“The Triumph of Death”, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, 1562

For next Wednesday, March 26, please read the first three sections of Chapter 16: The Church, Death and Purgatory (1300 – 1500); Papal Monarchy Challenged (1300 – 1500); Nominalists, Lollards and Hussites (1300 – 1500).

Please write a summary on one of the following topics:

1. Discuss the impact the Black Death had upon the Catholic Church and people’s faith; also discuss the flagellant movement and anti-Semitism that was prevalent during this time.
2. Discuss how the industry of Indulgences gained popularity during the time of the Black Death
3. Discuss why Purgatory became so prevalent during after the 12th century.
4. What was the significance of Council of Konstanz in 1417 with Pope Martin V and the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund?  What was the impact of the Conciliarists?
5. Discuss the philosophy of William of Ockham and the Nominalists and why they were a threat to papal authority.  Also how did printed texts and the printed Bible change the spiritual landscape of Europe during this time?
6. Discuss the impact of John Wyclif in the 1370s and his followers the Lollards.  What was the impact of the English translation of the Vulgate, and then subsequent translations of the Bible in the other European countries’ native language?
7. Discuss the impact of Jan Hus and his Hussites during the 1400s in Prague.  What impact did his execution have on the Czech Church and relations with the Catholic Church?

As you can tell, we are on the cusp of the Reformation revolution that is to come full force.

Essays will be posted next week.