‘Instructing readers’ minds in heavenly matters’: Carolingian History Writing and Christian Education
Robert Evans
This article explores the ways in which histories were used moral and doctrinal education of Christian elites West from late Roman to Carolingian periods. In sixth century, Cassiodorus wrote that histories, whether or not, useful for ‘instructing minds readers heavenly matters’. How far was this characteristic period? Traditionally, scholars have emphasized either apologetic purpose specific such as Orosius's Historiae Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica . Few modern scholars, however, examined long-term development history writing a vehicle during transformation world. Those who done, Karl-Ferdinand Werner Hans-Werner Goetz, continuity rather than change. The sketches some changes continuities across period. particular, it demonstrates there shift concerns fifth-century historians, educate Christians pagan backgrounds, (as much moral) Frankish emerging Renaissance.
Studies in Church History