Religious Sites

Religion has had a large influence in most of Europe’s civilizations since recorded history. The Greek and Roman civilizations had their many Gods and the activities of their societies reflected those beliefs. After the Romans laid siege to Palestine christians spread the teachings of Christ throughout Asia Minor and southern Europe. Once Emperor Constantine became a christian the church became a legitimate institution, growing and spreading throughout all of Europe. With the fall of the Roman Empire the Roman Catholic church became the dominate political power in Europe.  Heads of churches were not just religious leaders but, political ones. It was the social, economic and political power in many areas.
From this came the building of great cathedrals and religious buildings. Every diocese or large city tried to out do it’s rival with the most elaborate and eloquent cathedral as a symbol of status and virtue.  Many stand to this day as a great achievements in engineering and architecture.
Abbey’s where whole communities that served the church and carried out its decrees. Monasteries were centers of learning and preservation.
While Europe was the center of Christendom, Islam spread throughout most of the middle east, north Africa and east into southern Asia. The Moors settled into southern Spain and the Ottomans conquered parts of the Balkans.
As well as, Jewish populations settled throughout Europe establishing growing communities during the middle ages. European countries that colonized throughout the globe brought back slaves and servitudes, that with them came Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism and others. All these faiths built places of worship to support their beliefs. We break these down into several categories for ease of reference.

Places of Worship