What is Christendom?
[[Image:T and O map Guntherus Ziner 1472.jpg|thumb|This T-and-O map shows the known world of 1472 in form of a cross inscribed within an orb. It remakes geography in the service of Christian iconography. More detailed versions place [[Jerusalem]] at the centre of the world.]] '''Christendom''' or the '''Christian world''',<ref>Marty, Martin E. [https://books.google.com/books?id=MoolUlqQdmAC The Christian World: A Global History]. Modern Library chronicles, 29. New York: Modern Library, 2007.</ref> in the widest sense, means [[Christianity]] as a territorial [[:wikt:phenomenon|phenomenon]]. That means: those countries where most people are [[Christian]] and because of that are part of Christendom. People have used the term '''Christendom''' for the [[Middle Ages|medieval]] and [[Renaissance]] understanding of the Christian world as one single ''Body of Christ'' with Christ as the head. With the rise of modern [[secularism]] and the [[Reformation]] during the early [[16th century]] the understanding changed to a modern idea of a tolerant and diverse society that consists of many different communities. ==Related pages== * [[Caliphate]] (an [[Muslim World|Islamic]] analog to the [[Middle Ages|Medieval]] political concept) * [[Muslim World]] and [[Ummah]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==Other websites== *[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03699b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Christendom] [[Category:Christian terminology]] [[Category:Christianity of the Middle Ages]] [[Category:Cultural geography]]