Christendom

I have never heard of the term Christendom before; thus it was interesting to learn what is meant by “Christendom.” I would say that one can define Christendom in different ways, however, in the end, the different definitions unite and make one long definition. The word Christendom encloses the idea of the central place of Christianity in the lives of nations, countries, states, and individuals. Christendom is defined as a group of people or a nation under a Christian set of morals and values. Moreover, the term Christendom refers to the impact of Christianity on the world; it delineates how Christianity became a very important part of ones’ lives.

Christendom was withering away in Asia and Africa with the rise of Islam. However, after the Mediterranean frontier between the Islamic and Christian worlds stabilized somewhat in the early eighth century, the immediate threat of Muslim incursions into the heartland of Christendom lifted, yet, border conflicts persisted. This “break” provided some security to most African and Asian Christian communities. This security paved the way to shape the diverging histories of the Byzantine Empire and Western Europe.

The Roman emperor Constantine began to favor Christianity during his reign in 330 C.E. He established a capital (Constantinople) on an ancient Greek city called Byzantium. The Roman Empire was divided into eastern and western halves—launching a division of Christendom that has lasted into the twenty-first century. Nevertheless, the western Roman Empire collapsed during the fifth century, despite this collapse the eastern half was sustained for another thousand years. The eastern half encompassed the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Syria, and Anatolia (eastern Roman Empire—Byzantium). The easter Roman Empire was very wealthy and had great accommodations such as shorter frontier to guard, access to the Black Sea, and command of the eastern Mediterranean. Due to their strong army, navy, and merchant marine as well as strategic diplomacy the easter Roman Empire was able to keep the Germanic and Hun invaders at bay. Moreover, the road, taxation system, military structures, centralized administration, imperial court, laws, and Christian Church were the Center of Byzantium for many centuries. To the surprise of many, Byzantium collapsed in 1453 when Muslim Turks and Venetian Christians sacked their capital—Constantinople. Still, Byzantium recovered, flourished, and spread its cultural identity.

In the early centuries and beyond there was much controversy (religious) and political division, however, the deepest division within the Christian world occurred as Eastern Orthodoxy came to define itself against an emerging Latin Christianity centered on papal Rome. Although both had much in common the widespread Christian Community was being replaced by differences and competition. This created the separation, rivalry (political power), and religious divergence between the Byzantine Empire and the emerging kingdoms of Western Europe. This separation in the World of Christendom slowly grew from the seventh century and on. Unable to unite, the Western and Eastern Branches of the church mutually excommunicated each other in 1054.

The “Holy wars” wars were aimed at enemies who threatened the spiritual health of all Christendom and all Christians. However, Crusades had little impact, either politically or religiously in the Middle East—European power was not strong enough to induce many conversions. On the other hand, in Europe, crusading and interaction with the Islamic world had long-term effects. Spain, Sicily, and the Baltic region were brought into the world of Western Christendom.

Resources:
Strayer, Robert. Ways of the World: A Brief Global History. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s. 2009.