The Role of Mysticism in Medieval Christian Theology

The medieval period, spanning roughly from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the fifth century to the dawn of the Renaissance in the fifteenth century, was a time when the Christian Church, in its various forms, wielded profound influence over every aspect of life, from politics to personal piety. It was also a time in which mysticism—defined broadly as the pursuit of a direct, personal experience of God—flourished within the context of Christian theology. This book serves as an introduction to the world of medieval Christian mysticism, offering an analysis of its historical development, its central concepts, and its key figures, while exploring primary sources and key theological ideas.