Description
Book SynopsisA People''s Church brings together a distinguished international group of historians to provide a sweeping introduction to Christian religious life and institutions in medieval Italy. Each essay treats a single theme as broadly as possible, highlighting both the unique aspects of medieval Christianity on the Italian peninsula and the beliefs and practices it shared with other Christian societies. Because of its long tradition of communal self-governance, Christianity in medieval Italy, perhaps more than anywhere else, was truly a people''s church. At the same time, its exceptional urban wealth and literacy rates, along with its rich and varied intellectual and artistic culture, led to diverse forms of religious devotion and institutions.
Contributors: Maria Pia Alberzoni on heresy; Frances Andrews on urban religion; Cécile Caby on monasticism; Giovanna Casagrande on mendicants; George Dameron on Florence; Antonella Degl''Innocenti on saints; Marina Gazzini
Table of Contents
1. A View of the Historiography
2. The Papacy and Italian Politics
3. Bishops
4. Pievi and the Care of Souls
5. Monasticism
6. Lay Confraternities
7. Clerical Confraternities
8. Mendicants
9. Saints
10. Heresy
11. Urban Religion
12. Case Study I: Florence
13. Case Study 2: Naples
