Causes of the Peasants Revolt Flashcards
What did the revolt reflect?
Mounting harships.
What were landlords imposing on the peasants?
Increasing financial demands.
Why was the increasing financial demands of landlords untimely for peasents?
Legal changes meant peasants couldn’t use the traditional methods they have used to survive.
What did enclosure of common land mean for the peasants?
They couldn’t graze their livestock for free.
What were hunting and fishing reclassified as?
Poaching offences punishable by death.
What did population growth mean there was more need for?
‘Free food’.
Where was serfdom being imposed?
To the east of River Elbe.
What provided fuel for the debate?
Financial demands and legal changes.
What did this revolts’ grievances coincide with that made it different to others?
Coincided with religious beliefs.
What gave the impression that this was also a religious rebellion?
Many priests joined the rebels and demands were made concerning religion.
What 3 things about Luther made him partly to blame for the Peasants revolt?
His ambiguous theology, aggressive language and self-promotion as a holy man.
Why did the peasants think Luther would support them in their denunciation of tithes?
That he would support them as they had no scriptural basis.
What did the peasants think Luther was suggesting with the ‘priesthood of all believers’?
Social equality of the peasants.
Why did the peasants think Luther would help them?
Because of the woodcuts presenting him as a prophet sent by God.
Why may the peasants have assumed they were carrying out Luther’s wishes?
Luther’s aggressive language against his opponents.
