Monasticism and Christian pilgrimage in early Islamic Palestine c.614-c.950
Recent studies of early Islamic Palestine have stressed the minimal impact of the Arab conquest on the Christian communities of the region. None, however, have sought to trace the trajectories of these communities beyond the eighth century. This thesis provides the first long-term study of the impact of the Arab conquest on monasticism and pilgrimage between 614 and 950. The study explores the changes to the physical landscape of monasteries and Christian cult sites, in terms of site abandonment and continuity, and situates these processes in the broader political and economic context of the Palestinian region between the seventh and tenth centuries. This thesis offers a systematic critique of current theories which view Palestinian monasticism and Christian pilgrimage as social entities dependent upon patronage from Byzantium and the early medieval west. Rather, it stresses the need for a more nuanced recognition of monastic communities and Christian cult sites as places closely interlinked with localised developments and the high degree of variation between communities in terms of patron economies and social transactions. This study demonstrates that these variances often provide the key to understanding
Reynolds, Daniel Kenneth
BR Christianity ; CC Archaeology ; D111 Medieval History ; DS Asia
Monasticism and Christian pilgrimage in early Islamic Palestine c.614-c.950. Recent studies of early Islamic Palestine have stressed the minimal impact of the Arab conquest on the Christian communities of the region. None, however, have sought to trace the trajectories of these communities beyond the eighth century. This thesis provides the first long-term study of the impact of the Arab conquest on monasticism and pilgrimage between 614 and 950. The study explores the changes to the physical landscape of monasteries and Christian cult sites, in terms of site abandonment and continuity, and situates these processes in the broader political and economic context of the Palestinian region between the seventh and tenth centuries. This thesis offers a systematic critique of current theories which view Palestinian monasticism and Christian pilgrimage as social entities dependent upon patronage from Byzantium and the early medieval west. Rather, it stresses the need for a more nuanced recognition of monastic communities and Christian cult sites as places closely interlinked with localised developments and the high degree of variation between communities in terms of patron economies and social transactions. This study demonstrates that these variances often provide the key to understanding
monasticism christian pilgrimage early_islamic palestine recent_study early_islamic palestine stress minimal impact arab_conquest christian communities region none however seek trace trajectory communities beyond provide_first long_term study impact arab_conquest monasticism pilgrimage study_explores change physical_landscape monastery christian cult_site term site abandonment continuity situate process broader political_economic context palestinian region offer systematic critique current_theory view palestinian monasticism christian pilgrimage social entity dependent_upon patronage byzantium early_medieval west rather stress_need nuanced recognition monastic_community christian cult_site place closely interlink localised development high_degree variation community term patron economy social transaction study_demonstrate variance often provide_key