Monastic Reform and the Geography of Christendom : Experience, Observation and Influence

Jotischky, Andrew (2012) Monastic Reform and the Geography of Christendom : Experience, Observation and Influence. Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, 22. pp. 57-74. ISSN 1474-0648

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Abstract

Monastic reform is generally understood as a textually-driven process governed by a renewed interest in early monastic ideals and practices in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, and focusing on the discourses of reformers about the Egyptian ‘desert fathers’ as the originators of monasticism. Historians have suggested that tropes about the desert, solitude etc drawn from early texts found their way into mainstream accounts of monastic change in the period ca.1080-1150 . This article challenges this model by proposing that considerations of ‘reform’ must take into account parallel movements in Greek Orthodox monasticism and interactions of practice between the two monastic environments. Three case studies of non-textually derived parallel practices are discussed, and the importance of the Holy Land as a source of inspiration for such practices is advanced in place of Egypt.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Transactions of the Royal Historical Society
Additional Information:
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=RHT The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Transactions of the Royal Historical Society (Sixth Series), 22, pp 57-74 2012, © 2012 Cambridge University Press.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/core/keywords/history
Subjects:
?? historyhistoryda great britain ??
ID Code:
54455
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
22 May 2012 09:28
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 12:50