Page 66 - History of Christianity - Student Textbook

raising up a movement, brick by brick, that would hold up His word as the only unfailing source of wisdom that
men needed to navigate the uncertainty and turmoil they faced at every turn. (eburgess.com)

One of the most influential scholars in the development of humanism in France was the Dutch cleric Desiderius
Erasmus, who also played an important part in introducing the movement into England. There humanism was
definitely established at the University of Oxford by the English classical scholars William Grocyn (1446-1519)
and Thomas Linacre, and at the University of Cambridge by Erasmus of Rotterdam and the English prelate John
Fisher (1459-1535). Humanism spread throughout English society, paving the way for the flourishing of
Elizabethan literature and culture.

Fall of Constantinople to Muslim armies - 1453

The siege of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire
and one of the most heavily fortified cities in the world, took
place in 1453. Sultan Mehmed II, ruler of the Ottoman Turks, led
the assault. The city was defended by, at most, 10,000 men. The
Turks had between 100,000 and 150,000 men on their side. The
siege lasted for fifty days. The Turks employed various important
war tactics in taking over the city. They used huge cannon to
destroy the walls, warships were used to the cut the city's sea
defense. They also used an extensive infantry to engulf the city.

After the city fell, Mehmed renamed the city Istanbul. Christians were still allowed to practice their religion, but
had to dress in distinguishing attire and could not bear arms. So came the end to the great city of
Constantinople.

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The Coming Reformation of the 15 Century

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We come to the end of the 14 century and find the papacy playing an increasing role in secular rule in Europe.
There were continual power struggles between the Pope in Rome and various nations over who was the
ultimate authority. King Philip IV of France finally elected Pope Clement V and the papal court was moved from
Rome to Avignon in 1309. It remained there until 1376. We learned about the Great Schism were several rival
claimants declared themselves pope. The seesaw battle between popes weakened the idea of the pope as a
central authority in the minds of Christians.

The Hundred Years War between England and France (1337-1453) ended with the campaigns of Joan of Arc and
her successors, only to enhance national feeling. This also weakened the religious bond held by the pope in
Rome.

Black Death broke out in 1347-1350 all over Europe. By the time it was over, almost 50% of Europe’s population
was dead. The economy of the nations was in turmoil. The Black death shook the physical and political
structure of European society. The horror of it left many in total despair.

Finally the spiritual authority of the pope and his hierarchy was undermined by the growing wealth of the
Church at the expense of the common people. Taxes to the Church were very burdensome and the corruption in
the church and among secular leaders was increasing. The selling of indulgences began in 1517, which
supposedly shortened the time a relative had to spend in Purgatory, financed the rebuilding of St. Peter’s
Basilica in Rome.

The convergence of all of these factors created a growing demand for reform in the Church and especially in the
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papacy. At the beginning of the 16 century (1500- 1599) Europe was a powder keg in which a seemingly small
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