ABSTRACT
During its first four centuries, from 30 to 430 ce, the phenomenon we now referto as Christianity1 was closely connected with the Mediterranean region, most of which was located within the Roman empire (Figure 1.1). Vital Christian heartlands, such as Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, North Africa, Narbonensis and Spain were all washed by the Mediterranean Sea (see Figure 1.1). Parts of the empire further afield, like Cappadocia, Pontus and Bithynia, and even Gaul and Britain, had been deeply affected by Mediterranean influences, either by their close proximity to the places just mentioned, or by the ubiquitous practices of Roman provincial administration, or both. There were Christians developing notable traditions somewhat away from the Mediterranean and outside the Roman empire, in places like Armenia, or even further afield, in India, but they were a small minority of the total Christian population. In any event, even they had been shaped by the missionaries from the Mediterranean countries who had evangelized them.
