Final answer:
The Church used missionary work as a tool to reach out to the Germanic peoples. Monks and nuns played a crucial role in converting new peoples to Christianity. Missionaries reshaped pagan practices and focused on accepting the essential truth of Christianity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Church used missionary work as a tool to reach out to the Germanic peoples. Monks and nuns devoted to Christian beliefs, along with the support of Christian rulers, played a crucial role in converting new peoples to Christianity. For example, Pope Gregory commissioned monks from Italy, led by Augustine of Canterbury, to convert the Anglo-Saxons. The laity, including influential queens, also engaged in missionary work.This missionary work was successful due to the flexibility and pragmatism of the missionaries, who subtly reshaped pagan religious practices to be more aligned with Christianity. They focused on accepting the essential truth of Christianity rather than delving into its nuances. The willingness of non-Christians to have better political relationships with Christians also contributed to the spread of Christianity.