Christianity came into existence almost 2000 years ago. Christianity, like Judaism, rose from obscurity to become the dominant religion of Western culture. Christianity also became the dominant faith of Rome at the end of fourth century A.D. (Matthews 157.) Both Christianity and Rome influenced Europe in a number of ways.Christianity soon became the greater part of the empire. Between 284 and 476, Roman civilization went through two stages. One stage involved Diocletian’s reforms – paganisms last pinnacle, and the second part, when the empire began to fall after Constantine’s reign – the vibrant Christian age. (Matthews, 174) After this last stage, both secular and Christian writers competed for the attention of educated Romans. Christian writers deemed Rome worth saving; they looked towards a new future and new hopes. Secular writers on the other hand, did not experiment with new styles and consequently, Christian literature dominated the era.Some of the best-known writers that explore religious writings are Augustine and Dante. Augustine’s Confessions is a spiritual autobiography. Augustine talks directly to God and he includes a constant sense of awe at the grace and mercy of God. (Norton, 1004) “…Since all good things are from You, O God, and from God is all my health… let Your truth assure me… Thy gift who hast mercy on whom Thou wilt and wilt have compassion on whom Thou wilt” (Norton, 1005, 1008, 1031) Augustine’s writings are a clear example of the common literature of this time. This form of literature carried on into what became known as the High Middle Ages, where Dante was prominent. Dante’s writings are another example of religious writings. His work blends both the story of The Aeneid of Virgil and the God of Christianity. Such lines as, “…to His law… by that God… Saint Peter…O Muses, o high genius, help m...
