Origins & Evolution of Christianity in the Middle Ages
Origins of Christianity
Christianity originated in 1st century Palestine, Israel. It derived from Judaism, adopting its monotheistic principles. The faith is based on Jesus Christ’s message. The Holy book is the Bible, specifically the New Testament.
Expansion of Christianity:
- Dissemination by apostles and missionaries.
- Expansion through the Roman Empire.
Initially persecuted by the Romans, Christianity became the official religion under Emperor Constantine in 313 AD. Rome became the capital city of Christianity, with the Catholic Church as the dominant church and the Pope as its leader.
Collapse and Rebirth of the Catholic Church
After the fall of Rome:
Stage 1 (470-600):
- Eastern Europe: Faith maintained in the Byzantine Empire.
- Western Europe: Residual presence, faith maintained in semi-independent monasteries.
Stage 2:
- Restoration of Rome as the capital city of Western Christianity.
- Creation of a supra-national Episcopal structure: The Pope, the College of Cardinals, administration of territory (archbishops in archdioceses, bishops in dioceses, priests in parishes).
- Cooperation and conflict between Church and State.
- Coexistence of two power structures: secular and ecclesiastical.
Celto-Christian Monastic Art:
- Illuminated manuscripts: Highly valuable objects, repositories of old knowledge, handwritten by scribal monks.
- Examples: Book of Kells (ca. 800 AD), Lindisfarne Gospels (ca. 700 AD).
Return of Roman Christianity:
- Arrival of Augustine in Kent.
- Conversion of King Æthelberht by Pope Gregory I.
- Creation of the Archbishopric of Canterbury.
- Rest of Britain Christianized by the end of the 7th century.
- Imposition of Roman over Celtic Christianity.
- Predominance of episcopal structure.
- Regularization of monastic life: Benedictine Rule.
Richard the Lionheart (1157-1199)
By the age of sixteen, Richard was commanding his own army, putting down rebellions in Poitou against his father, King Henry II. Richard was a central Christian commander during the Third Crusade.
- Rebelled against his father.
- Lived in France.
- Supported anti-Semitism in Britain.
- Temporarily deposed by his brother, John Lackland.
The Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religiously sanctioned military campaigns, called by the Pope, with the main goal of restoring Christian control of the Holy Land.
- First Crusade (1095): French and Italian troops liberated Antioch and Jerusalem.
- Second Crusade (1147-1149): French and German troops, participation of the Knights Templar.
- Third Crusade (1187-1192): A response to Saladin’s conquest of Jerusalem, French, German, and English participation, including Richard the Lionheart.
- Fourth Crusade (1202-1204): Crusaders sacked Constantinople.
- Children’s Crusade (1212): Popular leaders collected 30,000 children throughout Europe. Most died of starvation or sickness, others were captured and enslaved, none reached the Holy Land.
John Lackland
During John’s reign, England lost the Duchy of Normandy to King Philip II of France, resulting in the collapse of most of the Angevin Empire. The baronial revolt at the end of John’s reign led to the signing of the Magna Carta, an early step in the evolution of the constitution of the United Kingdom.
- Confronted a Church dispute over the appointment of bishops and the royal threat of confiscation of Church property.
- Confronted barons and burgesses with heavy taxation and conflict over the right to absolute rule.
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was an outlaw in English folklore, known for “robbing from the rich and giving to the poor,” assisted by his “Merry Men.” Traditionally depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes.
- The origin of the legend is debated, possibly stemming from actual outlaws or from ballads and tales.
- Robin Hood became a popular folk figure in the medieval period and continues to be featured in modern literature, films, and television.