Part 6/9:
Through conquest or conversion, Christianity spread across Europe, providing a shared faith that held communities together despite their many distinctions. The rise of the church served as an important institution during the Middle Ages, bringing order, learning, and a moral framework to societies reeling from the collapse of Roman authority.
The church's influence peaked through events such as the Crusades, which sought to reclaim the Holy Land but resulted in complex interactions—both violent and cooperative—with Islamic cultures. As different Christian denominations emerged, tensions between them set the stage for future conflicts in Europe.