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→Catholic Growth in the Imperial Decline
=== Catholic Growth in the Imperial Decline ===
=== Catholic Growth in the Imperial Decline ===
Until the early fourth century AD Christianity enjoyed mixed reception in the Roman Empire and Christians were frequently subject to persecution. In the 310s Christianity became legalized and shortly thereafter became officially recognized by Constantine. In the following years Christianity in general and Roman Catholicism in particular became increasingly powerful in the Roman Empire, although [[Arianism]] remained strong. In 380 AD, [[Theodosius I]] established the Catholic Church as the official religion of the Roman Empire. While the Empire continued to decline, Catholicism and Christianity continued to grow both among those directly under the Empire and among the barbarians until Rome was sacked by [[Alaric]] in 410. Alaric was an Arian Christian. After the collapse of the Empire, the Catholic Church became the most powerful political and religious force in Europe and by the 8th century had achieved near total religious dominance with the removal of the last significant Arian groups.
Until the early fourth century AD Christianity enjoyed mixed reception in the Roman Empire and Christians were frequently subject to persecution. In the 310s Christianity became legalized and shortly thereafter became officially recognized by Constantine. In the following years Christianity in general and Roman Catholicism in particular became increasingly powerful in the Roman Empire, although [[Arianism]] remained strong. In 380 AD, [[Theodosius I]] established the Catholic Church as the official religion of the Roman Empire. While the Empire continued to decline, Catholicism and Christianity continued to grow both among those directly under the Empire and among the barbarians until Rome was sacked by [[Alaric]] in 410. Alaric was an Arian Christian. After the collapse of the Western Empire, the Catholic Church became the most powerful political and religious force in Latin-speaking Europe and by the 8th century had achieved near total religious dominance with the removal of the last significant Arian groups.
=== Great Schism ===
=== Great Schism ===