Chapter 6

The conversion of the Scandinavian people was a large step to Christianity
because they were the largest and most severe threat to the existence of
Western Christianity at one time. At the time of their conversion, Eastern
Europe was also converted. The Byzantine influence spread to the east to
Armenia. Justinian II was a cruel and ruthless tyrant. For a long time, the
highest civilizations of the East and West have ignored the other's
presence, but the barbarians realized the downfall of this, and brought them
together. The relation of the Byzantine empire to its barbarian neighbors
was of empire to empire. Soon, it was Bulgaria that posed the most threat to
the Byzantine empire, but by being established in the Eastern Balkans
impacted its culture. Christianity in Eastern Europe led to religion getting
mixed up in politics. The Bogomils were a quiet and passive culture who
dealt with concealment. In the Middle Ages, it was often difficult to tell
the differences between a trader and a warrior, especially with the Vikings.
Often, the only way to make a profit was to kill or attack. The conversion
of Russia created a passageway by which Christianity could spread to the
North. The conversion of Hungary opened the way for Christianity to Eastern
Europe even more than Poland. At the beginning of the 11th century, we see
Christians arising from Eastern Europe. These people were in geographical
and cultural contact with each other. The foundation of the Latin Empire of
Constantinople was a downfall and a blow to Christian unity and the cultural
unity of Eastern Europe.

"Every day we see men who go to death in thousands for their lords or their
fellows, but those who fear God, few as they are, think only of their own
souls and forget their brethren."

A conflict of ideals was brought in the Empire where the Carolingian
tradition was strong and where the church and bishops in it were the
mainstay of the imperial system.