After initial persecution, Christianity became the established religion of the Roman empire. It also provided a sense of unity that compensated for the Empire’s dissolution before the influx of barbarian migratory tribes in the fourth and fifth centuries. Christian art and architecture derived its forms from Classical Greco-Roman models, but adapted them to communicate the faith and celebrate the triumph of the church. This created a rich, symbolic visual language that dominated European art for centuries. The split in the Church between Western, Latin Catholicism, and Eastern, Greek Orthodoxy led to distinct styles of art and architecture.

While Christian art was developing in the West, the art and architecture of Mesoamerica, India, and Japan flourished in total independence from the West. Closer to home, however, Islam became Christendom’s strongest and most durable rival.