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I suggest reading Phillip Schaff's History of the Christian Church, it excels at providing an impressive and instructive historical treatment of the Christian church. This eight volume work begins with the early Church and ends at 1605 with the Swiss Reformation. Schaff's treatment is comprehensive and in depth, discussing all the major (and minor!) figures, time periods, and movements of the Church. He includes many footnotes, maps, and charts; he even provides copies of original texts in his treatment. One feature of the History of the Christian Church that readers immediately notice is just how beautifully written it is–especially in comparison to other texts of a similar nature. Simply put, Schaff's prose is lively and engaging. As one reader puts it, these volumes are "history written with heart and soul." Although at points the scholarship is slightly outdated, overall History of the Christian Church is great for historical referencing. Countless people have found History of the Christian Church useful. Whether for serious scholarship, sermon preparation, daily devotions, or simply edifying reading, History of the Christian Church comes highly recommended.
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc1.i.html
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc2.i.html
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/hcc3