| This project aims at mapping out the theological tradition of the early Middle Ages, which can be seen as the cradle of western Christianity. Rather than a simple re-introduction of patristic themes, this tradition ought to be seen as consisting in a subtle interaction between new medieval motives and old patristic themes. The project will focus on a few crucial moments in the development of the early medieval theological tradition, notably the Carolingian period (esp. 8th and 9th centuries) and the 12th century, which also marks its ending. By looking at strategies of exegesis and the reception of the church fathers, a clearer theological picture of this tradition might be developed than previously possible, outlining both what is received and what is original. One of the long-term implications of this project is that, once a better grip on the period between Augustine and Thomas Aquinas is developed, the intellectual and theological profile of both the period before and the period after may need to be seriously reconfigured. |
