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Love in Christendom

Love in Christendom. Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D. GSTR 220-B Western Traditions I Berea College Fall 2003. THE POST-ROMAN WEST (750-1000 CE). Collapse of Western Roman Empire in 476 leaves Western Europe sparsely populated, poor, and vulnerable to invasions

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Love in Christendom

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  1. Love in Christendom Jeffrey L. Richey, Ph.D. GSTR 220-BWestern Traditions I Berea College Fall 2003

  2. THE POST-ROMAN WEST (750-1000 CE) • Collapse of Western Roman Empire in 476 leaves Western Europe sparsely populated, poor, and vulnerable to invasions • Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, ruled from Constantinople (modern Istanbul), endures in spite of territorial losses to Islamic forces • “Christendom” (Christian West) loosely unified by rule of Germanic kings and increasingly powerful Pope (Bishop of Rome) • Charlemagne (742-814) crowned “Holy Roman Emperor” by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day, 800 • By 1054, Roman Catholic West and Greek Orthodox East divided

  3. LIFE IN EARLY MEDIEVAL EUROPE • Property-owning aristocrats (lords) contract with lesser warriors (vassals) to exchange land (fiefs) for military protection • Property-less peasants (serfs) contract with vassals to exchange freedom and agricultural labor for military protection and use of land (manor) • Church, led by Pope, competes with kings for local control • Approximately 90% of early medieval Europeans are agricultural laborers • Lords, vassals, and the clergy constitute approximately 10% of the population

  4. By 11th century, Byzantine Empire faces increasing challenges from Seljuk (Muslim) Empire, and requests help from West 1095: Pope Urban II urges Western Christians to attack and invade Muslim-held territories in Middle East in order to recapture them for Christendom, offering “immediate remission of sins” to those who die in battle 1099: An army of mostly Frankish (French) Christians massacres the population of Jerusalem and establishes independent Crusader states in Middle East, undermining Byzantine and Muslim power in the region 1144: Edessa (in modern Turkey) overthrows Crusader rule and returns to Muslim control, prompting second Crusade 1187: Jerusalem recaptured by Muslim forces, triggering third Crusade led by kings of England, France, and Germany 1204: Western Christian forces capture Constantinople and establish short-lived Latin Empire in East (1204-1261) 1291: Acre, last stronghold of Crusaders in Middle East, recaptured by Muslim forces Christian persecution of Jews, heretics, and homosexuals increases during Crusades THE AGE OF CRUSADES (1095-1291)

  5. Crusader Routes to Middle East

  6. LOVE IN CHRISTENDOM • Marriage: • Arranged by families • Sanctified by Church • Divorce prohibited by Church after 840, but (like abortion and contraception) widely practiced until 1200s • Sexuality: • Church tolerates only heterosexual intercourse for procreation within marriage • Church disapproves of homosexuality, but punishes those who practice contraception more severely • In spite of Church teachings, extramarital and premarital sex (homosexual and heterosexual) remain popular, especially among aristocrats

  7. ABELARD (1079-1142) & HELOISE (1098-1164) • Pierre Abelard: greatest Western philosopher of 12th century, professor at University of Paris, and Catholic priest • Famous for his “intentionalist” theory of moral value, according to which actions should be judged by the motivation of their agents • His student, Heloise, becomes his lover, mother of his child, and secret wife • Heloise’s relatives avenge Heloise by castrating Abelard • Abelard enters monastery, while Heloise becomes famous abbess • Abelard and Heloise maintain correspondence for rest of lives

  8. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX (1090-1152) • Born in France to aristocrats • Becomes a monk at age of 23 and establishes monastery at Clairvaux, where he lives until his death at 62 • Said to have compiled the Rule (code of discipline) for the Order of Knights Templar, military religious community dedicated to protection of Christian pilgrims in Palestine • Encourages participation in Crusades and opposes Abelard • Canonized (declared a saint) by Pope Alexander III in 1175 • Famous for mystical theology, in which love relationship is model for God’s relationship with Church

  9. AELRED OF RIEVAULX (1110-1167) • Born in England to aristocrats • Becomes monk at age 24 and eventually presides as abbot over several monasteries in England • Political advisor to English and Scottish kings • Missionary to Scotland • Historian and homilist • Heavily influenced by Roman Stoicism • Sees friendship (especially Jesus’ close friendships as described in New Testament) as model for the soul’s progress toward union with God

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