Final answer:
Conversion of pagans to Christianity occurred at different times, starting notably in the Roman Empire with the reign of Constantine and Theodosius I in the 4th century CE. In the Americas, major conversion efforts by the Puritans commenced after the mid-17th century. Conversion was often a mix of outright evangelization, political influence, and absorption of pagan practices into Christian worship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pagans, or adherents to polytheistic traditions, were converted over various periods in history depending on the region and the prevailing religious and political dynamics. In the Roman Empire, a significant push towards Christianity began with Constantine's conversion in the early 4th century, and by 380 CE, Emperor Theodosius I declared Christianity as the official state religion, a move that actively discouraged paganism.
In the context of the Americas, the Puritans, who settled in the New England region in the early 17th century, started their conversion efforts of the Native Americans in earnest only after the Pequot War, facing language barriers as a significant challenge to evangelizing.
Throughout Europe, the spread of Christianity by missionaries was less about a complete ousting of pagan culture and more about reshaping and absorbing elements of it. This led to the incorporation of many pagan practices into Christian tradition, suggesting a transition period where Christianity adapted to and supplanted existing religions over time.