Criticism of the Church; Pope Alexander VI; papal and clerical corruption; humanism: Colet, More and Erasmus; heresies and anti-clericalism
By 1500, educated Europeans and ordinary people were openly criticising the Catholic Church for corruption and greed. Scholars called humanists used reason and ancient texts to expose how far the Church had drifted from its own teachings.
Real World
Erasmus's 'In Praise of Folly' (1511) mocked corrupt bishops and ignorant priests much as modern satirists like The Daily Show expose institutional hypocrisy — using humour and reason to delegitimise authority without openly calling for revolution.
Exam Focus
Separate humanist criticism (reform from within) from heresy (rejection of doctrine); examiners reward this precise distinction.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
How well did you know this?