Transcriber's Notes: Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been left as in the original. Words in italics in the original are surrounded by _underscores_. Words in bold in the original are surrounded by =equal signs=. A row of asterisks represents a thought break. Ellipses match the original. A few typographical errors have been corrected. A complete list as well as other notes follows the text. THE RISE OF THE MEDIAEVAL CHURCH AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE CIVILISATION OF WESTERN EUROPE FROM THE FIRST TO THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY BY ALEXANDER CLARENCE FLICK, PH. D., LITT. D. [Illustration] BURT FRANKLIN New York, N. Y. TO HENRY C. LEA Who through his numerous scholarly monographs has earned the foremost place among American Church historians, both at home and abroad, AND TO PROFESSOR DOCTOR ADOLPH HARNACK To whom both the Old and the New World are profoundly indebted for his scholarly labours, and from whose inspiration in public lectures and private conferences this work derived much that is best in it, THIS BOOK IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED. PREFACE The educational value of any subject depends primarily upon its own intrinsic value. The teaching of Church history for ten years as a regular course in liberal arts, side by side with the "orthodox" courses in history, has demonstrated beyond question that this subject can be made at once very popular and very valuable. It has proved its right to exist as a cultural subject. Yet the lack of intelligent information, even among educated people, concerning the history of the Christian Church, both in early and modern days, is simply appalling. The comparatively recent revival of interest in Church history has given birth to many general Church histories from English and American scholars. Numerous translations of discriminating and painstaking German authors are also available. A large number of intensive monographs has likewise appeared. But all these texts are written for classes in theological schools. Not a single Church history suitable either for regular college work, or for popular reading, is available; and yet all the standard courses in history are provided with up-to-date texts and illustrative material.