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Religion, Politics and Society in Britain, 800-1066 PDF

317 Pages·2014·2.31 MB·English
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Religion, Politics and Society – in Britain, 800 1066 Using a comparative and broad perspective, Religion, Politics and Society in Britain, 800–1066 draws on archaeology, art history, material culture, texts from charms to chronicles, from royal law-codes to sermons to poems, and other evidence to demonstrate the centrality of Christianity and the Church to Britain, 800–1066. It delineates their contributions to the changes in politics, economy, society and culture that occurred between 800 and 1066, from nation-building to practi- calities of government to landscape. The period 800–1066 saw the beginnings of a fundamental restructuring of politics, society and economy throughout Christian Europe in which religion played a central role. In Britain too the interaction of religion with politics and society was profound and pervasive. There was no part of life which Christianity and the Church did not touch: they affected belief, thought and behaviour at all levels of society. This book points out interconnections within society and between archae- ological, art-historical and literary evidence and similarities between aspects of culture not only within Britain but also in comparison with Armenian Christen- dom. A.E. Redgate explores the importance of religious ideas, institutions, per- sonnel and practices inthe creation andexpression ofidentities and communities, the structure and functioning of society and the life of the individual. This book will be essential reading for students of early medieval Britain and religious and social history. A.E. Redgate is a Lecturer in Medieval History at Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where she has taught Anglo-Saxon history, Armenian his- tory and World history. Her publications include TheArmenians (1998)andarticles drawing on Anglo-Saxon and Welsh history to illuminate Armenian subjects, on Armenian history to illuminate the Anglo-Saxon, and comparing Anglo-Saxon and Armenian kings. Religion, Politics and Society in Britain Edited by Keith Robbins The Conversion of Britain: Religion, Politics and Society in Britain, 600–800 Barbara Yorke The Age of Reformation: The Tudor and Stewart Realms, 1485–1603 Alec Ryrie The Post-Reformation: Religion, Politics and Society in Britain, 1603–1714 John Spurr Eighteenth-Century Britain: Religion and Politics, 1714–1815 Nigel Yates Providence and Empire: Religion, Politics and Society in the United Kingdom, 1815–1914 Stewart Brown Religion and Society in Twentieth-Century Britain Callum G. Brown Religion, Politics and Society in Britain, 1066–1272 Henry Mayr-Harting Religion, Politics and Society – in Britain, 800 1066 A.E. Redgate Firstpublished2014 byRoutledge 2ParkSquare,MiltonPark,Abingdon,OxonOX144RN andbyRoutledge 711ThirdAvenue,NewYork,NY10017 RoutledgeisanimprintoftheTaylor&FrancisGroup,aninformabusiness ©2014A.E.Redgate TherightofA.E.Redgatetobeidentifiedasauthorofthisworkhas beenassertedbyherinaccordancewithsections77and78ofthe Copyright,DesignsandPatentsAct1988. Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereprintedorreproduced orutilisedinanyformorbyanyelectronic,mechanical,orothermeans, nowknownorhereafterinvented,includingphotocopyingandrecording, orinanyinformationstorageorretrievalsystem,withoutpermissionin writingfromthepublishers. Trademarknotice:Productorcorporatenamesmaybetrademarksor registeredtrademarks,andareusedonlyforidentificationand explanationwithoutintenttoinfringe. BritishLibraryCataloguinginPublicationData AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData Redgate,A.E.(AnneElizabeth) Religion,politicsandsocietyinBritain,800–1066/A.E.Redgate. pagescm–(Religion,politicsandsocietyinBritain) Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex. 1.GreatBritain–History–Anglo-Saxonperiod,449–1066.2.Christianityand politics–GreatBritain–History–To1500.3.Religionandpolitics–Great Britain–History–To1500.4.Anglo-Saxons–Politicsandgovernment. 5.Christianity–GreatBritain–History.6.Anglo-Saxons–Socialconditions. I.Title. DA152.R372014 941.01–dc23 2013034116 ISBN:978-0-415-73668-8(hbk) ISBN:978-0-582-38250-3(pbk) ISBN:978-1-315-81472-8(ebk) TypesetinBaskerville byTaylorandFrancisBooks To Bob, φιλτάτω ι This page intentionally left blank Contents Acknowledgements x Series Editor’s Preface xi Note on References xiii Maps xv PARTI Britain c. 800–c. 1066 1 1 Britain in c. 800 and in c. 1066: Changes and continuities 3 Introduction 3 Politics, economy, religion, culture and society c. 800 7 Continuity and change: politics, economy, religion, culture and society on the eve of the Norman Conquest, 1066 19 2 Records and remains: Religion and reconstructions 31 A holistic approach 31 Material remains 33 Linguistic evidence 39 Texts – England 41 Texts – Scotland and Wales 49 Approaches and methodologies 52 A case study in comparative history: vernacular liturgy 54 PARTII Beginnings: Identities and communities 61 3 Kings: Christianity and control 63 Introduction 63 Self-representation and representation 64 Strong kingship and control of the Church 74 viii Contents 4 Kings: Christianity and acceptance 81 Unification 81 Dynasties and legitimacy 86 Other methods of control and unification 90 5 Churches: Boundaries and aspirations 98 Introduction 98 Archbishoprics and bishoprics 98 Monasteries, minsters and parishes 104 Parishes, local churches and secular lordship 108 National Churches? 111 6 Social Cohesion 115 Introduction 115 Christians, nations and kingdoms 115 Dioceses, towns, villages and localities 124 Monasticism, penance, pilgrimage, saints, spiritual kinship and prayer 128 Scots and Welsh communities and their bonds 132 PARTIII Ends: The structuring of society 137 7 The Church in society 139 Introduction 139 Political theory and engagement 139 The Church and gender 142 8 Women’s agency 154 Misogyny and emancipation 154 Property 156 Vowesses, cloistered women and saints 159 Women in British and Scots’ societies 167 9 The Church in the landscape 170 The physical reality 170 The Church in the economy 174 The Church and socio-economic change 180 Contents ix PARTIV Means: Order and individuals 189 10 Government, law and administration 191 High politics and government 191 Law, law courts and the legal system 194 Dues, troops and war 202 Diplomacy: embassies and letters 204 Scotland and Wales 205 11 Pastoral care 209 Introduction 209 Pastoral care in England before the great reform 209 Pastoral care in late Anglo-Saxon England: aspirations, complaints and concern 212 Pastoral care in late Anglo-Saxon England: an optimistic view 216 Beyond the English: pastoral care in Scotland and Wales 225 12 The Christian’s life 229 Routines and special occasions 229 Evil and misfortune 238 Sin and salvation 245 Conclusion: 1066 255 Bibliography 257 Index 279

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