Western European civilization evolved during the medieval centuries when the whole area was converted to Christianity in its Latin Catholic form. This book is an introduction to the religious life of this formative period -but is concerned less with the institutional Church than with the interaction between the Church and lay society.

Western European civilization evolved during the medieval centuries when the whole area was converted to Christianity in its Latin Catholic form. This account is an introduction to the religious life of this formative period--but is concerned less with history of the institutional Church than with the interaction between the Church and lay society. This new edition has been updated throughout, and thoroughly reorganized, making it easier to approach and use. New visual evidence has been provided and a glossary of technical terms is included.