Christianity in Africa

Origins of Christianity

• Christianity came from Judaism and originated in Jerusalem.

Early Civilizations in Africa

• Early civilizations were highly developed.

• In 300s AD, Christian missionaries from Egypt introduced Christianity to Ethiopia.

• Later is spread to other areas of Egypt and Sudan.

Lalibela

• Lalibela was a powerful emperor of Ethiopia.

• He believes God told him to build 11 church buildings out of rock.

• Because of this most Christians in east Africa live in Ethiopia.

In Central Africa

• When countries such as French, Spanish, and Portuguese colonized central Africa they brought with them Roman Catholicism and Protestant Christianity.

Southern Africa

• Europeans brought the religion of Christianity to Southern Africa. As a result, millions of people in Southern Africa are Christians.

Mixing of cultures

• A lot of traditional tribes of Africa believed in spirits that roam the earth and have divine power.

• After Europeans came and brought Christianity, some people in Africa have a blended practice of Christianity and traditional beliefs.

Questions

• What is Christianity?• Where did it start?• How did it move into Ethiopia? • How did it reach Central Africa?• How did it reach Southern Africa?• What has happened to traditional beliefs of

people living in Africa after the integration of Christianity?