Writing Assignment: Answer three of the following questions:
(1) What did the Albigensians believe?
The Albigensians had a core belief that there were two opposing gods, a good god (who created the spiritual realm) and a bad god (who created the material world). Because they viewed the material world as corrupted, they believed that human souls were spirits trapped in inherently sinful flesh.
(2) Describe the mendicant orders of the thirteenth century.
The Mendicant orders were Catholic religous orders founded in the early 13th century that revolutionized the traditional monastic lifestyle. Unlike traditional monks who lived in isolation, mendicants rook strict vows of absolute poverty, where they refused to own property or land. Another difference is that instead of retreating from society, mendicants lived as friars in major cities and towns. Their view was “not to live for themselves but to serve others.” They relied entirely on the charity and goodwill of the people they served, begging for food and shelter.
(3) What was the significance of the Magna Carta?
The Magna Carta is a charter of rights agreed to by King John of England in 1215. It was initially drafted as a peace treaty to settle a rebellion by his barons and bishops over heavy taxation and royal overreach. It established the legal principal that no one is above the law, not even the king. Prior to the Magna Carta, the king’s word was absolute, but the charter bound the crown to govern within established legal boundaries.
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