The Cambridge History of Christianity

This History stresses the vitality, dynamism and diversity of Christianity in the early medieval period.

Thomas F. X. Noble (Edited by), Julia M. H. Smith (Edited by)

9781107423640, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 31 July 2014

878 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 5 cm, 1.26 kg

'In keeping with the format of a Cambridge History, this volume deploys an impressive number of academic A-listers, assembled to produce an authoritative treatment.' The Journal of Ecclesiastical History

The key focus of this book is the vitality and dynamism of all aspects of Christian experience from late antiquity to the First Crusade. By putting the institutional and doctrinal history firmly in the context of Christianity's many cultural manifestations and lived formations everywhere from Afghanistan to Iceland, this volume of The Cambridge History of Christianity emphasizes the ever-changing, varied expressions of Christianity at both local and world level. The insights of many disciplines, including gender studies, codicology, archaeology and anthropology, are deployed to offer fresh interpretations which challenge the conventional truths concerning this formative period. Addressing eastern, Byzantine and western Christianity, it explores encounters between Christians and others, notably Jews, Muslims, and pagans; the institutional life of the church including law, reform and monasticism; the pastoral and sacramental contexts of worship, belief and morality; and finally its cultural and theological meanings, including heresy, saints' cults and the afterlife.

Introduction: Christendom, c.600 Peter Brown
Part I. Foundations: Peoples, Places, and Traditions: 1. Late Roman Christianities Philip Rousseau
2. The emergence of Byzantine orthodoxy, 600–1095 Andrew Louth
3. Beyond empire I: Eastern Christianities from the Persian to the Turkish conquest, 604–1071 Igor Dorfmann-Lazarev
4. Beyond empire II: Christianities of the Celtic Peoples, 600–1100 Thomas M. Charles-Edwards
5. Germanic Christianities, 600–1100 Lesley Abrams
6. Slav Christianities, 800–1100 Jonathan Shepard
Part II. Christianity in Confrontation: 7. Christians and Jews, 600-c.1100 Bat-Sheva Albert
8. The Mediterranean frontier: Christianity face to face with Islam Hugh Kennedy
9. Christians under Muslim rule Sidney H. Griffith
10. Latin and Greek Christians Tia M. Kolbaba
11. The northern frontier: Christianity face to face with Paganism Ian N. Wood
Part III. Christianity in the Social and Political Order: 12. The Christian church as an institution Thomas F. X. Noble
13. Ascetism and its institutions Anne-Marie Helvétius and Michel Kaplan
14. Law and its applications Janet L. Nelson
15. The problems of property Rosemary Morris
16. Ideas and applications of reform, c.600–c.1100 Julia Barrow
17. Churches in the landscape Dominique Iogna-Prat
Part IV. Christianity as Lived Experience: 18. Birth and death Frederick S. Paxton
19. Remedies for sins Rob Meens
20. Sickness and healing Peregrine Horden
21. Gender and the body Lynda L. Coon
22. Sacrifice, gifts, and prayers in Latin Christianity Arnold Angenendt
23. Performing the liturgy Éric Palazzo
Part V. Christianity: Books and Ideas: 24. Visions of God Alain Boureau
25. Orthodoxy and deviance E. Ann Matter
26. Making sense of the Bible, 600–1100 Guy Lobrichon
27. The Christian book in medieval Byzantium Leslie Brubaker and Mary B. Cunningham
28. Saints and their cults Julia M. H. Smith
29. Last things Jane Baun
Conclusion: Christendom, c.1100 John H. Van Engen.

Subject Areas: Christian theology [HRCM], Church history [HRCC2], Medieval history [HBLC1], Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500 [HBLC]