Question
Evaluate the reasons for the spread of Protestant ideas in England or Scotland or France or the Netherlands.
Answer/Explanation
Ans:
The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of a range of reasons why Protestant ideas spread in one of the above-mentioned countries. Candidates may deal with the reasons discretely or they may order them into groups, for example, religious reasons, political reasons, social reasons or even, perhaps, reasons linked to the geography of the country being evaluated. Political factors could include the influence of nationalism and dislike of the powers of the papacy. Economic factors could include the economic condition of the chosen exemplar or the role of itinerant merchants in spreading Protestant ideas. For example, the declining position of some groups in the Netherlands encouraged them to take up Protestantism. Social factors could include the emphasis on individual faith that was appealing to the more literate or the view that Protestant thought encouraged social change or even revolution.
Question
To what extent was the Church in medieval Europe a barrier to social change?
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates must consider whether the Church aided or impeded social change. No set answer is expected; however candidates should attempt to offer a reasoned conclusion.
Indicative content
Material in support:
• The Church was a hierarchical institution with considerable privileges and wealth and would not likely support changes especially if they challenged its position.
• The Church supported other powerful authoritarians such as kings as they provided the stable society in which the Church thrived. Any significant change to the social order would most likely be seen as dangerous to the Church.
• Their control of education and communication systems allowed them to promote their conservative views.
• Their ability to punish or threaten dissidents with loss of a chance at salvation was a powerful weapon to suppress dissent.
• Their resistance to classical knowledge and scientific inquiry would indicate an institution hostile to change.
Material to challenge:
• Through some of its organizations the Church had introduced number of initiatives for change. These included agricultural technology and industrial development that furthered the course of social change. The founding of universities and schools would necessarily create intellectual debate and pressure for new ideas.
• Many scientists and others who were challenging the Church’s position were themselves churchmen, as were individuals incorporating classical learning and new ideas such as Thomas Aquinas.
Question
Evaluate the reasons for criticism of the Catholic Church at the start of the 16th century.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the reasons for criticism of the Church. It must be noted that the question is about the start of the 16th century and not the start of the Reformation and as such, issues including the condition of the papacy, the character of popes, for example Alexander VI, and the poor physical condition of Rome as the centre of the western Christian faith may be considered. There was much criticism that bishops were often either poorly educated or too involved in politics and secular affairs. The quality of the clergy especially parish clergy, the spiritual condition of the Church, the perceived problems of absenteeism, nepotism, simony and anticlericalism, and the criticism from humanist writers may be included in candidates’ responses. Candidates may choose to deal with each factor separately or group them into categories.
Question
Evaluate the reasons for the spread of Protestant ideas in England or Scotland or France or the Netherlands.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of a range of reasons why Protestant ideas spread in one of the above-mentioned countries. Candidates may deal with the reasons discretely or they may order them into groups, for example, religious reasons, political reasons, social reasons or even, perhaps, reasons linked to the geography of the country being evaluated. Political factors could include the influence of nationalism and dislike of the powers of the papacy. Economic factors could include the economic condition of the chosen exemplar or the role of itinerant merchants in spreading Protestant ideas. For example, the declining position of some groups in the Netherlands encouraged them to take up Protestantism. Social factors could include the emphasis on individual faith that was appealing to the more literate or the view that Protestant thought encouraged social change or even revolution.