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After 313 AD, as Christianity became accepted by the Roman government under Constantine the Great, early churches were beginning to be established in Western Europe and the Roman Empire. By this point, churches had already existed throughout the Sassanian Empire and Armenia, but had yet to be established, at least formally, in the Roman Empire.<ref>For a history on early Christianity, including its spread in areas outside of the Roman Empire, see: Atiya, Aziz Suryal. 2010. ''History of Eastern Christianity''. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press.</ref> Initially, late Roman Empire churches often utilized converted pagan temples, as these were readily available structures that could accommodate many people. It was also convenient to use existing worship areas for the masses that had converted. Perhaps the best example of this is the Pantheon in Rome, which is still used as a church today and is one of the longest continuously-used buildings in the world given its conversion into a Christian church.<ref>For information about early churches converted from old pagan temples, see: Doig, Allan. 2008. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0754652742/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0754652742&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=0368dfeabaaa38678618767e1b514688> Liturgy and Architecture from the Early Church to the Middle Ages]''. Liturgy, Worship, and Society. Aldershot, England ; Burlington, VT: Ashgate, pg. 83.</ref> In part, this was a quick solution as Christianity became an open religion but few places of worship were available as most had previously been in secret locations.

Soon, another popular earlier Roman design gained increasing use in the early Christian church. Early Christianity wanted to break from the Pagan past but also practically needed more space in their churches. Early church leaders, therefore, turned to the Basilica style architecture already in use in the Roman Empire, which consisted of a large building often with columns that had an apse and large central aisle that was usually raised to give it extra light.<ref>For background into the Basilica design of early churches and their origin, see: Kieckhefer, Richard. 2004. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UNRO9NE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00UNRO9NE&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=2929b13d6fdcfaea93f5babd67fc4e97 Theology in Stone: Church Architecture from Byzantium to Berkeley]. New York: Oxford University Press, pg. 22.</ref> The central aisle, or nave, was usually flanked by side aisles with the building also covered by a dome. Basilicas were generally secular buildings in the Roman sense, but were used as areas of public gatherings and business, often located in the central town forums. In fact, Basilica architecture also becomes adopted by the Eastern Roman Empire, which developed into the Byzantine Empire. The most famous example is Hagia Sophia, which is a Byzantine period Cathedral. The style, therefore, began to spread to Eastern Christian churches as well. The apse, central aisle, and side aisles, in fact, were subsequently retained, and formed into a crucifix shape, in later and even modern church architecture, at least for some denominations.<ref>For information on the construction of Hagia Sophia, see: Mainstone, Rowland J. 1997. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0500340986/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0500340986&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=d61226c5b486a1338f14b960c9ee6968 Hagia Sophia: Architecture, Structure and Liturgy of Justinian’s Great Church; with 305 Illustrations, 56 Plans and Drawings]''. 1. pb. ed. London: Thames & Hudson.</ref>

In the early Medieval period after the fall of Rome, particularly between the 6th and 11th centuries AD, Romanesque architecture developed, which in large part was influenced by the Basilica design and Roman style of thick outer building walls. The designs were generally simple, symmetrical, with pillars, arcades, and arches. The Basilica style that was initially developed during the Roman period was also sustained, with churches having apses and columned central naves and side aisles.<ref>For more information about the development of Romanesque architecture, see: Fernie, Eric. 1995. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0907132898/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0907132898&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=05497b22545cfc5af6a77196fec4d18d Romanesque Architecture: Design, Meaning and Metrology]''. London: Pindar Press.</ref> Famous example Romanesque, Medieval churches include San Liberatore a Maiella located in Abruzzo, Italy (Figure 2). Overall, this style is still commonly seen in content Europe.

For more information on the spiritual and secular intent of Gothic churches, see: Frankl, Paul, and Paul Crossley. 2000. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0300087993/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0300087993&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=893a3847fe8893d4f1725c3faf5c98c9 Gothic Architecture]</i>. Yale University Press Pelican History of Art. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.</ref>

With the birth of the Renaissance in Europe, the concept and idea of mathematical symmetry being a form of perfection became not only an important philosophical thought but also an idea that transpired in architecture.<ref>For more information regarding symmetry in thought in the Renaissance, see: Thomson, David. 1993. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0719039630/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0719039630&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a00b166dbdca4d91ec35d523aa8c58c4 Renaissance Architecture: Critics, Patrons, Luxury]. </i> Manchester ; New York : ;New York, NY, USA: Manchester University Press Distributed exclusively in the USA and Canada by St. Martin’s Press, pg. 201.</ref> Buildings reflected a revived interest in structures from the Roman and Greek past, as artists, scientists, and philosophers began to take inspiration from the past in their new work. Buildings began to appear geometrically portioned with elements that contained Classical styles, including Roman/Greek style columns, portioned arches, and evenly spaced lintels across buildings. <ref>For more information on the development on Renaissance buildings and church designs, see: Anderson, Christy. 2013. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0192842277/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0192842277&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=657e7b878572abec08f25f57b1c8df00 Renaissance Architecture]. 1st ed. Oxford History of Art. Oxford: Oxford Univeristy University Press, pg. 32.</ref> The Renaissance began Italy in the 15th century and spread across Europe over the next two centuries. Perhaps the most famous example that derived from this period is St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican (Figure 4), which was built in Renaissance style with its well-proportioned dome and Classical-influenced layout. The symmetry of such buildings was soon seen as a way to be closer to God, as symmetry was an expression of perfection. The style went on to be highly influential to other similar designs, including Baroque and Palladian architecture. Famous examples outside of Italy include St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.