Missionaries and changing views of the 'other' from the ninth to the eleventh centuries
This thesis explores the varying ways in which otherness was imagined and constructed in two clusters of medieval missionary texts: Rimbertâs Vita Anskarii and Adam of Bremenâs Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum, from the archdiocese of Hamburg-Bremen; and Bruno of Querfurtâs Passio Sancti Adalberti episcopi et martyris, Vita vel passio Benedicti et Iohannis sociorumque suorum and Epistola ad Heinricum Regem. Missionaries and the authors who described their work were uniquely concerned with those who lay beyond the geographical, political and spiritual boundaries of Christendom. Accordingly, they provide our principal sources for understanding how such groups were represented. In the first instance, this thesis is concerned with descriptions of groups physically located outside the Carolingian, Ottonian, and Salian Empires, particularly in the Scandinavian and Slavic worlds. But given the fluidity and interconnectedness of early medieval identities, it also encompasses representations of marginalised groups within Christendom such as slaves, women, heretics, Jews and political enemies. Following a brief introduction, the thesis begins by setting out the theoretical foundations of an understanding
Barnwell, Timothy Mark
Missionaries and changing views of the 'other' from the ninth to the eleventh centuries. This thesis explores the varying ways in which otherness was imagined and constructed in two clusters of medieval missionary texts: Rimbertâs Vita Anskarii and Adam of Bremenâs Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum, from the archdiocese of Hamburg-Bremen; and Bruno of Querfurtâs Passio Sancti Adalberti episcopi et martyris, Vita vel passio Benedicti et Iohannis sociorumque suorum and Epistola ad Heinricum Regem. Missionaries and the authors who described their work were uniquely concerned with those who lay beyond the geographical, political and spiritual boundaries of Christendom. Accordingly, they provide our principal sources for understanding how such groups were represented. In the first instance, this thesis is concerned with descriptions of groups physically located outside the Carolingian, Ottonian, and Salian Empires, particularly in the Scandinavian and Slavic worlds. But given the fluidity and interconnectedness of early medieval identities, it also encompasses representations of marginalised groups within Christendom such as slaves, women, heretics, Jews and political enemies. Following a brief introduction, the thesis begins by setting out the theoretical foundations of an understanding
change view other ninth eleventh_century explores vary way otherness imagine construct cluster medieval missionary text vita vita author describe work uniquely concerned lay beyond geographical political spiritual boundary christendom accordingly provide principal_source group represent first_instance concerned description group physically locate outside carolingian empires particularly scandinavian slavic world give fluidity early_medieval identity also encompass representation marginalise group_within christendom slave woman heretic jews political enemy following_brief introduction begin set theoretical_foundation