Map Showing The Spread Of Christianity In 600 AD

Map found on redditThis map shows the geographical distribution of various branches of Christianity around the year 600 AD.

The different colors represent distinct Christian sects, each with its own theological and liturgical traditions.

Here’s a brief description of each branch shown on the map:

1. Nestorian (Orange):
   • The Nestorian Church, also known as the Church of the East, emphasized the disunion between the human and divine natures of Jesus Christ. It spread primarily in Persia (modern-day Iran) and eventually extended into Central Asia and India.
2. Catholic (Light Purple):
   • The Catholic Church, centered in Rome, adhered to the doctrine and practices established by the Roman papacy. By 600 AD, it had spread widely across Western Europe, including parts of the British Isles, Gaul (modern France), and the Iberian Peninsula.
3. Orthodox (Dark Purple):
   • The Orthodox Church, centered in the Byzantine Empire with its seat in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), adhered to the Eastern Christian traditions. It spread through the Eastern Mediterranean, including Greece and the Balkans.
4. Apostolic (Green-Yellow):
   • The Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the oldest Christian communities, adopted Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD. By 600 AD, it was predominant in Armenia and parts of the surrounding regions.
5. Ethiopian (Pink):
   • The Ethiopian Orthodox Church developed its distinct Christian practices and traditions, heavily influenced by early Christian and Judaic elements. It was dominant in the Kingdom of Aksum (modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea).
6. Coptic (Brown):
   • The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, one of the earliest branches of Christianity, developed in Egypt and emphasized the Miaphysite theology, which asserts that Christ has one united nature out of two, divine and human.
7. Arianism (Blue-Purple):
   • Arianism, considered heretical by mainstream Christianity, taught that Jesus Christ was a created being distinct from God the Father. By 600 AD, Arianism had largely been suppressed but had followers in some regions, including parts of the Gothic kingdoms in Europe.
8. Syriac (Gold):
   • The Syriac Orthodox Church, also known as the Jacobite Church, emphasized Miaphysitism like the Coptic Church and was centered in the Near East, particularly in regions that are now Syria and Iraq.