Before the Gregorian Reform: The Latin Church at the Turn of the First Millennium, by John Howe
Sarah Hamilton
John Howe’s avowed aim is to ‘reinsert the history of Church into story rise West’ (p. 6). He presents a tenth- and eleventh-century (in his phrase, ‘the millennial church’), starting with decline Carolingian rule destruction churches religious houses by pagan invaders in particular, at end ninth century, ending pontificate Leo IX—although he also includes material from second half eleventh century. His argument that Latin West experienced turned out have been creative destruction’ 3), followed as it was ‘great medieval revival’ 5) manifest both re-invigoration physical estates spiritual lives across years before 1050. But goes beyond this suggest monastic reforms, asceticism growth scholastic education 1050–1200, which Giles Constable described ‘twelfth-century reformation’, origins period. In doing so builds on good deal recent research emphasises deep roots later developments, draws attention diversity vitality life time. Here ecclesiastical fact follows political socio-economic historians who similarly recognise developments long twelfth century having earlier origins. Howe has thus erected something straw man. Nevertheless, there yet no study brings together different church tenth quite way done, combining conventional textual history.
The English Historical Review