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Christianity began as a Jewish sect in the mid-1st century.

Originating in the Levant region of the Middle East ( modern Israel and Palestine ), it quickly spread to Syria, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor and Egypt.

It grew in size and influence over a few decades, and by the end of the 4th century had become the official state religion of the Roman Empire, replacing other forms of religion practiced under Roman rule.

During the Middle Ages, most of the remainder of Europe was Christianized, with Christians also being a sometimes large religious minority in the Middle East, North Africa, Ethiopia and parts of India.

Following the Age of Discovery, through missionary work and colonization, Christianity spread to the Americas, Australasia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the rest of the world.