The development of the manor system, for example, became increasingly important during this time. Wickham highlights the ways in which landholding patterns shifted, and new economic practices, such as the use of serf labor, began to take root. These changes were closely tied to the political fragmentation of the period, as local elites and rulers sought to consolidate power and resources through control over land.
In terms of social structure, Wickham shows how the early Middle Ages was a time of significant transformation. The collapse of the Roman urban aristocracy gave rise to new social hierarchies, often based on landownership and military power. At the same time, the spread of Christianity played a major role in reshaping social norms and values, as the church became an increasingly influential institution in both political and social life.
Religion and the Spread of Christianity
The rise of Christianity is another central theme in Framing the Early Middle Ages. Wickham explores how the spread of Christianity throughout Europe and the Mediterranean, particularly during the 5th to 8th centuries, transformed both the political landscape and social relations. Christianity, particularly in its monastic form, became a key institution in the restructuring of society, playing a central role in the development of education, cultural preservation, and social cohesion.
Wickham emphasizes that the spread of Christianity was not a uniform or linear process. Rather, it was shaped by a variety of local circumstances, with different regions experiencing varying rates of conversion and different forms of religious practice. The book offers a nuanced view of the relationship between the church and secular rulers, showing how the church often provided the ideological framework for political legitimacy, while also shaping the daily lives of people through its control over spiritual and material resources. shutdown123