christian historiography medieval approaches to history

Christian HistoriographyChristian Historiography

Medieval Approaches to Medieval Approaches to HistoryHistory


• Last Roman Emperor was dethroned by Last Roman Emperor was dethroned by AD476 – the end of the Western Roman AD476 – the end of the Western Roman Empire, but eastern empire based on Empire, but eastern empire based on Byzantium by emperor Constantine in Byzantium by emperor Constantine in AD325 survived for another thousand years.AD325 survived for another thousand years.

• Britain a far-flung outpost of the Roman Britain a far-flung outpost of the Roman Empire was under threat – after the Empire was under threat – after the collapse of the Roman Empire there was collapse of the Roman Empire there was obviously uncertainty about what/who obviously uncertainty about what/who would fill the power vacuum left by the would fill the power vacuum left by the Roman Empire.Roman Empire.


• It was ultimately the Saxons that It was ultimately the Saxons that sought to establish their supremacy sought to establish their supremacy over Britain. By 500 Saxons were in over Britain. By 500 Saxons were in control of the eastern and south control of the eastern and south eastern coasts. By the middle of the eastern coasts. By the middle of the seventh century great Anglo- Saxon seventh century great Anglo- Saxon kingdoms had been established over kingdoms had been established over much of England.much of England.


• Two main historical issues emerge at Two main historical issues emerge at this time.this time.– The collapse of the Roman EmpireThe collapse of the Roman Empire– Development of ChristianityDevelopment of Christianity


• Christian Historiography did not Christian Historiography did not accept Classical Historiographyaccept Classical Historiography

• God had a design for the world God had a design for the world expressed through linear time – a expressed through linear time – a sense of development and sense of development and progression was a part of this progression was a part of this approach – not a cyclical idea.approach – not a cyclical idea.

• History began with Adam and would History began with Adam and would end with the Second Coming.end with the Second Coming.


• Medieval writers and chroniclers felt a need to list Medieval writers and chroniclers felt a need to list events – starting their works with summaries of events – starting their works with summaries of the main events – using the pattern of six ages the main events – using the pattern of six ages established by St Augustine in the early 5th established by St Augustine in the early 5th century.century.

• Six ages corresponded with the account in the Six ages corresponded with the account in the first chapters of Genesis – God’s creation of the first chapters of Genesis – God’s creation of the world in six days.world in six days.

• Christian attitude to the Roman Empire was Christian attitude to the Roman Empire was problematic – Nero and Diocletian had persecuted problematic – Nero and Diocletian had persecuted Christians – but Constantine made Christianity Christians – but Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Empire.the official religion of the Empire.


• This unity between the Roman Empire and This unity between the Roman Empire and Christianity was the foundation of Christianity was the foundation of Eusebius’- Eusebius’- Ecclesiastical HistoryEcclesiastical History- difficult - difficult to sustain when the empire collapsed.to sustain when the empire collapsed.

• Christian History was according to Warren Christian History was according to Warren ‘inevitably propagandist’. History was an ‘inevitably propagandist’. History was an important weapon in fighting paganism- important weapon in fighting paganism- could be used to demonstrate the could be used to demonstrate the emergence of Christian truth.emergence of Christian truth.


• Events themselves had a Christian Events themselves had a Christian meaning – rather than fortune, luck and meaning – rather than fortune, luck and coincidence – the divine plan was the coincidence – the divine plan was the foundation of all Historical thinking.foundation of all Historical thinking.

• Classical Historians preferred tradition or Classical Historians preferred tradition or eye witness accounts to the written source eye witness accounts to the written source – uncomfortable concept to the Christian – uncomfortable concept to the Christian historian committed as he was to the historian committed as he was to the written word- the Old and New Testamentwritten word- the Old and New Testament


• Medieval HistoriographyMedieval Historiography

• Two main features of Medieval Two main features of Medieval HistoriographyHistoriography

• AnnalAnnal

• Medieval historians identified very Medieval historians identified very little difference between past and little difference between past and present.present.


• AnnalAnnal• The format precluded effective analysis of causesThe format precluded effective analysis of causes• Historians throughout Christian Europe had a Historians throughout Christian Europe had a

tendency to ascribe causes either to God’s will or tendency to ascribe causes either to God’s will or to a rather superficial account to personal to a rather superficial account to personal motivesmotives

• Medieval historians Medieval historians • Could see very few differences between the Could see very few differences between the

present and the past and so therefore imposed present and the past and so therefore imposed their own attitudes and experiences upon the their own attitudes and experiences upon the past.past.

The Venerable BedeThe Venerable Bede

• Bede a monk of the twin Bede a monk of the twin Northumbrian Abbeys of Northumbrian Abbeys of Monkwearmouth and JarrowMonkwearmouth and Jarrow


• Seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England had close contacts with the England had close contacts with the Continent and it was the Anglo-Saxon Continent and it was the Anglo-Saxon church that sent missionaries to the church that sent missionaries to the continent to convert the pagans.continent to convert the pagans.

• Bede was primarily perceived as a Bede was primarily perceived as a biblical scholar rather than a biblical scholar rather than a historian historian


• Bede was primarily perceived as a Bede was primarily perceived as a biblical scholar rather than a biblical scholar rather than a historian historian


• Bede spread the Bede spread the AD/BC system AD/BC system throughout Europe.throughout Europe.

• Wrote on the Wrote on the geography of the geography of the Holy land and Holy land and saints lives – saints lives – Hagiography.Hagiography.


• Bede as a Bede as a propagandist for his propagandist for his version of Orthodox version of Orthodox Christianity in a Christianity in a society that was by no society that was by no means fully converted.means fully converted.

Bede and his use of Bede and his use of SourcesSources• Bede’s use of sources – he actually Bede’s use of sources – he actually

cites his sources – cites his sources – see question sheetsee question sheet• Bede also comments upon the Bede also comments upon the

relationship between the informant and relationship between the informant and the person who was the subject of his the person who was the subject of his information.information.

• Bede gives the informants whereabouts Bede gives the informants whereabouts – he provides too much information to – he provides too much information to be fictitious.be fictitious.

Bede and his use of Bede and his use of SourcesSources

• Bede admits there may be Bede admits there may be inaccuracies in his reporting, ’I have inaccuracies in his reporting, ’I have laboured honestly to transmit laboured honestly to transmit whatever I could ascertain from whatever I could ascertain from common report for the instruction of common report for the instruction of posterity’posterity’

• Bede according to Warren is not a Bede according to Warren is not a ‘detached scholar’‘detached scholar’


• Bede’s humility is very Bede’s humility is very much a literary device much a literary device his work had an his work had an evangelical purpose – evangelical purpose – including the including the contemporary needs of contemporary needs of his own Northumbrian his own Northumbrian Church. Bede believed Church. Bede believed that God’s providence that God’s providence was working through was working through History.History.

Bede and his use of Bede and his use of SourcesSources• Bede includes many miracles- Bede making Bede includes many miracles- Bede making

the point that God intervened directly in the point that God intervened directly in the world to reward virtue and punish sin.the world to reward virtue and punish sin.

• Bede stressed the workings of the hard of Bede stressed the workings of the hard of God in the affairs of Kings – whose role was God in the affairs of Kings – whose role was to serve and protect the Church.to serve and protect the Church.

• ‘‘God rewarded good kings with victory and God rewarded good kings with victory and prosperity and punished bad ones with prosperity and punished bad ones with earthy calamities’earthy calamities’


• ‘‘God rewarded God rewarded good kings with good kings with victory and victory and prosperity and prosperity and punished bad ones punished bad ones with earthy with earthy calamities’calamities’


• Bede says kings would be rewarded Bede says kings would be rewarded on earth for their Faith.on earth for their Faith.

• Bede does not mention the Bede does not mention the successes of pagan kings – successes of pagan kings – does does this selectiveness make him less this selectiveness make him less of an historian?of an historian?

Bede’s own Bede’s own context/environmentcontext/environment

• Attitude to the Britons is harsh for religious Attitude to the Britons is harsh for religious reasonsreasons

• Bede was loyal to the PopeBede was loyal to the Pope• Arguably Mercia was the dominant kingdom Arguably Mercia was the dominant kingdom

in 7th-8th century Britain but Bede places in 7th-8th century Britain but Bede places Bernicia centre stage and portrays it as the Bernicia centre stage and portrays it as the dominant power – as he writes from a dominant power – as he writes from a Bernician perspective. He perceives that the Bernician perspective. He perceives that the rightful claim to rightful claim to imperiumimperium - the inheritance of - the inheritance of the Roman Empire is seen by Bede as the Roman Empire is seen by Bede as Bernician.Bernician.


• Bede not only has religious Bede not only has religious imperatives but also secular imperatives but also secular priorities- reflecting the medieval priorities- reflecting the medieval relationship of the church and state.relationship of the church and state.

• Bede praises Northumbrian Bede praises Northumbrian missionaries to Germany but makes missionaries to Germany but makes no mention of Bonifaceno mention of Boniface


• Warren argues that Bede was not an Warren argues that Bede was not an ‘unworldly scholar, unaffected and ‘unworldly scholar, unaffected and uninterested by the secular world uninterested by the secular world lapping at the doors of his haven. lapping at the doors of his haven. Instead we have realistic picture of a Instead we have realistic picture of a man of his time’man of his time’

Bede’s Style and Bede’s Style and RhetoricRhetoric• Did Bede use tools of classical rhetoric that Did Bede use tools of classical rhetoric that

are designed to persuade? Bede made use are designed to persuade? Bede made use of Eusebius and Orosius- Bede believes of Eusebius and Orosius- Bede believes that Bede knew some of Cicero’s work.that Bede knew some of Cicero’s work.

• When describing the Synod of Whitby – he When describing the Synod of Whitby – he uses a pattern of paired speeches.uses a pattern of paired speeches.

• Warren writes, ’Bede’s work betokens his Warren writes, ’Bede’s work betokens his desire to persuade more than it betokens desire to persuade more than it betokens his concern for strict accuracy.’his concern for strict accuracy.’

Bede’s Style and Bede’s Style and RhetoricRhetoric• Warren and Gramsden see that Bede’s Warren and Gramsden see that Bede’s

brief was propagandist and that this effort brief was propagandist and that this effort to persuade was the motivating force to persuade was the motivating force behind his citing of sources – to strengthen behind his citing of sources – to strengthen his arguments.his arguments.

• Bede’s concept of truth was not an Bede’s concept of truth was not an objective concept of truth but rather a objective concept of truth but rather a Christian truth, ‘the truth of History was Christian truth, ‘the truth of History was God’s plan revealed’ – WarrenGod’s plan revealed’ – Warren

Bede’s Style and Bede’s Style and RhetoricRhetoric

• Bede does cite his sources Bede does cite his sources thoroughly and is more rigorous in thoroughly and is more rigorous in his methodology but that does not his methodology but that does not separate him from his medieval separate him from his medieval context.context.

• He did however move beyond the He did however move beyond the annalists – ‘storms and sheep’annalists – ‘storms and sheep’

christian historiography medieval approaches to history

Documents

eastern empire

western roman empire

roman emperor

christian attitude

history slide

classical historiography

emperor constantine

main events