OUTLINE: I.--Primary materials. II.--Secondary materials. III.--Sketch of the writing of Church history. IV.--Most important collections of primary sources. V.--Most important general Church histories. VI.--Dictionaries and encyclopedias. VII.--Atlases and chronologies. VIII.--Text-books. IX.--Sources. CHAPTER III PREPARATION OF THE CIVILISED WORLD FOR THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH 40 OUTLINE: I.--The ancient world. II.--Condition of the civilised world at the time Jesus came. III.--How the condition of the world prepared the way for Christianity. IV.--Sources. CHAPTER IV ORIGIN, SPREAD, AND ORGANISATION OF THE CHURCH DURING THE APOSTOLIC AGE 52 OUTLINE: I.--Origin of the Christian Church. II.--Spread of the Apostolic Church. III.--Organisation of the Early Church. IV.--Conclusions. V.--Sources. CHAPTER V THE ROMAN CHURCH AND PETER'S PRIMACY 71 OUTLINE: I.--Planting of the Church in Rome and its organisation there. II.--The two opposing views of the Petrine theory. III.--Proofs advanced for the Petrine theory. IV.--Evidence given against the Petrine theory. V.--Historical conclusions. VI.--Sources. CHAPTER VI THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT'S TREATMENT OF THE CHRISTIANS 91 OUTLINE: I.--Religious persecutions before the Christian era. II.--Christians first persecuted by the Jews. III.--Causes and motives of persecution by the Roman government. IV.--Number and general character of the persecutions. V.--Results of persecutions. VI.--Sources. CHAPTER VII TRANSITION OF THE CHURCH UNDER CONSTANTINE 112 OUTLINE: I.--Condition of the Empire in 300. II.--How Constantine became Emperor. III.--Constantine's conversion to Christianity. IV.--Constantine's favours to Christianity. V.--Constantine's character. VI.--Constantine's historical significance. VII.--Sources. CHAPTER VIII THE COUNCIL OF NICÆA AND ITS RESULTS 131 OUTLINE: I.--Diversion of Christian thought in the early Church. II.--The Arian controversy. III.--The Council of Nicæa and its actions. IV.--Later history of Arianism. V.--Sources. CHAPTER IX RISE OF THE PAPACY 148 OUTLINE: I.--Favourable conditions when the Christian era began. II.--Forces at work up to 313. III.--Description of the Roman Church in 313. IV.--Growth of the Papacy from 313 to 604. V.--Condition of the Papacy at the close of this period, 604. VI.--Sources. CHAPTER X RISE OF THE PAPACY (_Continued_) 164 CHAPTER XI MONASTICISM 198