ENTRUSTING WESTERN EUROPE TO THE CHURCH, 400–750
Ian Wood
ABSTRACT Although there had been substantial donations to the church in course of last two centuries Roman Empire, amount property transferred episcopal and monasteries following a half would seem have immense. Probably rather more than 30 per cent Frankish kingdom was given ecclesiastical institutions; although Anglo-Saxon only established after 597, it also acquired huge amounts land, as did churches Spain Italy, extent conveyed peninsulas is harder estimate. The scale endowments helps explain occasional criticisms property, secularisations reallocation indeed suggest that transfer out control Francia England eighth century may greater often assumed. land should probably be seen something other simple change ownership. Church provided economic basis for cult, maintenance clergy, who were unquestionably numerous, poor. In social economic, well religious terms, this marked major break with Classical World.
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