The Rise of the Mediaeval Church

The growth of papal authority gives Alexander Clarence Flick a thread through the religious and political history of Western Europe. His account runs from the first to the thirteenth century, beginning with the origins and organisation of the Christian Church. Chapters examine Constantine, monastic communities, missionary work and the separation of the Roman and Greek churches. The emphasis falls on how institutions developed and how their influence spread through European life.

Written for college classes and general readers, the volume grew from research in European libraries and lectures at Syracuse University. Flick connects church history with the Carolingian Empire, the Holy Roman Empire and the reform efforts of Gregory VII. Worship, church law, art and the mendicant orders also feature in the discussion. References and chapter bibliographies support further study, making the book useful to readers who want to follow the connections between religious organisation, government and medieval culture.