Final answer:
Christianity expanded during the 14th and 15th centuries due to Europe's crises, the organized Church's power, and the Age of Exploration, which spread the faith globally.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expansion of Christianity during the 14th and 15th centuries was influenced by various socio-political and economic factors. Europe faced several crises including famine, war, and the bubonic plague, which led to profound transformations in the religious and political spheres. The dissolution of the Islamic rule in the Iberian Peninsula and the retreating Christian forces in the East also marked significant shifts in power. Additionally, the era of exploration facilitated the spread of Christianity to new territories. Another factor was the Age of Exploration, during which European explorers ventured to new lands and encountered indigenous peoples. As they colonized these areas, they often imposed their religious beliefs on the native populations, leading to the spread of Christianity.
Lastly, the invention of the printing press in the 15th century facilitated the dissemination of Christian texts, making them more readily available to a wider audience, thus contributing to the expansion of Christianity.The Church wielded considerable influence with a bureaucratically organized multinational structure, which allowed it to maintain direct contact with the populace, contrasting the less-centralized feudal lords. This contributed to Christian authority not only in a spiritual sense but also in social governance and wealth extraction. Furthermore, the 15th century Age of Exploration led to European powers colonizing distant lands, bringing with them their religion, thus further spreading Christianity globally. The combination of these factors was responsible for the significant growth and geographic expansion of Christianity during these centuries.