Calculating Time and the End of Time in the Carolingian World, c.740-820
James T. Palmer
The hopes and fears associated with the imminence of apocalypse acted as catalysts for a number significant changes in history. Relevant patterns behaviour are not, however, always consistent. This paper examines intellectual contexts (sometimes quite real) fear that world might end or be revolutionised c. AD800 advent ‘6000th year world’. It argues that, Carolingian world, apocalyptic belief was widespread but it centred on an undefined sense concern reform, rather than prioritisation specific dates. Indeed, building recent developments study computus (‘time-reckoning’), is clear chronological systems such AD-dating were adapted discussed – at length their relevance to paschal reckonings, not apocalypticism. Evidence here also points towards relative independence centres Auxerre, St Gall Monte Cassino, where questions about time could pursued without much any central direction from figures Charlemagne. therefore dangerous posit ‘consensus silence’ apocalypticism explain thin evidence; doubly extrapolate example, Charlemagne’s imperial coronation occurred Christmas Day undocumented reasons pressing political concerns indicated sources. Apocalypticism real eighth-century Europe, more varied often thought.
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