Introduction of Christianity into the Early Medieval Insular World : Converting the Isles I

Conversion to Christianity is arguably the most revolutionary social and cultural change that Europe experienced in late-antiquity and the early middle ages. Christianisation affected all strata of society and transformed not only religious beliefs and practices, but also the nature of government, the priorities of the economy, the character of kinship, and gender relations. It is against this backdrop that an international array of leading medievalists gathered under the auspices of the Converting the Isles Research Network to investigate social, economic, and cultural aspects of conversion in the early-medieval Insular world, covering different parts of Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia and Iceland. The output the network's activities is gathered in three volumes, of which this is the first. By taking a broad comparative and cross-disciplinary approach that transcends national boundaries, the research presented here offers novel perspectives on conversion which challenge existing historiographical narratives and draw on the most up-to-date archaeological and written evidence to shed light on central issues relating to the conversion of the Isles.

''With its up-to-date bibliographies and state of the art summaries, this will be an important work of reference. But it also breaks new ground and opens new questions''. ---Pauline Stafford, Journal of Ecclesiastical History

''Overall, this is a tighter and more focused volume that presents arange of useful comparative data, as well as rehearsing some of the keymethodological issues that emerge in trying to integrate archaeologicaland textual sources''. ---David Petts, Society of Medieval Archaeology

''Overall, this is a thought-provoking collection of papers which willdeepen readers' knowledge of conversion and Christianisation innorth-west Europe.'' ---Clare Downham, Saga-Book

''For a return to the issues of insular Christianity in the earlymedieval period, or for the advanced student tackling it for the firsttime, this volume presents relevant problems, with a historiography that is very much state-of-the art.'' ---Stephen Joyce, Parergon

''In conclusion, this is a rich, varied and well-designed volume, whichstresses the necessity of fine distinctions between different regions,temporalities and aspects in the study of the process of conversion. Wecan only look forward to the publication of its forthcoming companion.'' ---Alban Gautier, The Medieval Review