Question

Explain how each of the following people challenged authority in the Middle Ages. John Wycliff John Huss Joan of Are

Answer 1

-John Wycliffe directly challenged the Church and clergy, calling out the luxury and privilege they indulged in and categorizing them as sinners. According to him, it only made sense that the entire clergy should give up all their property and live in poverty to right their wrongs. The Council of Constance made a declaration on May 4th of 1415 that marked Wycliffe as a heretic and banned his writings.

-Jan Hus also attacked religious institutions for their moral failings. His efforts were centered around denouncing the Church's ethical abuse, and he set the seeds for the Reformation movement to come. After his condemnation and death, his following had become so large that most of the Czech population of the Kingdom of Bohemia represented a powerful military force, battling and winning several crusades and revolts.

-Joan of Arc went from a French peasant to leading armies in some of the biggest battles against England in the Hundred Years War. From an early age, she claimed to have visions of angels and saints who guided her, supporting her beliefs against torture that any exceptional person no matter what level of society they come from, can receive a divine calling. She shared the same fate as the previous 2 figures, as she was also tried for heresy and ended up being burnt at the stake.

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