Question

Desiderius Erasmus said in a letter to Sir Henry Guildford in 1519: "The world is waking out of a deep sleep." How do these words reflect the era of the Renaissance? Respond in one well-constructed paragraph. Support your answer to the question with at least two examples of how the world was waking out of a deep sleep during the Renaissance.

Answer 1

Desiderius Erasmus lived during a time period of significant change in 1500's Europe. This rebirth, or awakening, was being felt around the known world. During this time period in Europe, a religious renaissance was occurring. The Catholic Church, which was once the one and only church with the Pope as its all powerful leader, was beginning to be challenged by "free thinkers" who opposed some of the traditions and ideals put forth by Catholicism. This time period was also a rebirth/renaissance in the areas of technology, science, arts, and philosophy. The introduction of gunpowder, for an example, forever changed human warfare and made battles more deadly than ever.