Edward VI and Cultural Developments

Question 1

Who was influenced by humanism?

Answer 1

Humanism mostly affected the educated elite. This was because they were literate and could read key humanist texts.

Question 2

Encouraging humanism

Answer 2

Humanist ideas about education and human potential were encouraged during Edward VI’s reign. Humanist ideas spread after works by humanist scholars, such as Erasmus, were translated into English. In the mid-1500s, humanists were spreading their message through literature. This was helped by the printing press.

Question 3

Humanism and religion

Answer 3

When it first developed, humanism was not associated with either Catholicism or Protestantism. By Edward VI’s reign, humanists were becoming divided because of their clashing religious beliefs. Young humanists, in particular, were more likely to believe in Protestant doctrines. This was also because Protestant humanists were involved in education. For example, Richard Cox was Edward VI’s tutor.

Question 4

‘Sermon of the Plough’

Answer 4

The Sermon of the Plough was a sermon by Hugh Latimer (a key Protestant minister) at St Paul’s in 1548. This sermon, which emphasised the importance of Protestant doctrine and social morality, was published and became very popular. This is an example of how the printing press was used to spread Protestant and humanist ideas.

Question 5

Renaissance ideas

Answer 5

The Renaissance continued to have an influence on intellectual thought in England during Edward VI’s reign. For example, science was becoming a more rigorous discipline and people were beginning to dismiss superstition.