Avignon Papacy

The Renaissance lasted from the 14th to the 17th century (Frey 315). This period is known for its flourishing art, philosophy, and literature. During this time, there was a growing class of rich merchants who spent large amounts of money patronizing artists, the most famous of which are the Medici (Frey 315). Events like the Great Schism and the Reformation weakened the Catholic Church (Jensen 193) which had been the center of life in the Medieval era (Frey 31). The Medici Family had more…

time the papacy’s home was in France “for nearly seventy years, while still claiming to be bishops of Rome, the popes would generally remain in Avignon”. This contributed to the Great Western Schism, which was a political fight between Italy and France. Both of these countries wanted the pope to live in their own country to skew the power of the papacy in favor of their country and its goals. The election of Urban the VI was the tipping point, he seemed at first a good choice but soon neither…

1. Europe has not always been as prominent as it is today. The first civilizations to develop in 4000 BC were Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus River Valley, and China. During that time Europe was still in the Neolithic Age. However, in 2000 BC, Europe suddenly went from the Neolithic Age to the Bronze Age and immediately to the Iron Age in a matter of 150 years. This took the first civilizations 2000 years to accomplish. The cause of this is thought to be due to the Aryan migration. For a short time…

The Renaissance was a time period involving the rebirth of classical culture such as beautiful art and literature. During the renaissance the term Humanism evolved which can be defined as a system of values and beliefs that is based on the idea that people are basically good and that problems can be solved using reason instead of religion. Humanists objected to the fact that the Church controlled what people were able to study, of what people were able to publish, and limited the sorts of things…

Ignatius Loyola: Saint Ignatius Loyola was a priest and theologist from Spain. He was born on October 23rd 1491 and died on July 31st 1556. He is most famous for being the founder of the society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits. During the 16th century people in Europe were starting to break away from away from the Roman Catholic church and the time of reformation started to take place. During this time, Saint Ignatius and his group of Jesuits participated in the Counter Reformation which…

Prior to the 16th century Protestant Reformation the Holy Roman Empire had been facing crises in the 14th and 15th century, inflicting damage to the prestige of the hierarchy. As a result of both the Black Plague and the Hundred Years’ War, Europe had a major economic downfall because money was lost while fighting the war and the Plague was chaotic in general. Desperate times had led to desperate measures. With deceased officials and clergymen, the ones who survived began fighting for the power…

The papal bull ‘Unam Sanctum’ by Pope Boniface VII in 1302 was an attempt by the pope to assert papal authority in a time of conflict with the power of King Phillip “the fair” of France. The separation of church and kings had never been completely separate but this conflict brought the issue to the fore. Boniface was attempting to hold on to papal authority in a time when ‘temporal’ or Kingly power was rising and steadily overlapping with the generally accepted spiritual sphere of authority. He…

Catherine Benincasa was raised as one of the younger of many siblings in a wealthy, pious home in Italy during the mid-1300s (Keifer). Half of Catherine’s siblings, including her twin sister, died of the Black Death, but Catherine was healthy and happy. Her parents called her Euphrosyne, which is Greek for “joyous” (Did You Know?). Catherine desired an intimate relationship with Jesus from an early childhood age and earnestly devoted herself to obeying and worshipping her Lord. She contributed…

this time there were three Popes who believed they were the one true Pope. Before the beginning of the schism, there was power of the papal in Avignon, France. Gregory XI, had wanted to return the papacy to Rome, and no longer have it in France (Gonzalez, The Story of Christianity 402). However he passed away and the Cardinals of Avignon had gathered in Avignon to elect a new leader, but those in Rome had argued that the new leader should be from Rome or Italy. Soon after Urban VI would resume…

There were many significant events that played out during the Late Medieval Time Period, and although there were several occasions when there was failure, there were several occasions of victory as well. The general atmosphere of the Late Medieval Times was as complex as present day, and was full of development. There was constant development in every aspect, including the social, political, religious, intellectual, technological, and economic aspects. The social aspect of the Late Medieval…