What Role Did Christianity Play In European Culture

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Without question, Christianity is deeply imbedded in almost all aspects of European culture. Germany, being a large character in European history, played a significant role in setting the foundation for Christianization. This phenomenon dates back to 313 AD with the Roman Emperor Constantine. Embracing Christianity’s growth for the betterment of the empire he, along with his colleague and rival Licinius, decreed the religion tolerable across all of the Roman Empire. This decree was officially known as the Edict of Milan. Though this was just the beginning, soon after in the year 496 another ruler converted to Christianity. Colvis, the king of the Franks, was baptized along with thousands of his peoples. Colvis’ conversion to Christianity held …show more content…

Before the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon missionaries, the small Germanic Tribes were mostly hermits and had no desire to be apart of something bigger such as a unified religion. After the battle at Tours and Poitiers in 732 the Muslim religion was pushed down south and created room for the growth of Christianity. During this time the spread of Christian religion became more and more popular due to the Anglo-Saxon Benedictine monk Boniface. His ultimate goal was to remove the church from being under the power of the king and state. Unfortunately, Boniface died soon after being made bishop along with many of his disciples in efforts to convert people in Northern Frisia to Christianity. Although he died, his work to change the church did pay off by strengthening the bond and support the church and Frankish Kingdom had for each other. One example of this new bond between the church and king is the Donation of Pepin. In 754 Pepin the Younger gave the pope land for what is now the Vatican in exchange for the title of Patrician of the Romans which made him the ultimate protector of Christianity. This gave the pope and Christianity protection from the state and military while Pepin received spiritual support from the pope which gave him more support with his

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