THE CHURCH IN A CHRISTIAN WORLD
At the beginning of the 11th century, the long process of the conversion
of the barbarians by the Church was completed with the conversion of Russia in
the East, Scandinavia and Iceland. In the North, and Hungary and Poland in
central Europe. Henceforward the whole of Europe was to l)e a Christian continent
excepting a few peripheral regions, such as the Baltic and Finnish peoples southeast
of the Baltic J the remaining footholds of Islam in Spain and. Sicily which were
soon to become Christian and finally the south Russian steppes which were to
remain an open door to the nomad, peoples of Central Asia, such as the Turks and
the Tartars. Apart from these outlying regions, Europe became more and more
identified with Christendom, especially since In the course of the 11th centuries,
the remaining territories of the Byzantine Empire in Asia Minor were overrun by the
Turks and were permanently lost to Christendom.
TMs change was the more important because from, the 11th century onwards,
Western Europe witnessed a great explosion of cultural and religious energy which
was most evident in France, West Germany and North Italy. The most active elements
in this movement were the monks and bishops who had inherited the Carolingian
tradition of Christian culture and who were the only part of the society who
possessed some degree of higher education. These men became the leaders of a
movement of religious reform which beginning with the monasteries, like Cluny and
Fluery the 10th century, gradually extended to the Papacy and the whole Western
Church. They aimed, both at moral reform and at the restoration of canonical
discipline which, had. become entirely neglected in the age of civil war and
barbarian invasions which had followed the decline of the Carolingian Empire, And
this inevitably led to a conflict with the secular powers In order to vindicate
the freedom and independence of the Church.
Original format : Manuscript (11 leaves) ; 8.5 x 11 in.
Parent Collection
Christopher Dawson Papers
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This image may be reproduced and used freely for the purposes of private study, scholarship or research without written permission. However, in order to use the digital reproductions for any other reason users must have the express written consent of the Department of Special Collections, University of St. Thomas Libraries, 2115 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105; (651) 962-5467, e-mail: uarchives@stthomas.edu
Transcript
THE CHURCH IN A CHRISTIAN WORLD
At the beginning of the 11th century, the long process of the conversion
of the barbarians by the Church was completed with the conversion of Russia in
the East, Scandinavia and Iceland. In the North, and Hungary and Poland in
central Europe. Henceforward the whole of Europe was to l)e a Christian continent
excepting a few peripheral regions, such as the Baltic and Finnish peoples southeast
of the Baltic J the remaining footholds of Islam in Spain and. Sicily which were
soon to become Christian and finally the south Russian steppes which were to
remain an open door to the nomad, peoples of Central Asia, such as the Turks and
the Tartars. Apart from these outlying regions, Europe became more and more
identified with Christendom, especially since In the course of the 11th centuries,
the remaining territories of the Byzantine Empire in Asia Minor were overrun by the
Turks and were permanently lost to Christendom.
TMs change was the more important because from, the 11th century onwards,
Western Europe witnessed a great explosion of cultural and religious energy which
was most evident in France, West Germany and North Italy. The most active elements
in this movement were the monks and bishops who had inherited the Carolingian
tradition of Christian culture and who were the only part of the society who
possessed some degree of higher education. These men became the leaders of a
movement of religious reform which beginning with the monasteries, like Cluny and
Fluery the 10th century, gradually extended to the Papacy and the whole Western
Church. They aimed, both at moral reform and at the restoration of canonical
discipline which, had. become entirely neglected in the age of civil war and
barbarian invasions which had followed the decline of the Carolingian Empire, And
this inevitably led to a conflict with the secular powers In order to vindicate
the freedom and independence of the Church.
