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==Early Designs==
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. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0416112307/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0416112307&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=f18077d13db132d2363a02869cd6992c 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]''. 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]''. 1. pb. ed. London: Thames & Hudson.</ref>
