History of Christianity: The Early Middle Ages

Course Description

This course aims to introduce students to the major developments and traditions of the early medieval church. Building on the material introduced in the lectures on the first five centuries of the church, this course explores the social, political and doctrinal dimensions of life in the church between the sixth and tenth centuries. Most of the lectures focus on the West, but consideration is also given to influential developments in the Greek-speaking East and beyond.

Course Content

Unit 1: The 6th Century

• The 6th century: an era of fragmentation and dissolution
• Christians and pagans in the new Europe: the baptism of Clovis
• Gregory the Great and his world

Unit 2: The 7th Century

• Pope Gregory the Great and the Christian mission: the conversion of England
• The doctrinal controversies of the eastern Roman Empire
• Christianity and Islam

Unit 3: The 8th Century

• The rise of western monasticism
• Medieval saints and saints’ lives in Ireland and on the continent
• The iconoclast controversy of the 8th century

Unit 4: The 9th Century

• The rise of the Papacy and the conversion of pagans
• Religious life: Charlemagne’s reforms, pagan survivals, and Christian morality
• Islam in western Europe and the martyrs of Cordoba

Unit 5: The 10th Century

• The western Church
• The Eastern Orthodox Church and the breaking of unity

Course Format

• Six weeks in duration, with one week for orientation.
• Typically 15-20 students in each course.
• All readings available online in course.
• Supplemental readings are provided to encourage further exploration of topic, internet links provided for all readings.
• Weekly written assignments (150-200 words) required.
• Weekly facilitator moderated chat sessions with students in course.

Required Texts

• All course materials are available in the course.

Participation Requirements

Requirements for course include:

• Weekly reading of lecture text and primary sources.
• Participation in class discussion using discussion area (minimum 2 comments, questions or responses weekly.)
• Weekly written assignment (150-200 words.)
• Weekly chat session with other students in course (3 required throughout course.)
• Course evaluation.

Time Expectations

• 4 to 6 hours a week (time varies from student to student depending on your learning style and schedule.)

Course Certificate

A Certificate of Completion awarding 30 Contact Hours will be sent upon completion of all course requirements.

Meet the Developer

Dr. Marcela Perett

Marcela Perett graduated from Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont in 1999 with a B.A. in English and in Environmental Economics. In 2003, she received a Masters degree in Theological Studies from the University of Notre Dame, and, in 2005, a Masters degree in Medieval Studies from Notre Dame's Medieval Institute. She completed her doctorate in Medieval Studies at Notre Dame's Medieval Institute in 2009. Her area of focus is Christianization in Late Antiquity and in the Middle Ages and late medieval Bohemia. Marcela lives in South Bend with her husband. B.A., Middlebury College, 1999; M.T.S., University of Notre Dame, 2003; M.M.S., University of Notre Dame, 2005; Ph.D., University of Notre Dame, 2009