The Worlds of European Christendom (Connected and Divided) 500-1300

Jose Betancourt

World History 1

Dr. Andrews

11/12/12

          The Worlds of European Christendom (Connected and Divided) 500-1300

            The time of the Christendom is mostly thought of happening in Europe. Christianity rose from a small Jewish community. With that said, one can conclude that Christianity has its roots from Jewish thought, and Jewish culture. One interesting fact that I thought about while reading the chapter was that at the same time that the Christendom happened and the ruptures or discontents happen in the Christian nations, Europe was going through a time of no innovations. While Asia, was really advanced in technology and science.

            In that case Christianity served as an ideal for most people of Eurasia. “During the postclassical era, Christianity provided a measure of cultural commonality for the societies of western Eurasia, much as Chinese civilization and Buddhism did for East Asia”(269).  Christianity brought what they could to society. They did not bring to Europe much of the sciences; all that people relied on was the scripts of the monks (Religion and Technology Class).  During the time of the chiefdoms there was also a trying to preserve of classical times form the part of the Byzantines. “Like Tang Dynasty china seeking to restore the glory of the Han era, Byzantium consciously sought to preserve the legacy of classical civilization and the Roman Empire”(271).  In that case we can see that Christianity was not a bad way of viewing life, but a way of giving society the best they could at the time. What bothers me though is the modern thinking of many scholars and professors who see Christianity as an oppressor of races and cultures because of the inquisitions and the American conquest. It bothers me because it totally diminishes the great contribution to the people that Christianity has done and still does for the world.

            Finally one other reality and truth was that Christianity has had many ruptures or breaking bonds. The church separated during the time of the Christendom. The west excommunicated east and vice versa. The reasons were theological, a and also cultural. The Christian orthodox still remains to be strong during our time, and the Catholic Church is still one of the largest institutions in the whole world. (272-273).