The history of Christianity in the West has often been told, but the story of Christianity in the East has received little attention. This Christianity looked neither to Rome nor Constantinople, and for centuries remained proudly Asian. This first volume of Samuel Moffett's epic history reveals this fascinating and little-known story. While Paul and other early missionaries saw Greeks and Romans convert, then the barbarian tribes of Europe, priests of the Church of the East -- later called the Nestorian -- established centers in Persia and Afghanistan, across India and the Mongolian steppes, and in China itself as early as the 7th century. These missionaries experienced both favor and persecution according to the political climate of their times; but the expansion they achieved would not be matched by the West until after the 13th century. Moffett captivates readers with the rise and fall of empires and the rulers whose actions determined the fate of Christianity in their realms. 'A History of Christianity in Asia' makes available immense amounts of research on the religious pluralism of Asia and how Christianity spread long before the modern missionary movement. Invaluable for historians of Asia and scholars of mission it is stimulating for all readers interested in the history of Christianity. 439 pages.