APeople’sChurchbringstogetheradistinguishedinternationalgroupofhistorianstoprovideasweepingintroductiontoChristianreligiouslifeandinstitutionsinmedievalItaly.Eachessaytreatsasinglethemeasbroadlyaspossible,highlightingboththeuniqueaspectsofmedievalChristianityontheItalianpeninsulaandthebeliefsandpracticesitsharedwithotherChristiansocieties.Becauseofitslongtraditionofcommunalself-governance,ChristianityinmedievalItaly,perhapsmorethananywhereelse,wastrulya“people’schurch.“Atthesametime,itsexceptionalurbanwealthandliteracyrates,alongwithitsrichandvariedintellectualandartisticculture,ledtodiverseformsofreligiousdevotionandinstitutions.Contributors:MariaPiaAlberzonionheresy;FrancesAndrewsonurbanreligion;C矇cileCabyonmonasticism;GiovannaCasagrandeonmendicants;GeorgeDamerononFlorence;AntonellaDegl’Innocentionsaints;MarinaGazzinionlayconfraternities;MaureenC.Milleronbishops;AgostinoParaviciniBaglianiandPietroSilanosonthepapacyandItalianpolitics;AntonioRigononclericalconfraternities;NeslihanŞenocakonthepieviandcareofsouls;GiovanniVitoloonNaples.
