Avignon Papacy

Catholic Church, a dominating authority in Medieval religious life, influenced much of the attitudes which allowed for the persecution of non-adherents to Christianity or Christian orthodoxy. The letter by Pope Gregory VII earlier established that the Papacy claimed powers that allowed for the deposition of European rulers, ability to annul any agreement or law, and the general status of infallibility for any decrees by the Pope. So naturally, the church required methods of demonstrating such…

The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were cataclysmic times in Europe marked by a momentous amount of death and dissension. Europe faced The Black Plague, political problems and the Hundred Years war and the Ottoman War and finally crisis in the church. Each unique crisis required their own individual response such as setting up new laws, revolting, and turning away from the church. ADD MORE The Black Plague was brought on in Europe when merchant ships came from China. Along with their goods,…

Introduction There were many different reasons that led to the Reformation and the split of the Catholic Church. The formation of various religious movements in the 14th and 15th century, relocation of the Papacy to Avignon, and internal corruption, contributed to the weakening of its authority. The deadly Black Plague of the 14th century and inability of the Church to offer a solution for it strongly undermined the Church’s power and its credibility. One of events, however, that gave…

Europe was having a prosperous time during the thirteenth century, quality harvests lead to a surplus of food that allowed Europe’s population to grow and expand. Nearing the end of the thirteenth century Europe began to have dangerous changes that would lead to some horrible outcomes. Firstly, a miniscule drop in overall temperature caused a “little ice age”, this led to shortened farming seasons and between 1315 and 1317, and caused heavy rains in northern Europe that destroyed harvests and…

The re-emergence of classical texts and the rise in Renaissance humanism changed society's approach to religion and the authority of the papacy, said Abernethy. "[Humanism] created an atmosphere that gave rise to different movements and sects … Martin Luther stressed reform of the Catholic Church, wanting to eliminate practices such as nepotism and the selling of indulgences," Abernethy…

Faith: The Middle Ground of the Middle Ages The Medieval times were frequently called the “Dark” ages as these troubled several hundred years were ruled by the black death and little to no artistic achievements were made, in fact “no scientific accomplishments had been made, no great art produced, no great leaders born.”(History.com Staff) Despite this lack of accomplishment the people of the Middle Ages did have one great driving force: their faith. These were a time in which people often…

when it came to wealth and power, they became the silent rulers of their hometown after the realization that money does lead to power. The Medici became stronger as their bank grew all over Europe. They started to make their way into Rome and the Papacy where several Medici became cardinals and Popes. Cosimo de Medici was responsible for the start of the Humanism movement and the commission of several magnificent art pieces, all due to the Medici Bank and the immense wealth and power that they…

put an end to the Great Schism. Catherine really cared greatly for the church and believed that the church was in need of being revitalized/reformed. Her letters give us input on her growing influence within the families, the church hierarchy, the papacy, as well as the crusade movement. Catherine worked so hard and devoted her life to reform the abuses in the church and to reunite Christianity after the Great Schism. Catherine didn’t just write letters she also wrote prayers. Catherine’s…

roughly around the seventeenth century. As the name states, the Italian Renaissance began in Italy, mainly for two reasons. The first being that Italy became disconnected from major powers, due to the hundreds year war, and the pope when papacy moved to Avignon. This gave Italy freedom and independence which was desperately needed by the people, and allowed for Italy to thrive. During this time, Italy acquired large amounts of money due to trade and…

In a 1992 symposium on sex work and women’s roles in society called Prostitution: From Academia to Activism, Andrea Dworkin delivered a powerful speech entitled Prostitution and Male Supremacy wherein she defined prostitution as being “the use of a woman’s body for sex by a man, he pays money, he does what he wants” (Dworkin 1992). In fact, although its formal definition refers to any person working in sex for money, the word prostitute is still directly linked to women and girls unless stated…