Desiderius Erasmus was an important figure in the start of humanism. He rejected the harsh teachings and methods of the religious teachers at that time.
Early Life
He was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands, probably October 27, 1466. His father was believed to be Roger Gerard, a priest, and his mother was Margaret, a daughter of a physician. Erasmus started school when he was four and he was sent to a Latin grammar school by his father when he was nine. His parents died due to the plague in 1483 and his guardians took him in. They wanted him to become a monk and sent him to a more conservative school.
Erasmus' Brief Priesthood and Scholar Life
Erasmus joined the Augustinian monastery at Steyn in 1487 and took monastic vows in 1488. He became a priest in 1492, however, he didn't like Steyn and found it crude and rustic. He was able to leave his duties because of his intellectual abilities. In 1495, Erasmus met Henry de Bergen, bishop of Chambray, who was impressed with his skill in Latin. He employed Erasmus as his secretary and payed him a salary for study in Paris, France.
Paris was a different environment from where he was before. He was known as an excellent scholar and lecturer. He wrote poetry and experimented with different styles of writing. He went between cities lecturing and corresponding with some of the greatest thinkers in Europe. In the early 1500's, Erasmus was convinced to teach at Cambridge and lecture about theology.
Important Works
Around the time Erasmus began to teach at Cambridge, he wrote Encomium moriae, which was a writing expressing his view on society and the Church. In 1516, Erasmus wrote Novum instrumentum, where the New Testament was elaborated and translated into in Greek. It was a turning point in theology and for scholars and reformers. He wrote a guide for princes to rule justly, Institutio principis Christiani ,in 1516. In 1517, he wrote Querela pacis, in which he speaks out about the use of war as a tool for oppression and telling rulers to fulfill their duties to preserve Christian harmony. In these writings, Erasmus encouraged the spread of classical knowledge to promote better morals and better understanding of people.
A picture of Desiderius Erasmus
Some of Erasmus' Works
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