The Dawn of Mercy: As the Christians put into practice the teaching of Christ on Love and Mercy during plagues and pandemics, they transformed the pagan Roman Empire's way of looking at the poor and sick. This was a revolution that also helped in the Christianization of the Roman Empire. In the subsequent Christian Roman Empire of the East (also known as the "Byzantine Empire"), this Christian understanding of Mercy produced the first hospitals, orphanages, old age homes, and hostels for travelers, and a system of healthcare for the people, run by the Church and assisted by the State, which lasted for over 1,000 years. This eventually became the model for the Western world, as well, and the foundation on which our modern healthcare system was developed.