Gregory the Great's Europe
R. A. Markus
Gregory became pope in the summer of 590, to succeed his predecessor who had been carried away by plague. Nearly fifty years passed since first outbreak plague time Justinian. Let serve as our signpost a period upheaval across Europe. If 530s were ‘age hope’ disastrous reversal began 540s. The succeeding half-century was collapsing hopes and darkening horizons: prospect imperial reconquest peace receding after 540, never be more than ephemerally precariously realized; dreams spiritual political unification revealed illusory; war, obscure workings ‘demographic forces’ combined turn Italy Boethius into that Great course some sixty years. contours societies late Antiquity becoming displaced produce new social landscape. Some this transformation has left visible traces evidence extensively studied; much it concealed from us, either through lack or failure ask right questions. It is only recent years, take one example, subtle shifts Byzantine religiosity ideology discernible later sixth century have begun cohere something like unified picture ‘new integration’ culture society towns Eastern Empire. How far world Western Europe exposed analogous changes may question impossible answer; any case, needs approaching piecemeal with necessary discrimination place.
Transactions of the Royal Historical Society