Essay About Erasmuss Works And Early Works

Ersamus Desiderius Life And Works
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Ersamus Desiderius
Erasmus, Desiderius was born in Rotterdam a city in south western
Netherlands (South Holland), in the year 1466. He was the illegitimate son
of a priest and a physicians daughter. Erasmus was educated in devener and
Shertogenbosch, in strict monastic schools. Shortly after his father death he
was ordained a priest in 1492. He studied scholastic philosophy and Greek
while working under the bishop of cambrai at the university of Paris.
Erasmus did not find religious life to his liking and he received a
papal dispensation, so he could live and dress as a secular scholar. 1499 he
traveled to many different cities working as a tutor, lecturer, always writing
and searching to find ancient manuscripts. He is most famous for his letter
written to many of the prominent people of his time. More than 1500 of his
letters survive till this day. During his various trips to England he made
friends with many scholars and humanist such as John Colet, and Tomas
Moore. He also taught Greek for a while at the university of Cambridge.
Erasmus was one of the main founders of humanism in England. Humanism
Is the philosophy that people are rational beings who possess the capability
for truth and goodness, its emphasise is on the dignity and worth of all
human beings. At the university of Turin in Italy he earned a doctrine and
the friendship of Venetian publisher Aldus Manutius. He also lived and
worked in Basel Switzerland for publisher Johann Forbes. He died there
later in 1536.
Erasmuss works were written in Latin, most of his early works were
attacks on the corruption of the church and its practices. The “Manuell of
the Cristen Knyght”and his most famous “The Praises of Folie”. He
advocated for a return to simple Christian ethics. His works were widely
influential and popular with the religious reformers of his time. Erasmus is
referred to as “The father of the Reformation”. The reformation was a
massive 16th century revolution in the Christian church. From the time of
the revival of the Holy Roman Empire in 962, there had been a constant
power struggle between the popes and the emperors. Often it was the pope
and the church that were victorious. This resulted in a rather bitter rivalry.
Many scholars began to attack the church, this was the beginning of a
movement toward total independence