Description

This volume offers a compact yet thorough survey of the Christian Church’s evolution from the mid‑fifth century, a time when the old Roman order was collapsing and new “barbarian” kingdoms were rising across Europe. It traces how the faith moved from being a persecuted minority to becoming a unifying institution amid political upheaval, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that defined its early medieval journey.

The author guides listeners through a series of regional studies—covering the Eastern Church, Italy, Gaul, Spain, Africa, the British Isles, and the conversion of the Slavs and Northmen. Key theological disputes such as the Monothelite controversy, the iconoclastic crisis, and the growth of monastic learning are examined alongside the practical realities of worship, sacraments, and liturgy during this formative era.

Written with scholarly care yet accessible prose, the work balances detailed footnotes and primary‑source excerpts with a clear narrative flow. It serves anyone curious about how the early Church navigated a world in transition, making complex history approachable for the modern listener.

Details

Full title

The Church and the Barbarians Being an Outline of the History of the Church from A.D. 461 to A.D. 1003 Being an Outline of the History of the Church from A.D. 461 to A.D. 1003

Language

Duration

~6 hours (375K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2007-08-21

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

Source

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22366