Christianity is one of the world's most popular religions. For centuries, it's been spread across the globe – from Jerusalem to New Orleans, from the Mediterranean to the Amazon. Without doubt, trade has contributed to its growth. However, while the role of trade in its spread is important, it is by no means the sole means by which it came to encompass so much of the world.
Historically, Christianity could be spread through regional trade networks. Merchant traders and travelers would carry the faith from place to place, spreading the words of the Bible to new lands and regions. They could also carry cross-cultural exchange and goodwill to areas with different beliefs, introducing practices and symbols associated with the religion. These traders would also often become missionaries, teaching people about the religion wherever they went.
Other forms of Christian expansion have been through military means. Armies have been sent to conquer land and spread the faith often carrying it beyond continents. Christian missions have also been sent to far-flung areas to teach and convert people, such as the Catholic missions to Central and South America during the Spanish and Portuguese conquests. These methods of spread did not rely on trade so much as they relied on strength and persistence.
The importance of trade in the spread of Christianity cannot be overlooked, however. Trade reached far and wide, and with it came Christian messages. Merchants and international traders would spread stories of Christianity to distant lands and foreign shores, where the religion was not already known. By encountering different cultures, these traders also were exposed to Christian symbols, practices and stories which they then could take back with them.
Christianity has also spread through a combination of trade and military force. In many parts of the world, such as China, trading relationships have been developed with foreign nations, and some of those traders have been Christian missionaries. Through the power of trading networks, goods would travel back and forth, including the tales of Christianity. Eventually, missionaries and congregations of Christians would follow and become established in those countries.
Trade has been a major factor in the spread of Christianity, but not the only one. Through a variety of methods, Christianity has been woven into the fabric of many cultures across the globe. To really understand how it has been spread, one must look at all the factors and their combined effects.
Missionaries
Missionaries have long been the most effective tools in spreading Christianity. As soon as Christianity came into being it was spread all over the world, with several apostles such as Peter and Paul travelling around Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Throughout the centuries, missionaries have been sent out from Europe and other Christian countries to the rest of the world in order to spread the religion and bring it to those who have never heard of it. By doing this they would take advantage of current trade networks which could be exploited in order to get to these far off destinations, with many missionaries taking up trading jobs in order to fund their missionary work.
It is even said that it was through trade that Jesus' disciples were able to travel to many different places in the Holy Lands, expanding and sharing the Gospel wherever they went.
From the evangelization of China, to the arrival of Franciscan monks in South America and even the establishment of Protestant mission stations in Africa; missionaries have served as the foot soldiers of the Christianity and opened the paths of trade for this religion to expand.
Missionaries have been essential to the spread of Christianity, especially through trade, for generations, and even to this day, Christians still carry out their mission of bringing the good news to all countries on the planet.
Colonial Influence
The influence of colonial powers cannot be ignored when looking at the spread of Christianity. In many cases, missionaries used their influential roles as agents of colonialism to bring the faith to new lands.
The Portuguese are a prime example of this. After they arrived in India in the 15th century they were responsible for the spread of Christianity to various parts of the subcontinent. The Portuguese were active traders who could use their resources to spread the religion while establishing missions and colonies.
When the British colonized the United States, they helped spread Anglican Christianity to the African Americans. The British would use the slave trade network to bring in slaves from Africa in order to work the plantations and mines of the New World. Christianity was also brought along, with many plantations having their own church and also holding services for their workers.
The French and Spanish had similar effects on the Americas. While the French brought Catholic missionaries and the Spanish brought Jesuits, both groups used the trade networks to spread the faith and make them into the colonies’ official religion.
In this way, colonial powers have had a profound influence on the spread of Christianity. They used their influence and power to ensure the spread of the faith, often doing so through the existing trade networks.
Technology
In more recent times, technology has played a big role in the spread of Christianity. Digital media, such as television, radio, and the Internet, have allowed the Christian messages to reach even more people across the globe, allowing those who practice the faith to share their beliefs and teachings with those who don't.
The power of television cannot be underestimated when looking at how Christianity has been spread. The evangelists of the Bible Belt in the United States have capitalized on this technology and used it to preach their messages to millions of people throughout the world.
The Internet has had an even bigger impact. It has made it easier than ever before for people from any part of the world to stay connected to their religion and to be able to access Christian material and teachings. This has made it easier for those who are interested to learn more about the faith and for those who belong to a church to keep in contact with their congregation.
Technology has allowed Christianity to reach more people than ever before, and it has made it possible to spread the faith in ways never seen before.
Cultural Exchange
Cultural exchange was another major factor in the spread of Christianity. As Christian traders traveled to all parts of the world, they took with them their beliefs and practices. Through their interactions with other cultures and peoples, they would exchange ideas and stories, introducing Christianity to those they encountered.
Cultural exchange not only allowed Christianity to spread to far-off places, but it also allowed it to morph and take on new forms and interpretations. As Christianity encountered new cultures and ideas, it began to take on new facets which were in some ways adapted from the people and cultures it encountered.
This adaptation also led to the emergence of new denominations. As Christianity met up with different cultures, new creeds and teachings began to emerge which had a unique flavor and style that would ultimately become popular among the people it encountered.
In this way, cultural exchange has had a major role in the expansion of Christianity as it has spread. Countries and regions take with them their own versions and interpretations of the faith, shaped by the cultures and people it encounters.
Economic Influences
The influence of the economy can also not be discounted when looking at the spread of Christianity. Many Christians used the activities of the economy to further spread their faith and beliefs, often taking advantage of the trade networks and contacts to facilitate the expansion of the church.
The ever-growing world economy has played an important role in the expansion of Christianity in recent times. As countries have become more interconnected, their economies have become increasingly intertwined, meaning that the merchant traders and businessmen who travel between them can spread Christianity as they do business.
The economy has also seen the rise of religious tourism. Places that are significant to Christianity, such as Jerusalem and Rome, have become destinations for many Christian tourists. These people bring with them the stories of Christianity, as well as spreading its teachings and values to new places.
In this way, the activities of the economy have played a major role in the spread of Christianity in recent times. It has facilitated the expansion of the faith and has allowed more people than ever before to become familiar with its teachings.
