[Aquinasfan]

those populations were considered heretics for their beliefs and under threat of death by the Catholic Church.

Until 1054, all Christians were Catholics. Augustine was the bishop of Carthage, for example.

[antiRepublicrat]

Until 1054, all Christians were Catholics. Augustine was the bishop of Carthage, for example.

I'm switching churches here (depending on definitions), but the Egyptian Copts lived under political and religious persecution by the Orthodox church up until Islam arrived in 640. Many welcomed the Muslims and did pretty well under them (many of the oppressive Dhimmi laws you hear about weren't actually enforced).