2000 Years Of Christianity: Episode VI - This Side Of Heaven

Turkish janissaries conquered Constantinople, the center of Orthodox Christianity. This branch of the religion transferred its center of gravity to the "wooden" Moscow, "the third Rome." The Turkish half moon crowded out the cross and penetrated deep into the Balkans.

In the west, many people suffered from disputed between church, state and society. They sought an escape inside themselves and found new forms of "The Imitation of Christ."

Italy was totally in the thrall of humanism and the Renaissance. Philosophers, scholars and artists made exciting discoveries in both the world and themselves, as they frequently and courageously expanded the traditional borderlines. In the Upper Italian city republics, a self-confident middle class came into being. New business methods created masses of enormous wealth as aristocratic families competed as patrons of the arts and sciences.

The Popes in Rome saw themselves in much the same light. They led lascivious lives of small-time rulers, were insatiable art collectors, and indulged in unscrupulous family politics. The Rome that had been devastated in the Middle Ages became on enormous construction site, designed to show all the world the triumph of the church. During this time of chaos and great power- struggles, the general population continued to segregate themselves, while the beliefs an studies of science and faith went their separate ways.

This series explores the archaeology and origins of Christianity and how it came into the world. Filmed on location in actual historical and biblical sites, this series features many memorable, full- scale dramatic re-creations.