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AQA A-LEVEL (7042) HIS2D – Religious Conflict and the Church in England, c1529–1570 _____________________________________________________ ___________ SECTION 1 The Church in c1529 8 Humanism Who were the leading Humanist scholars of the early sixteenth century and what were their key ideas? Key Humanist Beliefs Humanism was a Renaissance phenomenon of the late 14 th and 15 th century caused by a rediscovery of classic Greek and Latin texts. Humanist ideas centred on the concept that the humanities were the basis of all civilised life. They therefore affected all aspects of society, from religion to politics to economics. Humanist scholars accepted the basic principles of the Catholic faith, but sought to purify its teachings from the errors that had resulted from the numerous translations of the Bible over the centuries. They also stressed the notion of free will, that mankind had been granted the right to choose and make decisions. Church authorities afforded humanists what could be regarded as a remarkable degree of freedom of thought by the standards of the age. This was because religious leaders hoped that more direct knowledge of the earliest texts of antiquity, including the Christian Gospels (the record of Christ’s life and teachings in the first four books of the New Testament) would initiate a harmonious era of universal agreement. By reforming its practices from within, humanists were to help the Church resist the

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Page 1: lobworth.files.wordpress.com  · Web view3/8/2019  · Humanism was a Renaissance phenomenon of the late 14th and 15th century caused by a rediscovery of classic Greek and Latin

AQA A-LEVEL (7042)HIS2D – Religious Conflict and the Church in England,

c1529–1570________________________________________________________________

SECTION 1 The Church in c15298 Humanism

Who were the leading Humanist scholars of the early sixteenth century and what were their key ideas?

Key Humanist BeliefsHumanism was a Renaissance phenomenon of the late 14th and 15th century caused by a rediscovery of classic Greek and Latin texts. Humanist ideas centred on the concept that the humanities were the basis of all civilised life. They therefore affected all aspects of society, from religion to politics to economics. Humanist scholars accepted the basic principles of the Catholic faith, but sought to purify its teachings from the errors that had resulted from the numerous translations of the Bible over the centuries. They also stressed the notion of free will, that mankind had been granted the right to choose and make decisions. Church authorities afforded humanists what could be regarded as a remarkable degree of freedom of thought by the standards of the age. This was because religious leaders hoped that more direct knowledge of the earliest texts of antiquity, including the Christian Gospels (the record of Christ’s life and teachings in the first four books of the New Testament) would initiate a harmonious era of universal agreement. By reforming its practices from within, humanists were to help the Church resist the external criticism and pressures for change that came from Lollardy and anti-clericalism.

Impact in EnglandHumanism came relatively late to England, only truly making an appearance in the mid-15th century (although some historians would acknowledge the reforming work of John Wycliffe as having a close connection with humanism). Real impetus was provided by the visit of Erasmus to London in 1499. Impressed with the high standard of classical teaching

Page 2: lobworth.files.wordpress.com  · Web view3/8/2019  · Humanism was a Renaissance phenomenon of the late 14th and 15th century caused by a rediscovery of classic Greek and Latin

being provided by John Colet, the Dean of St Paul’s, Erasmus influenced the establishment of a pre-eminent circle of humanist scholars who emerged during the reign of Henry VIII. Among them were Thomas More and John Fisher, who were to play key roles in the Reformation. Both Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon regarded themselves as humanists. In his early years, the king sought to purify the English Church of superstition by encouraging the Bible to be rewritten in Latin in light of the new Greek texts that had been rediscovered during the Renaissance. More helped Henry to write A Defence of the Seven Sacraments in 1521, which attacked the Protestant writings of Martin Luther, in particular his treatise On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church (1520). He was rewarded for his work with the title ‘Defender of the Faith’ by Pope Leo X, which is still used by British monarchs today.

Key religious thinkers: How dangerous were they?

Desiderius Erasmus

Thomas More

Martin Luther