THE IMPACT OF THE MISSIONARY: RELIGIOUS DIFFUSIONTHE INFLUENCE OF THE MISSIONARYIn Western Europe, Christian missionaries sought to convert the peoples of Britain and Ireland to Christianity. Roman soldiers were stationed there also. In the a.d. 300s, Roman soldiers left Britain to defend the empire against Germanic invaders.
Beginning in the a.d. 400s, Germanic tribes from preseNt day Germany and Denmark invaded much of Britain. Over time, these groups united to become known as the Anglo- Saxons. They built farming villages and founded several small kingdoms. Southern Britain soon became known as Angleland, or England. The people became known as the English. In Britain, the Anglo-Saxons pushed aside the Celts (KEHLTS), the people already living there. Some Celts fled to remote, mountainous areas of Britain. Others crossed the sea to Ireland. In the a.d. 400s, a priest named Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland. He set up churches and monasteries where monks helped preserve Christian and Roman learning. In a.d. 597, Pope Gregory I sent about 40 monks from Rome to bring Christianity to the Anglo-Saxons of Britain. They converted King Ethelbert of Kent to Christianity. Ethelbert allowed the missionaries to build a church in his capital city of Canterbury. In about 100 years, most of England had accepted the Christian faith. Monasteries were built throughout England. As in Ireland, they became centers of religion and culture. |
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