Using sermons, exorcisms, letters, biographies of the saints, inscriptions, autobiographical and legal documents—some of which are translated nowhere else—J. N. Hillgarth shows how the Christian church went about the formidable task of converting western Europe. The book covers such topics as the relationship between the Church and the Roman state, Christian attitudes toward the barbarians, and the missions to northern Europe. It documents as well the cult of relics in popular Christianity and the emergence of consciously Christian monarchies.
PART ONE. CHRISTIANITY IN THE TRANSITION FROM THE ROMAN TO THE BARBARIAN WORLD 1 The Christian Appeal 2 The Roman State and the Church 3 The Attempt to Convert the Countryside 4 The Church and the Barbarians
PART TWO. CHRISTIANITY IN A NON-ROMAN WORLD 1 Fusion of Church and Monarchy 2 Legislation 3 Christianity in the North 4 Liturgy: The Ordering of the Christian Community
Selected Bibliography Index
J. N. Hillgarth taught for many years at the University of Toronto and the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. He was a Fellow of the British Academy and received awards and honors from a wide variety of distinguished institutions in Europe and North America.
"A welcome addition to the translated resources for early medieval history."—Church History
