Dr. Carole Collier Frick
T Th 9:30-10:45am
Fall 2015
History 111B
1st Lab: Martin of Braga (520-80)
Group 1
Audience: Bishop Martin of Braga (c. 520-580) created the primary source in the form of a letter that was intended for another bishop located in Spain. This other bishop was to receive the letter that he in turn would be delivered in a sermon to the mere local peasants that filled the streets of Spain at the time.
Purpose: Martin of Braga had the intention of fully denouncing the Christian converts of Spain for retaining traditional religious beliefs, practices, and cults. The reasoning behind this was because these people or peasants made a pact with god when they converted to Christianity. Paganism was always a major persistence and serious problem for the clergy and Christianity.
Point-of-view: Braga’s main interest was to have those who still followed and practiced paganism change their ways for the best. It was in Braga’s main interest to have people ditch their old ways of life and religion in favor for a better life under the watchful eyes of god. If they didn’t fully convert to Christianity, they would suffer misery.
Format: The primary source was in the form of a handwritten letter.
Argument: Braga is arguing for people to repent and fully worship god while also fully accepting baptism to its full extent. Baptism/Christianity was the right way to live life in the eyes of Braga and would stop at nothing to have people realize that. By practicing paganism, people were simply worshiping the devil and was completely unacceptable by the clergy.
Limitations: The strongest limitation of the source is that it doesn’t give any background info or knowledge on why Spain was having serious issued with paganism or Christianity. Furthermore, Braga’s strong point of view makes it seem as if he has a strong determination to carry out a personal mission