Change and Continuity in Christianity in Relation to Post-classical Culture

By Cassidy Hayden
  • Jan 1, 600

    Forced Conversion of Northern Middle Eastern Peoples

    Areas in the northern Middle East formerly taken by Persia were reclaimed in the seventh century C.E., and the peoples living there were forcibly converted back to Christianity following this. This is a change from the way Christians were converting previously, allowing people to come into their faith willingly.
  • Period: Jan 1, 600 to Dec 31, 1450

    The Post-classical Period

  • Jan 1, 650

    Muslim Reclaiming of Christian Byzantine Lands in the Middle East

    Following the Muslim Ridda Wars (633-34), the Arabs built a massive naval fleet that they used to challenge and defeat the Byzantines, taking back land from the Christians. However, Christians and Jews were permitted to remain in their faith as long as they paid a tax to the Muslim leaders. Christianity constantly had a pattern of highs and lows, so this setback in their political power was still an example of continuity in this pattern.
  • Jan 1, 1000

    Theological Reasoning Becomes Widespread in Western Europe

    Starting in about 1000 C.E., many scholars and holy people in Western Europe began thinking about their Christian faith in new ways. Logical reasoning combined with deep faith was used in attempts to fill in holes and inconsistencies in the Bible and to even prove the existence of God. This is a major change in Christianity because, prior to this trend, Christians were expected to only have faith in the absolute truth of the Bible and nothing else.
  • Jan 1, 1054

    Formal Split of Orthodox Christian and Roman Catholic Churches

    Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholicism had largely developed separately from at least the fourth century C.E. However, the two churches were not officially separated until 1054, when the Roman pope excommunicated the Eastern patriarch and the patriarch retorted by excommunicating all Roman Catholics. This is a change in Christianity because of many Christians' devout following of the Bible, making one think that they would remain as a single faith.
  • Jan 1, 1073

    Pope Gregory VII Ends State Investiture

    Pope Gregory VII was a reform-minded pope who seeked to purify the Church. He fought with Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV over the issue of state appointment of bishops and ended up excommunicating the emperor from the Church. This is another change in Christianity because, as in most major civilizations, the religion had constantly been intertwined with the government in which it was a part. This set Roman Catholicism apart from many societies of the time.
  • Jan 1, 1095

    First Crusade

    Pope Urban II called for the first of many Crusades to retake the Holy Land. This was ultimately the only successful Crusade, but it expresses a continuity with the Christian trend of reclaiming lands lost from them.
  • Dec 31, 1450

    Thesis

    Although Christianity itself changed much following its creation, Christians themselves followed largely similar patterns of expansion, reconquering lands taken from them, and important and effective mass conversions of peoples, especially during the post-classical time period.

  • Missionaries Cyril and Methodius are Sent to Czech and Slovak Areas

    Many Orthodox missionaries, such as Cyril and Methodius, were sent to areas outside the Byzantine Empire to convert a great variety of peoples. Roman Catholic missionaries were more successful in some areas, but the Byzantine form of Christianity was still brought to the Balkans and southern Russia. This shows continuity in the fact that both of the main branches of Christianity went on to try and spread their religion to the world.

  • Christian Reconquest of Spain

    Starting in the tenth century C.E. and escalating by the eleventh, the small Christian states in Muslim-controlled Spain rose up and attacked the government as an attempt to retake the area. Muslim leaders were not fully gone from the area until 1492, but this "reconquest" fits into the continuity theme of Christians retaking areas once lost to other major faiths.

  • Conversions of Vikings

    During the tenth century C.E., Viking raids in Europe began to become less frequent, partially due to many of the Vikings converting to Christianity and settling down. Though this is a difference in terms of European history, this is again continuity in Christianity's tendency for greatly effective conversions to their faith.

  • Russia Adopts Orthodox Christianity

    After becoming the king of Russia, Vladimir wanted to increase his authority by converting the traditional polytheistic state to a new, more global religion. He decided on Eastern Orthodox Christianity to avoid interference from the pope and the Islam ban on alcohol. This event is an example of continuity in world leaders' tendency to convert to a major religion, in this case Christianity, to strengthen their authority and the unity of areas under their control.