4th century
The empire embraces Christianity. Augustine rethinks the world
What happened — and why
Constantine and the Council of Nicaea (325)
Constantine legalizes Christianity and convenes a council. From a persecuted sect to the state religion.
The philosophical cause
Augustine — The Church needs philosophy to formulate its doctrines. It borrows the tools of Plato and Aristotle.
Augustine builds a theology that will shape Western thought for a thousand years: sin, grace, predestination.
