339- 397 CE - Ambrose of Milan created an image of an ideal Christian bishop. He advocated for a church which was independent of state function and control. He punished Emperor Theodosius I for ordering the slaughter of citizens in Thessalonika who refused to obey him. The punishment was that Theodosius …

The Petrine Supremacy is the belief that bishops of Rome were granted special office by Jesus, and therefore held a superior position within the church. The Gospel of Matthew relates that Jesus gave Peter, the first bishop of Rome, "the keys to the kingdom of heaven."

Emperor Constantine initiated the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE to help address questions about Jesus' nature. Specifically, the council convened to determine if Jesus was human or God. The council eventually found that Jesus was made of the "same substance" as God, and therefore was a God.

?433- 453 CE - Atilla was ruler of the Huns in the fifth century. Atilla is known to have been a formidable opponent in battle, and the Huns in general were said to be savage combatants. This greatly influenced the Hun dynasty and Atilla expanded his empire to become one of …

To go against or contradict the ruling or teaching of the Catholic Church is to commit heresy. For much of the Common Era, those who committed or were accused of heresy were persecuted or killed.

306- 337 CE - Constantine was the first Roman Emperor to adopt Christianity and to tolerate it. His famous Edict of Milan officially recognized the religion. Constantine believed that the power of the cross had brought him victory in battle against the Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge. Constantine paved the way …