History glossary
Catholicism
the branch of western Christianity led by the pope and centred on the Roman Catholic Church.
- Category
- Religious tradition
- Region
- Global
- Date range
- Ancient-present
What it means
Catholicism is the branch of western Christianity that recognises the pope as its spiritual head. In Elizabethan England, loyalty to Catholic worship and papal authority became politically sensitive after the Protestant settlement.
Stories using this term
The Elizabethan Age
Elizabeth I’s reign brought stability, cultural flourishing, exploration, and victory over the Spanish Armada.
The English Civil War
Civil war between king and Parliament led to regicide, a republic, and lasting constitutional change.
The English Reformation
Henry VIII’s break with Rome reshaped religion, politics, and identity through decades of upheaval.
The Tudor Dynasty
The Tudors strengthened royal power, drove religious change, and shaped early modern England.
The Fall of Rome to Early Medieval Europe
From the arrival of Gothic peoples at the Danube to the crowning of Charlemagne, this story traces how the Western Roman Empire fragmented into successor kingdoms and how a new medieval world took shape.
