Title: Martin Luther and Peasants Revolt in Germany in 1524-1525 Example | Graduateway
Headings: Martin Luther and Peasants Revolt in Germany in 1524-1525
Martin Luther and Peasants Revolt in Germany in 1524-1525
Prof. Shack
English, History, Political Science, Philosophy, Psychology, Literature
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Content: In fact, it is not quite correct to call it “Peasant’s war”, since lower classes of the cities, local clergy and sometimes even broke chivalry were among the supporters of the rebellion. They were confronted by richer nobility and German princes interested in maintaining their rule and wellbeing, as well as by bourgeoisie interested in stability. The conflict grew slowly out of separate complaints and disorders in various regions of Germany and neighboring states. Crop failure in 1523-1524 brought the countrymen on the edge of starvation [3]. Being driven to despair by their disastrous state, increasing taxes and bondhold and by disregard to their petitions the peasants across Swabia, Baden, Bavaria, Saxony, Thuringia, Westphalia, Hessen and other German lands, as well as Switzerland, Austria and eastern provinces of France raised arms against their oppressors. A major rebellion broke out in Lower Swabia in 1524, and spread to the neighboring regions during spring of 1525 supported by about 300 000 rebels [4]. What was new about this rebellion was that the peasants used a new mighty ideological weapon – Protestantism. Throughout the Middle Ages illiterate peasants poorly understood religious teaching including the text of the Bible. The holy texts were all written in Latin and inaccessible for the majority of population. Luther’s translation of the Bible into German combined with invention of book printing by Gutenberg allowed to bring the text of the Bible to every village.