The episcopal domain over the territory: powers and resources

Abstract

This paper analyzes the basis on which the ecclesiastical articulation of urban and rural areas of the Iberian Peninsula was based between the third and the eighth centuries AD. With the consolidation of the Christianism as the only and official creed of all the Roman Empire, the bishop became the earthly patron of the cities and one of the few social groups who came out stronger after the decline of the Roman West Empire. Thanks to his role as spiritual leaders, the bishops obtained a growing political and socioeconomic power that allowed them to exercise a sort of territorial domain using councils and Episcopal sees as organs of church government.