Erasmus, in full Desiderius Erasmus, (born October 27, 1469 [1466?], Rotterdam, Holland [now in the Netherlands]—died July 12, 1536, Basel, Switzerland), Dutch humanist who was the greatest scholar of the northern Renaissance, the first editor of the New Testament, and also an important figure in patristics and
What were Erasmus greatest achievements?
Erasmus lived life of a classical independent scholar. Using his humanist touch, he penned several editions of the New Testament in Latin and Greek, which in turn led to the Protestant Reformation and Catholic-Counter Reformation.
What was Erasmus known for?
Erasmus was a Dutch Renaissance Humanist, Catholic priest, social critic, teacher, and theologian known as the “Prince of the Humanists” for his influential scholarship and writings.
What did Erasmus influence?
In a unique manner that fused his multiple identities—as Netherlander, Renaissance humanist, and pre-Tridentine Catholic—Erasmus helped to build what may be called the liberal tradition of European culture.
What was Erasmus masterpiece?
Erasmus’ writings rank him as one of the greatest scholars of his time. His masterpiece, ‘Colloquia’ – a critical text about Church abuses – appeared in 1519. He criticized with witty satire the ignorance of the clergy, and their over-reliance on ceremonies, and their neglect of charity and the study of the Bible.
Why is Erasmus important today?
DESIDERIUS ERASMUS was the last great intellectual of a united Christian Europe: a scholar of universal renown, a friend to kings and tutor to princes, and a self-proclaimed “citizen of the world”. He produced a translation of the New Testament that changed the way Christians think about their faith.
How did Petrarch contribute to the renaissance?
Petrarch was a scholar who laid the foundations for Renaissance humanism, which emphasized the study of Classical authors from antiquity over the Scholastic thinkers of the Middle Ages. He defended this idea to his more conservative contemporaries.
What are three facts about Erasmus?
Erasmus was a classical scholar who wrote in a “pure” Latin style. Although he was a Catholic, he was critical of the Roman Catholic Church and wrote satires of them. He stood at the beginning of the reformation.
