Contesting Christendom: Readings in Medieval Religion and Culture

This reader fills a gap in classroom offerings by exploring historians' ongoing attempt to understand the social and cultural aspects of medieval Christianity. James L. Halverson organizes his selections around two central questions: what do we mean when we say that medieval Europe was a Christian culture, and what did it mean to be a Christian in the Middle Ages? He argues that the diversity of medieval society over time and space defies the simple answers given in textbooks and that students of medieval religion must have more exposure to issues such as class, gender, and literacy. This carefully selected and provocative collection of key works in the field will provide an invaluable introduction to the medieval world.