Archbishop Isidore of Seville was one of the most important bishops of the sixth and seventh centuries. He spent much of his time serving the community of Seville and attempting to build cultural and spiritual bridges with the Visigothic Kingdom. However, he is most known for his work in educational development, and, with his work titled Etymologiae, he would be an influence for hundreds of years afterward.

Time Stamps:
0:00 Introduction to Isidore
0:50 Childhood/ Family
2:04 The Path to the See of Seville
2:48 Archbishop of Seville
3:29 Second and Third Synod of Seville
4:16 The Fourth National Council of Toledo
5:23 Introduction to Etymologiae
6:18 Etymologiae Books 1-20
9:29 Death
10:00 Legacy

Information:
Isidore of Seville was the Archbishop of Seville living from 560 to 636. Isidore was born in Cartagena, Spain, and was part of a family that had four canonized saints including Isidore himself. Although his family was extremely prestigious, Isidore himself would outshine all of his siblings.

Isidore's brother Leander was Archbishop of Seville and served from 534-600. After his death, Isisodre took over his position and served until his death in 636. He focused his leadership on trying to bridge the gap between the previous Visigothic Kingdom and the other natives of Hispania. He offered an outstretched hand, while also trying to turn the Visigoths away from their belief in the Arian heresy.

Most notably Isidore was the creator of the Etymologiae a database of information. The collection contained writings from 200 authors of amassing over 400 writings contained in 20 chapters. The idea was truly revolutionary for his day since he is credited as the first Christian writer to compile a summary of universal knowledge.

The Etymologiae would be influential long after his passing. The ease with which information was obtainable made the process of finding writings infinitely easier. His work became so relied upon through the Middle ages that reportedly some of the original works were lost since they weren't used as much anymore. Either way, it is not an understatement to say that Isidore was a major part in connecting the works of Antiquity through to the late Middle Ages.

Sources:
Theological Studies-“Isidoriana”
https://web-s-ebscohost-com.fuller.id...

American Ecclesiastical Review- A medieval saint and scholar: St. Isidore of Seville
https://web-s-ebscohost-com.fuller.id...