A) The medieval church on the eve of the Reformation represented an accumulation of more than one thousand years of traditions, some of which even preceded Christianity itself. Discuss some of these traditions as they apply to salvation, clerical authority, and the place of the sacred in daily life. What are some of the social and cultural forces that led humanists and other reformers to question the traditions of the medieval church?
B) The Age of Exploration dramatically transformed Europe's economy and culture. Discuss the impact that the "New World" had on Europe's economy and mentality. How did contact with non-Christian cultures lead some to question the role of religion in human society and challenge European notions of their own cultural superiority? How did the discoveries lead to anxiety and doubt about past tradition and authority?
