Final answer:
The three dominant Christian branches are Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant, reflecting the major historical divisions within Christianity. Protestantism includes various denominations that arose from the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three dominant Christian branches are: Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant. The early Christian Church split into the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, with the former based in Western Europe and the latter in Eastern Europe. The Protestant Reformation began in the early 16th century, leading to the emergence of numerous Protestant denominations such as the Baptists, Lutherans, Methodists, and others. Protestantism now includes a wide array of churches, with differing doctrines and practices.
Christianity has spread throughout the world, influencing a significant part of the global population. The Jesuits, a Catholic order, played a role in this expansion by sending missionaries to various parts of the world alongside European colonial expansion. Important doctrines such as the belief in the Holy Trinity and the Ten Commandments are central to most Christian denominations, despite their differences.
The correct answer to the question is: a) Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant. These three branches reflect the major divisions within Christianity in Europe and worldwide, each with a significant number of followers and their own unique history, practices, and doctrinal emphases.