Ekklesia: Christian Communities 300-1000

Timeline for Christianity and Barbarian Tribes 500: King Clovis of the Franks 600: King Aethelberht of Kent (English) 664: Synod of Whitby 800: Charlemagne crowned by Pope 900s: Peace of God Movement 1100: First Crusade successful

Beowulf

How did Beowulf demonstrate medieval fusion? The Danes and Geats were both pagan and Christian The poet was Christian, but portrayed the Danish and Geatish warriors in a positive light The poet was pagan but had some knowledge of Christianity The characters were pagan but had some knowledge of Christianity

How does the Hill article characterize this sympathetic treatment of pagans by a Christian poet? By demonstrating that it was common for Christian writers to treat pagans with respect? By pointing out that the poem was unusual for its sympathetic treatment of pagans By suggesting that the poet did not really understand Christian doctrines very well By claiming that the poet was really a closet pagan

What terms did Hill use to explain the admiration of virtuous pagans? Noachite and humanist Donatist and Pelagian Simplistic and Ignorant Henotheist and Heretical Brave and crusader

Features of Barbarian Culture Ruled by warrior elites, who embraced warrior values Honor and bravery Retribution Loyalty Generosity Weak kingship Strong kinship

Features of Christianity by 400 CE Asceticism, connected to preparation for afterlife Evangelical, duty to spread the faith Book religion, promoted literacy Martyrdom, related to asceticism Hierarchical, late addition, reflected in Church organizational structure

Celtic Settlements c. 200 BCE

Celtic Settlements c. 550 CE

Hill Fort

The Dying Gaul third century BCE

Celtic Suicide c. 230 BCE

Celtic and Roman soldiers c. 100 CE

Celtic Torques

Animal Head, Oseberg ship burial, University of Oslo, Norway Purse cover from the Sutton Hoo ship burial, British Museum, London

Boudicca 60 CE

Celtic Settlements c. 200 BCE

Celtic Settlements c. 550 CE

St Patrick c. 380-450

Layout of an Irish Monastery

The Proliferation of Irish Monasticism 600-800 CE

Green Martyrdom: Suffering by separating from family

Celtic Metalwork

Celtic Cross

Tonsure & Identity

Roman Tonsure

Christian Evangelism among the English 550-700 CE

Pope Gregory the Great c. 600 author of the life of St. Benedict

Augustine of Canterbury c. 600

Synod of Whitby - 664

Monastic scribes

Illuminated Manuscript: Lion from the Book of Durrow c. 700

Lindisfarne Gospels c. 700 Cross page from the Lindisfarne Gospels, British Museum

Book of Kells c. 800 Artistic Revival

Illuminated Manuscript: The Book of Kells c. 800 CE

Codex Amiatinus c. 700

How did Christianity unify Europe? Identification of a common belief in the nature of God and attainment of the afterlife Heroes: martyrs and saints enemies: non Christians or heretical Christians ruler/leader: bishops; Christian kings and princes history/mythology: the Bible provided a view of the distant past God intervenes on behalf of his people way of life - ethics, sexual mores, social relations set of rituals - group activities that often reinforce or explain social relations

Rituals & Processions Strengthened Collective Identity

Benedictine Monasticism included communal prayer

The beating of the bounds was a medieval ritual that survived the Protestant Reformation

St. John’s Eve Bonfire

How did stories of saints promoted fusion between Christian and Barbarian Cultures

Hagiography promoted shared vales Faith = Loyalty to God

Hope = Bravery St. Boniface converts the continental Saxons c. 720

Charity=Hospitality St. Martin of Tours 316-397 CE

Archbishop Turpin in Song of Roland

Layout of an Irish Monastery

The Proliferation of Irish/Celtic Monasticism 500-800 CE

The Proliferation of Irish/Celtic Monasticism 500-800 CE

Christian Evangelism among the English 550-700 CE

Pope Gregory the Great c. 600 author of the life of St. Benedict

Augustine of Canterbury c. 600

Roman Tonsure

Synod of Whitby - 664

The Origins of Christianity were in the eastern Mediterranean

Monastic scribes

Ancient Scrolls Egyptian Papyrus

Selecting Vellum

Cutting Folios

Lining the Folios

Scrap paper/bones

Christianity was a book religion Codex Amiatinus c. 700

Lindisfarne Gospels c. 700 Cross page from the Lindisfarne Gospels, British Museum

Book of Kells c. 800 Artistic Revival

Laws of Aethelberht of Kent c. 600 CE

Charters

Anglo-Saxon Charter

Tribal Hidage c. 700 Hwinca syfan þusend hyda. 7,000 Ciltern sætna feower þusend hyda. 4,000 Hendrica þryu þusend hyda ond fif hund hyda. 3,500 Unecungaga twelf hund hyda. 1,200 Arosætna syx hund hyda. 600 Bilmiga syx hund hyda. 600 Widerigga eac swa. 600 Eastwilla syx hund hyda 600 Westwilla syx hund hyda 600 East engle þrittig þusend hida 30,000 Eastsexena syofon þusend hyda 7,000 Cantwarena fiftene þusend hyda 15,000 Suþsexena syufan þusend hyda 7,000 Westsexena hund þusend hyda. 100,000

How did Germanic people react to the introduction of writing? They were likely suspicious of it They did not really think about it They recognized its value and promoted it enthusiastically I cannot even imagine how that might have played out.

Chirograph

How did Christianity promote unifying tendencies? By strengthening kingship By creating a sense of community through rituals By providing a shared view of the past By reinforcing a common sets of values All of the above

Features of Early Medieval Christianity Ascetic: It discouraged materialism Literate among the elite: Book Religion Evangelical: Duty to Spread the faith Hierarchical: more structure, less chaos -------------------------------------------------- Heroes & Legends: Lives of Saints Rituals: Collective Identity

Discuss Early Medieval Christianity How did it influence Germanic culture? Kingship Kinship Intellectual activity ----------------------------- Fused with existing rituals Hero worship Government

The Anglo-Saxons c. 450-1066

Christian Monasticism Started in the Egyptian desert c Christian Monasticism Started in the Egyptian desert c. 300 It tended to be hermetic

St. Simeon Stylites c.430

St. Boniface c. 680-754 Born in Devonshire and joined Benedictine monastery in Exeter Migrated to Germany where he engaged in conversion of the pagan Saxons Martyred in modern Holland

Overview Background How did Christianity unify Western European culture? Through the establishment of Christian communities A long term process What was the role of monasticism in this process? Islands of intense commitment to Christianity Authors of hagiography: Christian heroes Preservers of classical and Christian texts

Background With the collapse of the political authority of the Roman Empire, political power fragmented into local centers, such as chieftains or feudal lords priests and bishops During the early Middle Ages (500-1000 CE) missionaries, kings, queens, and monasteries established Christianity as the dominant religion of Europe

Christian Heroes: Age of Martyrs, 100-312 Key features of Christianity during this formative period: cult underground believers often endured torture unwilling to accept the Emperor as God the heroism of martyrs provides basis for Christian solidarity

Hagiography – General Overview Literally means writings about holy things but generally applies to written accounts of saints lives Not written for purpose of historical accuracy but rather to perpetuate their memory among the faithful Edification and emulation not information To reflect Christ like qualities All saints are one: the communion of saints Originated with the veneration of martyrs Christian heroism Annual commemoration on the martyr's birthday Relics worshipped for spiritual powers Prayers to martyrs

The Definition of Orthodoxy 312-451 (standardization of beliefs) Standardization of canonical texts Councils Nicaea (325) Chalcedon (451) Church Fathers Augustine, Jerome, Gregory Controversies Hierarchical purity (Donatism) Trinitarian (Arians) Christological (Monophysites)

The Common Enemy: Heretics Before 500, the institutional Church persecuted Donatists Arians Monophysites Heresy of the three languages Pagans After 1000 Muslims & Jews Cathars/Albigensians Lollards Hussites Protestantants

A Common Enemy: Donatism Donatus associated with anti-corruption the persecution of 303 organizes rival hierarchy in N. Africa Donatism (c. 300 - c. 700) sacraments performed by corrupt priests are null and void refuted by St. Augustine c. 400 remains influential until Muslim conquest reinforced by cultural differences

A Common Enemy: Arians Arius (250-336) Arianism (c. 300-c.550) denied divinity of Christ excommunicated in 321 Arianism (c. 300-c.550) sympathizers in Syria, Palestine, barbarian Europe viewed as a pagan heresy most influential c. 350 independence from imperial domination attacked by Emperor Theodosius c.380

A Common Enemy: Monophysites (430-650) One nature of Christ: divine was the common assumption Cultural fissures played a huge role in the spread of this schism Aramaic language - Syrian monophysites Egyptian language - Coptic monophysites monophysitism was particularly strong in rural society Underlying issue Competition for power between Byzantine patriarch and patriarchs of Syria and Alexandria Control of orthodoxy

Authority and the Church Where does authority reside? Several views: ceasaropapism - unified temporal and spiritual authority; in other words, the emperor exercises religious authority papal authority - plenitudino potestas: unlimited authority of a single spiritual leader who is superior to the temporal authority Church Councils - gathers of bishops and clerical princes Saints - Holy men who exercised authority beyond their institutional position e.g. St. Bernard Bishops - exercised spiritual and temporal authority at the local level, where it really mattered

Christian History/Mythology Shared beliefs about the past unified Christians Life of Christ and The New Testament the Gospels were the word of God; indisputable early compilers: Irenaeus c. 180 CE the Christian canon of gospels is essentially finalized by 360 CE Hagiography lives of martyrs were the first instances of hagiography lives of other saints, such as Anthony, Patrick, and Benedict, proliferate in early Middle Ages miracles hagiography begins c. 360 and continues into late Middles Ages

Western Monasticism Communities of devout Christians who exercized enormous influence over European civilization Early Period: 400-800 Proliferation of orders Standardization: 819-1100 Benedictines continually grappled with reform New Orders Emerge after 1100 Cistercians Franciscans Dominicans Carmelites Carthusians Augustinians

The Benedictines Established by St. Benedict (c.480- c.547) Tonsure - the monastic haircut Clothing - unity through a similar appearance Code of Conduct poverty, chastity, & obedience were vows all monks took stability & consensus were guiding principles of organization Rituals/Liturgical hours - opus Dei matins vespers 5 others

Benedictines 800-1100 Increasing wealth Periodic Reforms 816-819: Benedict of Aniane Cluny Citeaux Literary contributions Monastic schools scriptoria hagiography history

Rituals for the Laity and Clergy Christian Rituals: Sacraments baptism eucharist penance ordination extreme unction confirmation By sharing in these rituals, Christians developed a common identity

Summary Christianity provided a powerful force for community building during the Early Middle Ages on the macro level it united Europeans across social and political boundaries on the micro level, it provided the basis for the establishment of Christian devotional communities: monasteries As missionaries, such as Patrick, spread Christian beliefs, it sometimes challenged and other times reinforced existing social identities across Europe

Summary The establishment of monastic communities across western Europe between 600 and 800 CE created an institutional framework for the consolidation of Christian beliefs and culture across areas that had previously been both inside and outside of the Roman Empire In many ways Christianity promoted the fusion of barbarian and Greco-Roman cultures while adding its own distinct cultural elements

Discuss Beowulf What were his strengths and weaknesses as a king? How well did Beowulf listen to Hrothgar’s advice? Based on the story, how could Christianity have strengthened Beowulf’s kingship?

Which of the following was true about Beowulf the king? He prepared his son to assume a position of leadership He ruled for 50 years His kingdom had nothing to fear from its enemies upon his death He deliberately engaged in a program of building loyalty and teamwork among his thegns

Which feature of Christianity had the most substantial impact on the transformation of Germanic kingship? It was a book religion Asceticism Hierarchy Evangelism Something else Rituals, stories of saints & miracles

What was the religious relationship between the poem’s main characters and its audience around 800-1000? Both the characters and the audience were pagans Both the characters and the audience were Christians While the audience was mostly pagan, the characters were quasi-Christian While the audience embraced Christianity, the characters were depicted as likeable but flawed pagans.