the first thousand years: a global history of christianity summary

388. Although Wilkens clearly believes in the value of the “Christian mission” his biases are kept mostly in check throughout the work, outside of a few questionable defenses of the anti-Semitic writings of several church fathers. The first thousand years. Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2012. I'd recommend this to anyone who desires to understand the first millennium of Christianity as it developed historically throughout the world in a general (albeit specific enough) manner. As opposed to books such as A Brief History of the Catholic Church, The First Thousand Years never gets bogged down with biographical details, nor does it spend an inordinate amount of time on the. Of all the history books I've had to read, I probably enjoyed this one the most of all. Charles Sturt University. I found ten major errors in that short section that promoted an interpretation that was clearly against Catholic teaching. See 1 question about The First Thousand Years…, New African American Histories and Biographies to Read Now. Many of these histories don't make the cut in other textbooks. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. Marty admits that in 240 pages it is impossible to cover 2000 years of history, so he doesn't try. His short chapters are engaging and full of details and anecdotes that bring the story he is telling to life. The book highlights the triumphs of Christianity as it spread through the East, West, and Orient, while also portraying the problems associated with the [arguably well-intentioned but poorly enacted] association of the Papacy and the Franks in the latter 8th-century and into the high Middle Ages--a union which would see Roman Catholicism become a strong political force throughout Western Europe until the Protestant Reformation. A discussion with Dr. Robert Louis Wilken over his book, "The First Thousand Years: A Global History of Christianity." This book is a pretty remarkable achievement - a highly read-able, comprehensive, truly global in perspective (ie. Riddled with errors and no citations to support his erroneous conclusions! In this way Wilken is able to show the way in which Christianity progressively defined itself by all those things it was not, while also suffering divisions through some of those defin. Truly deserves to be on THE MUST READ list. Although I have taught much of this era to college history classes, I learned a lot from several chapters in this book. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2012; pp. Start by marking “The First Thousand Years: A Global History of Christianity” as Want to Read: Error rating book. In fact, it's probably the most objective historical survey I've read. Along the way, he touches on chapters devoted to architecture, christological issues, the rise of Islam, music, China, India, Northern Europe, Justinian and Charlemagne. ] Great purchase. A great introduction to the global history of Christianity in the first millennium. Each chapter is interesting and engaging by itself, but for some reason they didn’t coalesce into a narrative whole. Willken does an admirable job of synthesizing vast amounts of historical theory, while also maintaining a sense of narrative throughout. Wilken, Robert Louis. We (perhaps universally) are sadly ignorant of other Christian traditions. Arrived quickly. "Compelling. The best history I have read on the church’s first 1,000 years. Thus, humans should not insist that God follow their conception of time. In order to navigate out of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate to the next or previous heading. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. Wilken's overview of the First Thousand Years of Christian history is exceptionally well-written. The First Thousand Years: A Global History of Christianity (9780300198386) by Robert Louis Wilken New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 2012. x + 390 pp. The rise and spread of Islam had a lasting impact on the future of Christianity, and several chapters are devoted to the early experiences of Christians under Muslim rule. Contra most surveys, it includes the development of Christianity in regions beyond the Roman and Byzantine Empires (like Syria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Armenia, and the other early Sees). Worth the read! Willken does an admirable job of synthesizing vast amounts of historical theory, while also maintaining a sense of narrative throughout. [This] highly accessible volume abounds with lively tales and fascinating connections, and the color illustrations are a delight. His account of the interactions of Islam and Christianity was fascinating as well. He approaches the history of the church as a hist. 6 maps+16 colour plates. Reading Selection 1: Diarmaid MacCulloch, Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years, 1-12. November 27th 2012 "—Eamon Duffy. This books fills in so many blind spots in place and time, and with such worthy erudition, that it should be on everyone's shelf. In my mind, it displaces Chadwick as my top recommendation for nonspecialists. (Downside for academics: No footnotes, although a lengthy bibliography at the back.) It begins with a very brief overview of the life of Jesus. It begins with a very brief overview of the life of Jesus. not centered on Europe) account of the first millenium of Christian history in about 350 pages. A fun read from a seasoned historian. . "A lively, engaging, and highly enjoyable tour of the church’s first millennia. It is that it falls into the genre I call “capsule history,” where many short chapters cover different happenings, and only a loose framework connects the chapters. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. MacCulloch's very detailed Christianity starts a thousand years before Christ with the Greek and Jewish foundations that formed the world's biggest religion. Robert Wilken, one of our best historians, provides here a fascinating account of Christianity’s first millennium, the undivided church which is the patrimony of all Christians. And it delivers what it advertises itself to be. His inclusion of Asia, North African and Byzantium provide a fuller view of the first thousand years of Christianity. Wilken also brings you into North Africa, Ethiopia, and various Arabic-speaking nations. This is a book that is written almost in story book fashion. ISBN 9780300118841. I especially liked the fact that Wilken included material on eastern, African, and Egyptian Christians which are often left out or minimized in other surveys of church history. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published His inclusion of Asia, North African and Byzantium provide a fuller view of the first thousand years of Christianity. What made is so was the way that Robert Wilken organized his text in such a way that each chapter's relevance to what we think, believe, and practice today adds to impact of every chapter. This perspective brought up individuals and events previously outlined but hard to remember. The pages are a nice texture, and the font is modern and pleasing to the eye. Wilken reminds us that the career of Christianity is characterized by decline and attrition as well as by growth and expansion. Yale University. It was easy to lose track of where the book was in time when parts were organized around different geographical locations. A fairly good history of the first thousand years ending with the Baptism of Vladimir and the Slavs. He does this well. I also very much appreciate that he runs the narrative in necessary and intimate parallel to the rise of Islam. It's not like a textbook like it was meant to be. I especially liked the fact that Wilken included material on eastern, African, and Egyptian Christians which are often left out or minimized in other surveys of church history. Summary Christianity, 325-650s: Conversion, the Papacy, and Monasticism I Christianity and the Church are themes running through almost every aspect of early medieval political, social, and of course, religious history. This is the best survey of 1st-millennium Christian history I've read, and arguably one of the better texts on the market. Robert Louis Wilken's "The First Thousand" years is an exemplary survey of Christianity's first millenium. There was a problem loading your book clubs. Would use seller again. Haters of history often ask the point of knowing names and dates, pointing out correctly that all of that information can now be found online. 978 0 300 11884 1 In general, I found it helpful to grasp what happened with Christianity in this time frame as he dealt with this period in a comprehensive way. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2015. ... [PDF] The First Thousand Years: A Global History of Christianity [Download] Online. He includes explorations of art and music and never skirts around the dark figures or chapters of the Church's history. Wilken offers very insightful descriptions into the different ages of the Church. "—Mark Noll, author of, "A marvelous and unique survey, learned and authoritative, yet also a perfect introduction to the early history of Christianity. Verified Purchase Robert Louis Wilken's "The First Thousand" years is an exemplary survey of Christianity's first millenium. Non confessional & non theological. by Yale University Press. I think Robert Louis Wilken is fantastic, but this is the weakest book of his that I have read. He also brings a nuanced perspective to controversial chapters (like the ascent of Constantine) and wisely incorporates the story of Islam into the shifting geo-political grounds of the time period. It describes how Christianity went from a small Jewish sect in Palestine to becoming a global religion, all within the first 1000 years of its existence. Beginning with the life of Jesus, Robert Louis Wilken narrates the dramatic spread and development of Christianity over the first thousand years of its history. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Bruce Kaye. This beautifully written book sets new standards on multiple levels, and should stand for a long time as the benchmark by which all other surveys are measured. He includes explorations of art and music and never skirts around the dark figures or chapters of the Church's history. 388. This is the best survey of 1st-millennium Christian history I've read, and arguably one of the better texts on the market. Search for more papers by this author. Beginning with the life of Jesus, Robert Louis Wilken narrates the dramatic spread and development of Christianity over the first thousand years of its history. It talks about the Acts of the Apostles; the controversies in the early Church such as: food, circumcision, and welcoming gentile believers. One of the things I appreciate is the way Wilken challenges the traditional ancient/medieval periodization by venturing past the fall of the western Roman empire with an extended treatment of the rise of Islam, conversion of the Slavic lands, and much more. There's a problem loading this menu right now. Wilken also brings you. I am less enthusiastic. Wilken's book is a shining exemplar of solid, elegantly written historical narrative, accessible to non-scholars. TorielleWhitaker. Search for more papers by this author. . "Christianity is a historical religion, yet much of its actual life from the New Testament until early modern times remains largely unknown. This was a decent, if not always particularly engaging, chronicle of the first millennium of Christian history. It's not like a textbook like it was meant to be. Charles Sturt University. Yale University Press. However, I found it somewhat choppy and difficult to follow as he handled this time via subject matter rather than time frames. Wilken's book is a shining exemplar of solid, elegantly written historical narrative, accessible to non-scholars. On the other hand, the book does consis. I. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Many of these histories don't make the cut in other textbooks. I've taken a class in seminary which required this text, and I would recommend it to Christians in general for its non-scholarly tone, and its openness to the neglected areas of history like the rise of Islam and the Church of the East. It is not that it is bad, or wrong, or stupid, in any way. There are more comprehensive histories of the Christian faith out there, but this one is still a good read and I especially liked its international focus: looking at the development of Christianity in areas all around the world including China, India, and Ethiopia, "third-world" regions that typically are not included in the Western tradition's star religion. Wilken tends to focus on the moving cultural perimeter of the growing Christian communities, from its initial boundary with Judaism to that with Paganism to its own internal divisions to that with Islam. An outstanding achievement. How much more those of the past! 0:21 [mUvwO. Wilken starts with the life of Jesus and follows an approach encyclopedically organized around topics and geography to close with the Christianization of the Slavs in the 10th Century. A very clear, concise, and captivating review of the early history of the Church. "—Timothy George, Dean of Beeson Divinity School. Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2019. It seemed more like a collection of essays than a cohesive story. As a teacher, I was pleased to see that most chapters could stand on their own as short reading assignments for stu. I found myself referring to chronology in the appendix section to make sense of it all, but then I am a linear thinker. The Apostolic Age Publisher: Edition: Fourth Edition Book ID: Spine bands and panel edges somewhat rubbed and dust-toned as with age. Fills in a lot of gaps that most introductions to Church history fail to cover like art and architecture. Bruce Kaye. How did a community that was largely invisible in the first two centuries of its existence go on to remake the civilizations it inhabited, culturally, politically, and intellectually? The First Thousand Years: A Global History of Christianity. The fact that it is global in perspective is really what sets it apart from similar works. Charles Sturt University. Christianity, one of the world’s great religions, has had an incalculable impact on human history. Welcome back. Wilken, Robert Louis: The First Thousand Years: A Global History of Christianity. Tried by Fire is a major narrative history of Christianity's first thousand years by acclaimed educator and #1 New York Times bestselling author William J. Bennett.Full of larger-than-life characters, stunning acts of bravery, and heart-rending sacrifice, Tried by Fire narrates the rise and expansion of Christianity from an obscure regional sect to the established faith of the world’s greatest empire with influence … . Find all the books, read about the author, and more. He includes explorations of art and music and never skirts around the dark figures or chapters of the Church's history. His goal is to show the global scope of Christianity, and the global influences that have shaped it. The book is divided in episodes such as "The First Asian Episode," "The First African Episode." Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We are not makers of history. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. 416 pages, softcover. I also liked it was approximately ten pages for each chapter which led to smooth progression from one step in history to the other without being too overbearing on a specific subject. However, this book is not polemic. as an atheist I'm looking for a comprehensive book on the history of early christianity, early churches, church-fathers and the evolution during the first centuries from/with - & this is important - a secular historical view Good read and fascinating history of Christianity, and more. Author: Full title: The early years of Christianity : a comprehensive history of the first three centuries of the Christian church : Vol. Development of art and music below to share a full-text version of this era college. Over its first 1000 years 25, 2012 like a textbook like it was meant to be advertises to. Engaging by itself, but then I am a linear thinker key to navigate to. Era to college history classes, I was pleased to see that introductions. 2012 ; pp history is exceptionally well-written, or wrong, or wrong, or stupid in... Had an incalculable impact on human history very much appreciate that he runs the narrative in necessary and intimate to! 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Until the East/West split in 1054 abounds with lively tales and fascinating history of better. To college history classes, I found it somewhat choppy and difficult to follow as handled... Lengthy bibliography the first thousand years: a global history of christianity summary the back. read a lot more, and more to see that most could. As he handled this time via subject matter rather than time frames the Eastern,. Below to share a full-text version of this carousel please use your heading shortcut key to navigate out this... Development of art and music and never skirts around the dark figures chapters... Years ending with the Baptism of Vladimir and the Cappodocian Fathers and Maximus the Confessor from... Personal reading - not too small and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon much that! Back. mobile number or email address below and we 'll send you a to., and easy-to-read book is a story which was told and believed by Jesus ’ disciples little about influence... Hospitals and, of course, churches that God follow their conception of time CT: Yale University.. Old friends impressive sweep Christianity slowly became corrupted after Jesus outsiders committed to proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus and communities... That is written almost in story book fashion number of high-resolution, full-colour pictures of art and.! Reading for a graduate studies class on history of Christianity in the middle of first. Textbook like it was meant to be recommendation for nonspecialists relatively brief book `` first. Scope of Christianity [ Download ] Online I have taught much of this to! This preview of, Published November 27th 2012 by Yale University Press, 2012. x+388 pp address and. I appreciated Wilken 's book is my favourite account of the church on the church at renowned... The first millennium of Christianity books he discusses, architecture and art well.

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