Medieval Christianity: A New History

by Kevin Madigan

Overview

An “engaging narrative history” of the medieval church, with new attention to women, ordinary parishioners, attitudes toward Jews and Muslims, and more (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
 
For many, the medieval world seems dark and foreign—an often brutal and seemingly irrational time of superstition, miracles, and strange relics. The aggressive pursuit of heretics and attempts to control the “Holy Land” might come to mind. Yet the medieval world produced much that is part of our world today, including universities, the passion for Roman architecture and the development of the gothic style, pilgrimage, the emergence of capitalism, and female saints.
 
This new narrative history of medieval Christianity, spanning the period 500 to 1500 CE, attempts to integrate the familiar with new themes and narratives. Elements of novelty in the book include a steady focus on the role of women in Christianity; the relationships among Christians, Jews, and Muslims; the experience of ordinary parishioners; the adventure of asceticism, devotion, and worship; and instruction through drama, architecture, and art. Kevin Madigan expertly integrates these areas of focus with more traditional themes, such as the evolution and decline of papal power; the nature and repression of heresy; sanctity and pilgrimage; the conciliar movement; and the break between the old Western church and its reformers.
 
Illustrated with more than forty photographs of physical remains, this book promises to become an essential guide to a historical era of profound influence.
 
“Compelling . . . a picture of medieval Christianity that is no less lively for being well-informed and carefully balanced.” —Commonweal

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780300158878
Publisher:	Yale University Press
Publication date:	06/24/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	514
Sales rank:	486,880
File size:	31 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Kevin Madigan is Winn Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Harvard Divinity School. He specializes in the study of medieval Christian religious practice and thought. His books include Olivi and the Interpretation of Matthew in the High Middle Ages and The Passions of Christ in High-Medieval Thought: An Essay on Christological Development, and he is co-author of Ordained Women in the Early Church: A Documentary History and Resurrection: The Power of God for Christians and Jews. He lives in Cambridge, MA.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations, Maps, and Plans xiv

Preface xvii

Acknowledgments xxiii

I Early Christianity, ca. 150-600

Chapter 1 Pivotal Moments in Early Christianity 3

Nemesis: The Challenge of Gnosticism 4

Marcion and Marcionism 7

Montanus and Montanism 9

The Emergence of Normative Christianity: Creed, Council, Clergy 11

The Roman State and Persecution 15

Constantine 20

Augustine of Hippo 22

The End of Ancient Christianity 29

II Early-Medieval Christianity, ca. 600-1050

Chapter 2 Beginnings: The Conversion of the West and the Emergence of Celtic Christianity 33

Bishop Ulfilas and the Conversion of the Arian Kingdoms 36

The Conversion of the Franks 40

Male and Female Ascetics in Gaul: The "Double Monastery" 42

Ireland and St. Patrick (ca. 390-ca. 461) 44

Early Irish Christianity and the Emergence of Celtic Christianity 46

Chapter 3 Foundations: Monasticism, the Papacy, and Mission 50

"The Finest Teacher of the Ascetical Life": Benedict of Nursia and Benedictine Monasticism 51

The Monastery and the Mundane 53

"Consul of God": Pope St. Gregory, "the Great" 55

The Anglo-Saxon Mission 62

The Venerable Bede 64

The Lindisfarne Gospels 65

The Synod of Whitby (664) 66

British Missionaries on the Continent 67

Chapter 4 Holy Empire? Christianity, Charlemagne, and the Carolingians 69

The Hammer: Charles Martel 69

The Iconoclastic Controversy and Its Consequences 71

Covenant of Kingdom and Papacy 71

New Constantine: Charlemagne and the Church 73

New Athens: Aachen and Its Culture 76

Collapse of Empire 78

Chapter 5 Parochial Life and the Proprietary Church ca. 700-1050 80

The Proprietary Church 80

Physical Dimensions of Church Buildings and "Parishes" 82

Clerical Education and Lay Catechesis 83

Liturgy and Sacraments 85

Preaching 87

Sacramentals Parallel Liturgies and the Question of "Superstition" 88

A "Folkloristic" Culture? 91

Chapter 6 Christians and Jews, ca. 400-1100 95

Roman Law 96

Jews in the Visigothic Kingdoms 97

The Ostrogoths, Imperial Rule, and the Lombards 99

Early Prankish and Carolingian Era 100

Chapter 7 Islam and Western Christianity, ca. 600-1450 103

The Life of Christians under Muslim Rule 104

"Reconquest" 106

The Idea of the Crusade 109

The First Crusade 109

Iter Sancti Sepulchri: On the Road to Jerusalem 111

Western Christian Views of Islam, ca. 700-1450 115

III High-Medieval Christianity, ca. 1050-1300

Chapter 8 Libertas Ecclesiae: The Age of Reform, ca. 1050-1125 119

Monastic Reform 120

Cluny and Papal Reform 123

The Role of the New Testament 124

Moderate Papal Reform, 1050-1075 126

Developments in Canon Law 131

Kings and Episcopal Grace: Investiture 132

The Norman Alliance 134

Gregory VII and Empire 134

The Conflict of Papacy and Empire, 1075-1100 139

The Pamphlet War and Compromise 143

Consequences of Reform 145

Chapter 9 Religiosi: Monks and Nuns in the Monastic Centuries 148

The Anchoritic Life 149

Julian of Norwich 150

The Desert Tradition Revived 151

Carthusians 152

Female Carthusians 156

Wandering Hermits, Women, and Fontevrault 157

Gilbert and the Order of Sempringham 158

Regular Canons 160

Premonstratensians 162

Premonstratensian Women 163

To the Letter of the Rule: The Cistercian Adventure 164

Cistercian Women 171

Chapter 10 Heresy and Its Repression 174

Radical Gregorians 175

Cathars 178

Waldensians 188

Repression: Crusade 198

Repression: Inquisition 201

Chapter 11 Dominicans and Their Sisters 211

Dominic and the Dominicans 211

Learning 218

Beguines, Dominican Sisters, and the Friars Preachers 219

Hounds of the Lord: Inquisitors 223

Masters 224

Chapter 12 Fraticelli: Franciscans and Their Sisters 226

The Lives of Francis 227

Lesser Brothers 233

Clare 236

Mission, Dismay, and Death 238

The Pastoral Mission to the Cities 241

Conflict and Controversy, 1226-1274 245

Emergence of the Spirituals and Joachites 249

Guglielma of Milan 250

Secular-Mendicant Controversy 251

Bonaventure 253

Olivi and the Controversy over "Poor Use" 254

Shock: Papal Suppression 255

Chapter 13 The Philosopher, the Fathers, and the Faith: Scholasticism and the University 257

Monastic Schools 258

Urban Schools 260

A History of Calamity: Abelard and Heloisc 262

The University 266

Teaching and Learning 271

Aristotle and Scholasticism 274

Universities and the Mendicants 276

Thomas Aquinas 277

The Aristotelian Crisis 279

Scholasticism and Gothic Architecture 283

Chapter 14 The Bid for Papal Monarchy 287

Vicar of Christ: Innocent III 287

Lord or Shepherd? Innocent's Petrine Doctrine 289

Instruments of Papal Power 292

Causes of Papal Resentment 295

Chapter 15 To "Deepen Understanding": Means of Christianization, 1050-1250 299

Learning through Texts 300

Instruction through Worship 300

Liturgical Drama 301

The Pictorial and the Pedagogical 302

Piety and Processions 303

Religious Drama 307

Preaching 308

The "Revolution in Pastoral Care," 1200-1250 309

Fraternities, Guilds, and Charities 312

The Meaning of Marriage 315

Money and Morality 318

Chapter 16 Devotion: Saints, Relics, and Pilgrimage 320

The Saint and Ideals of Sanctity 320

Specialization 322

The Shrine and the Supernatural 323

Theological Issues and Problems of Autiiority 325

Calendars and Feast Days 326

Relics: Theft, Translation, Invention 327

Pilgrimage 329

Jerusalem 331

Rome 332

Santiago de Compostela 333

Conques: Stc. Foy 334

Canterbury: Thomas 336

Tours: Martin 338

"Virgin Most Powerful": The Special Place of Mary 339

Critique 342

Chapter 17 A Lachrymose Age: Christians and Jews, 1096-1492 343

The Crusades 343

Anti-Semitic Myths 347

Caricature and Iconography 354

The Medieval Passion Play 356

Innocent III and the Fourth Lateran Council 357

Money Lending and Usury 358

Talmud Disputations and Talmud Burnings 360

Disputation at Barcelona 361

Expulsions and Massacre 362

"Enough unto Our Sufferings": Spain 363

IV Later-Medieval Christianity, ca. 1300-1500

Chapter 18 Dark Ages? Popes and Councils, ca. 1300-1450 369

The Clash between Boniface VIII and Philip IV 370

The Avignon Papacy, 1309-1378 374

Catherine of Siena 377

The Great Schism 1378-1417 378

The Emergence of the Conciliar Solution 378

Later Councils 383

The Restoration Papacy 385

Chapter 19 "Morning Stars" or Heretics? Wyclif, Hus, and Followers 387

John Wyclif: Life and Thought 387

The Lollards 393

Hus, Bohemia, and the Hussite Revolution 395

Radicalization in Prague 400

Chapter 20 Late-Medieval Contours of Reform, 1380-1500 403

Partial Reform 403

Local and Provincial Reform 406

Florentine Humanism and the Early Renaissance 406

Savonarola and Florence 407

The Sisters and Brothers of the Common Life 410

Nicholas of Cusa's Papally Sponsored Reform 412

Francisco Ximénez de Cisneros and the Reform of the Spanish Church 415

Chapter 21 Late-Medieval Piety and Its Problems 418

The Flowering of Mysticism in the Later Middle Ages 418

Sybil of the Rhine: Hildegard of Bingen 419

Books of Hours 428

"Certain Mansions": Purgatory 430

The Mass and the Eucharist 431

The Facere Doctrine 433

Chronology 437

Notes 441

Glossary 459

Index 465

Editorial Reviews

★ 01/12/2015
Madigan, a professor of ecclesiastical history at Harvard Divinity School, has produced a model of what an introductory text should be. The volume, divided into sections covering the early, high, and late Middle Ages, brings nuance to its overview of the traditional topics, such as the Crusades, the creation and consolidation of papal power, suppression vs. tolerance of heresy, and religious art and architecture; it also delves into less understood topics such as the status of women and their spiritual experiences in the church, changing views of Jews and Muslims, or the relationship between the institutional church and the average parishioner. In his neat synthesis of new and older research, Madigan also explores some relevant scholarly debates and probes the mechanisms of the cultural and religious changes he covers, whether through influential individuals or migrations of populations. His prose style is accessible and clear, making for an engaging narrative history that should please experts while whetting the appetites of beginners, providing background on and insight into a foreign society while charting development of a religious culture that still has relevance for the Western world today. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"Accessible and clear . . . an engaging narrative history that should please experts while whetting the appetites of beginners."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"[A] crowning scholarly achievement . . . a landmark of popular history . . . probingly researched and well-written . . . Madigan captures the power of it all and also the multifaceted humanity of it all . . . page-turningly fascinating. If you want one rock-solid book on Church history, this is it."—Steve Donoghue, Open Letters

"[A] compelling exposition of the evolution of the church."—Thomas Filbin, Arts Fuse

"Admirable . . .compelling . . . Madigan’s book can be said to convey a picture of medieval Christianity that is no less lively for being well-informed and carefully balanced. It can be recommended without reservation to any interested reader."—Francis Oakley, Commonweal

"Kevin Madigan has produced a richly informative book. . . . He is a scholar of the first class himself, and reading his lucid text gives a powerful idea of what a splendid teacher he must be."—Philip Jenkins, Christian Century

"Given the explosion of scholarly interest in medieval religion . . . Medieval Christianity: A New History fulfills an evident need for a new synthesis. . . . Well written and broadly accessible, this book would indeed serve as a useful textbook in courses on the history of Christianity."—Tanya Stabler Miller, Catholic Historical Review

"A substantial and important contribution . . . a solid, nuanced, and enlightening narrative."—John W. Coakley, Church History

“Madigan's narrative is extremely compelling. This book recommends itself because of its thoroughness and balance throughout a wide variety of topics. . . . Although containing a wealth of scholarship, it is highly accessible.”—Jack Kilcrease, Anglican and Episcopal History

"This will undoubtedly be the fundamental narrative account of medieval Christianity for the next generation, smartly and engagingly written."—John Van Engen, University of Notre Dame

"This impressive summary of the medieval church is comprehensive in coverage, rich in detail, and clear in presentation. It seamlessly combines the best of the received story of medieval Christianity with challenging insights from the newest historiography."—Bernard McGinn, University of Chicago

"A masterful yet accessible introduction to the principal institutional, intellectual, and social developments of medieval Christianity, including the papacy and religious orders, particularly valuable for its attention to the place of Jews, Muslims, heretics, and women in these developments, as well as the problem of educating the laity."—Rachel Fulton Brown, author of From Judgment to Passion: Devotion to Christ and the Virgin Mary, 800-1200

"This much-needed book deftly combines the institutional, theological and intellectual history of medieval Christianity. Madigan admirably includes important topics missing from earlier surveys, such as Christian attitudes towards Jews and Muslims, the roles of women, liturgy, popular devotion and the arts."—E. Ann Matter, University of Pennsylvania

"Offering a new approach to the history of medieval Christianity, this ambitious book fully lives up to the expectations it sets. Throughout its subtle and supple narrative, it deepens readers' knowledge of this important period."—Willemien Otten, University of Chicago

From the Publisher

“Provides in one volume a survey of the entire sweep of Christian history between the years 500 and 1500 and an introduction to Christian practice and though in this period. It does so in a way that is comprehensive without being overwhelming, and comprehensible without being condescending… Madigan’s expertise in the field, combined with his ability to present a mass of material in an engaging way make this a highly successful undertaking.”—Michael Staunton, Dublin Review of Books

Dublin Review of Books - Michael Staunton

“Kevin Madigan has produced a richly informative book. . . . He is a scholar of the first class himself, and reading his lucid text gives a powerful idea of what a splendid teacher he must be.”—Philip Jenkins, Christian Century

Christian Century - Philip Jenkins

“Admirable . . .compelling . . . Madigan’s book can be said to convey a picture of medieval Christianity that is no less lively for being well-informed and carefully balanced. It can be recommended without reservation to any interested reader.”—Francis Oakley, Commonweal

Commonweal - Francis Oakley

“[A] compelling exposition of the evolution of the church.”—Thomas Filbin, Arts Fuse

Arts Fuse - Thomas Filbin

“[A] crowning scholarly achievement . . . a landmark of popular history . . . probingly researched and well-written . . . Madigan captures the power of it all and also the multifaceted humanity of it all . . . page-turningly fascinating. If you want one rock-solid book on Church history, this is it.”—Steve Donoghue, Open Letters

Open Letters - Steve Donoghue

“This is a masterful survey spanning a thousand years of the history of Christianity in Europe. Madigan shows an impressive command of recent scholarship as he brings to life the spiritual, institutional and intellectual struggles of individuals, be they popes or beguines, hermits or heresiarchs.”—John Tolan, Université de Nantes

John Tolan

“Offering a new approach to the history of medieval Christianity, this ambitious book fully lives up to the expectations it sets. Throughout its subtle and supple narrative, it deepens readers' knowledge of this important period.”—Willemien Otten, University of Chicago

Willemien Otten

“This much-needed book deftly combines the institutional, theological and intellectual history of medieval Christianity. Madigan admirably includes important topics missing from earlier surveys, such as Christian attitudes towards Jews and Muslims, the roles of women, liturgy, popular devotion and the arts.”—E. Ann Matter, University of Pennsylvania

E. Ann Matter

“A masterful yet accessible introduction to the principal institutional, intellectual, and social developments of medieval Christianity, including the papacy and religious orders, particularly valuable for its attention to the place of Jews, Muslims, heretics, and women in these developments, as well as the problem of educating the laity.”—Rachel Fulton Brown, author of From Judgment to Passion: Devotion to Christ and the Virgin Mary, 800-1200

Rachel Fulton Brown

“This impressive summary of the medieval church is comprehensive in coverage, rich in detail, and clear in presentation. It seamlessly combines the best of the received story of medieval Christianity with challenging insights from the newest historiography.”—Bernard McGinn, University of Chicago

Bernard McGinn

“This will undoubtedly be the fundamental narrative account of medieval Christianity for the next generation, smartly and engagingly written.”—John Van Engen, University of Notre Dame

John Van Engen