History Essay: Evolution of Christian Doctrines in the Middle Ages

This essay examines the evolution of Christian doctrines and ideas in Western Europe during the Early Middle Ages. The author analyzes key developments, including the influence of the Bishop of Rome, the rise of papal authority, and the impact of theological shifts. The essay draws on primary sources and secondary literature to explore how the essence of Christian faith was guarded and interpreted during this period. It also touches on the impact of political and cultural changes, such as the decline of the Roman Empire, on the evolution of Christian thought. The essay emphasizes the importance of understanding the historical context in which these doctrines developed and the significance of this evolution in shaping the modern world.

Running head: EVOLUTION OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES IN MIDDLE AGES
EVOLUTION OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES IN MIDDLE AGES
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1EVOLUTION OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES IN MIDDLE AGES
Topic : Evolution of Christian doctrine and ideas in Western Europe during the Early Middle
Ages
Primary sources
One on one interviews with the
Questionnaires
Surveys
Secondary sources
Southern, Richard. The Penguin history of the Church: Western society and the Church in the
middle ages. Penguin UK, 2016.
Wood, Ian. The modern origins of the Early Middle Ages. OUP Oxford, 2013.
McGrath, Alister E. Christian theology: An introduction. John Wiley & Sons, 2016.
Hardison Jr, Osborne Bennett. Christian Rite and Christian Drama in the Middle Ages: Essays in
the Origin and Early History of Modern Drama. JHU Press, 2019.
The thesis statement of the essay argues the evolution of the Christian doctrines and ideas in
Western Europe during the Early Middle Ages. The essay argues the most important
development of the ideas and the Christian Doctrines. In the past years, literary criticisms have
seen various major developments and revolutions. ‘The Drama of Medieval Church” was
published in the year 1933, provide detailed analyzed of the subject focusing in important details.
Many historians consider the period as “Dark Ages”, the essence of Christian faith was
differently guarded as compared to the first three centuries throughout the middle ages.1 The
imperative trends in the past years have interpretative trends which contributes the breaking of
1 Southern, Richard. The Penguin history of the Church: Western society and the Church in the middle ages.
Penguin UK, 2016.

2EVOLUTION OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES IN MIDDLE AGES
boundaries in the models of periodization.2 By the fifth century, the bishop of Rome became a
leading spokesman for the faith. This has been assumed greater institutional strength in the late
middle ages. However, it has been argued there have been claims of patriarch of Constantinople,
no pontiffs ruled over the bishops.3 They saw themselves as command of the doctrines, this made
up the essence of Christianity in the middle ages. It has been argued that Christianity was more
fateful in the modern world. The church leaders such as the Bishops and the pope’s determine
their essence through doctrines which enhanced the ancient grasp of faith. The Roman imperial
rule continued to reign through Byzantine Empire.4 The imperial political control gradually
declined and the Roman culture continued long after.
2 Wood, Ian. The modern origins of the Early Middle Ages. OUP Oxford, 2013.
3 Hardison Jr, Osborne Bennett. Christian Rite and Christian Drama in the Middle Ages: Essays in the Origin and
Early History of Modern Drama. JHU Press, 2019.
4 McGrath, Alister E. Christian theology: An introduction. John Wiley & Sons, 2016.