Christian History A: The first 1500 years (CH8741Z)

Postgraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit introduces students to the study of the history of the Christian Church to 1500CE. It will address the development of Christianity in the Roman Empire to the middle of the Fifth Century and the expansion of Christianity beyond the Roman Empire to Britain, northern and eastern Europe, North Africa and Asia. It considers key movements within Christianity before the Reformation. The unit will consider the impact of theology and practice of the time period under study then and now.

Unit code: CH8741Z

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Church History

Delivery Mode: Blended

Proposing College: Uniting College for Leadership and Theology

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Learning outcomes

1.

Analyse key aspects of the development of Christianity from the first century to 1500 CE.
2.

Evaluate primary and secondary materials, contextual catalysts and contributions to meaning-making.
3.

Critique the influence of pre-reformation Christianity on contemporary life.

Unit sequence

A Level 8 unit in postgraduate theology and ministry awards

Pedagogy

UCLT uses primary and secondary sources considered through different lenses to identify and explore the challenges of the unit material for the contemporary world. Students are engaged in a range of comparative, analytical and reflective practices.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Davies, Oliver & Thomas O’Loughlin. Celtic Spirituality New York: Paulist Press, 1999.
  • Evans, G.R. The Church in the Early Middle Ages. The I.B. Taurus History of the Christian Church. London, UK: I.B.Taurus, 2007.
  • Gonzales, Justo L. & Catherine Gunsalus Gonzales. Heretics for Armchair Theologians. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2008.
  • González, Justo L. The Story of Christianity. 2nd ed. New York: HarperOne, 2010.
  • Green, Bernard. Christianity in Ancient Rome: The First Three Centuries. London, UK: T&T Clark, 2010.
  • Guy, Laurie. Introducing Early Christianity: A Topical Survey of Its Life, Beliefs and Practices. Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2004).
  • Johnson, Marshall D. The Evolution of Christianity: Twelve Crises that Shaped the Church. New York: Continuum, 2005.
  • MacDonald, Stewart. Erasmus and Christian Humanism. History Review (Mar 2000): 1-5.
  • McGrath, Alister E. Christian History: An Introduction Oxford, UK: Wiley Blackwell, 2013.
  • Markschies, Christoph. Gnosis: An Introduction. (tr) John Bowden. New York: T&T Clark, 2003.
  • Maas, Robin and O'Donnell, Gabriel, Spiritual Traditions for the Contemporary Church. Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1990.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Portfolio 5500 100.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 25 Jun, 2026

Unit record last updated: 2026-06-25 09:21:30 +1000