This class will consider through active discussion the people and factors that helped the Christian movement expand from its humble beginnings of 120 people in Jerusalem in 33 A.D. to be in 380 A.D., by decree of Theodosius, the official religion of the Roman empire. The relative importance in this growth of certain key figures - the disciples Peter and John, the apostles Paul and Mary Magdalene - will be studied along with the social factors that may have contributed to the growth. The course will focus on the historical and sociological aspects of Christianity's rise.