Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Abbreviations
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Part I The legacy of the Fathers
- Part II Early medieval theologians
- Part III The eleventh and twelfth centuries
- Chapter 6 Introduction
- Chapter 7 Anselm of Canterbury
- Chapter 8 Monks and scholars in the twelfth century
- Chapter 9 Hugh of St. Victor
- Chapter 10 Richard of St. Victor
- Chapter 11 Peter Lombard and the systematization of theology
- Part IV The thirteenth century
- Part V The fourteenth century and beyond
- Bibliography
- Index
Chapter 6 - Introduction
renewal in the eleventh and twelfth centuries
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Abbreviations
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Part I The legacy of the Fathers
- Part II Early medieval theologians
- Part III The eleventh and twelfth centuries
- Chapter 6 Introduction
- Chapter 7 Anselm of Canterbury
- Chapter 8 Monks and scholars in the twelfth century
- Chapter 9 Hugh of St. Victor
- Chapter 10 Richard of St. Victor
- Chapter 11 Peter Lombard and the systematization of theology
- Part IV The thirteenth century
- Part V The fourteenth century and beyond
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
In the second half of the ninth century the Carolingian world gradually disintegrated. After the creation of three independent kingdoms (Treaty of Verdun) further divisions occurred, and central authority all but disappeared. Economic contraction and military impotence accompanied political disintegration. Europe became increasingly vulnerable to military attacks. Viking raids at the beginning of the ninth century turned into more permanent invasions in the second half of the century, with Vikings settling in Ireland, Frisia, England, Normandy and elsewhere. In the East the Magyars went on plundering sprees, until Otto the Great (936–73) called a halt to it (in 955). In Southern Europe, Islamic incursions into the Mediterranean islands (Sicily, the Balearic Islands), and south of France and Italy, further disclosed the weakness of Europe.
The Church too, during the tenth and eleventh centuries, suffered decline. In a climate of economic downturn simony was epidemic, while local potentates seized Church property. During the tenth and early eleventh century, the papacy became an economic commodity, to be bought and sold, by rivalling Roman families. The colourful, infamous career of Pope John XII (955–63) represents the low point of the papacy at that time.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- An Introduction to Medieval Theology , pp. 77 - 82Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2012