Preaching and Political Society: From Late Antiquity to the End of the Middle Ages = Depuis l'Antiquité tardive jusqu'à la fin du Moyen Âge

This collection looks into the complex connections between preaching and political life, revealing the intrinsic relationship between religious life, political thought and the formation of a public opinion in medieval society.
The connections between preaching, politics, and society have been manifold yet varied in the period from Late Antiquity to the end of the Middle Ages. In this multi-lingual volume, these associations are studied within their historical context over twelve new contributions, addressing a wide range of geographical areas and opening up a series of sources which have previously been neglected. Special attention is paid to the cultural and geographical circumstances in which the complex relationship between political thought and preaching should be explored. These contributions reveal the circumstances and the procedures that inspire various preachers to reflect upon political topics, which are often of a sensitive nature. In this way, the powerful and the general public of believers have access to an array of political ideas, allowing opinion-making and political discussion. Furthermore, the collection also shows new ways in which political thought and preaching can be explored, revealing new methods and lines of inquiry allowing insights into the complexities of medieval societies. The international cast of contributors provides a broad perspective on the subject, through six articles in French, and six in English.