. Now, you are invited to explore ancient Rome’s legacy with award-winning professor and prolific author Christopher M. Bellitto.In this fascinating audio course on the Roman monarchy, republic, and empire, you will explore the essentials of Roman civilization: the creation of a city at the center of world history, its political legacy, its architectural and cu...

Ignite your sense of wonder by exploring medieval history with world-renowned historian Professor Christopher M. Bellitto.Throughout history, humans have created images to understand their relationships with other Christians, the wider world, and God. For medieval men and women, those images came from Christendom. Christianity was the air they breathed: Christian ideas, devotions, and beliefs shaped their perspectives and mindsets.With this course, Prof. Be...

Why are we so fascinated by the reformations?The very word "reformation" is shrouded in conflict, bringing to mind new beginnings, partisan church politics, and the dawn of a modern world vision. Indeed, when you hear it, you probably think of a single event—Martin Luther posting The Ninety-Five Theses on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg in 1517.The truth, however, is much more nuanced—and interesting—than that. Join award-winning historian, Prof. Christophe...

The relationship between church and state is a powerful thread stitching the medieval era to modern history. Through this captivating course on Charlemagne, you can follow it back to its fascinating inception in the Holy Roman Empire.Join one of the world’s leading Church historians, Professor Christopher Bellitto, in this journey. You will begin this series by unpacking the long history of theocracy outside of Christianity before moving into the often fraught relationship between ...

Heralded as one the world’s most compelling Church historians, Chris Bellitto transports you into the heart of a strange and wonderful world—the world of medieval Europe.Explore some of the most powerful theological ideas, economic tensions, and political struggles that shaped Western civilization.This series traces western European civilization—with detours to the East—from the transformation of the Roman Empire to a thousand-year medieval period that star...

The election of a pope doesn''t happen often, but when it does, the whole world—believers and non-believers—stops to watch. The first question is: what happens now? The answer is surprisingly straightforward: there is a system in place that is followed step by step.But then the questions tumble one after the other: Why do the cardinals have the exclusive right to pick the popes? How did the "bad" Renaissance Medicis get chosen? What were the longest and shortest conclaves? If every...

Take an unforgettable journey through the entire span of the Catholic Church’s existence. In this essential course, The History of the Catholic Church: Tradition and Innovation, acclaimed historian and award-winning professor Dr. Christopher Bellitto (Ph.D., Fordham University) breathes new life into two millennia of history.The chronicle of Catholicism can seem daunting: full of names, dates, places, and phrases. Getting ahold of such a rich and diverse history requires g...