4 Reforming the poor
-
Mark Henrickson
Abstract
This chapter includes the Middle Ages through the Reformation, the 12th to the mid-16th centuries. It considers Gratian’s Decretum (ca. 1140) and two pivotal disasters of the 14th century, the Great Famine and Great Plague. The Great Famine (1315–17 CE) resulted in the deaths of millions in Europe. The Great Plague (1347–53) resulted in an estimated 25–200 million more deaths throughout Europe and Asia. These catastrophes impaired the church’s ability to provide care to the poor, and its authority waned. Civic authorities provided resources but retained distribution through churches and monasteries. Labour shortages resulted in legislation to stabilise population movements and wages; these were the first of the English and continental poor laws. The reformers Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and Arminius challenged the Roman Catholic Church’s theology and authority and founded what became known as Protestantism on the continent and in England. The chapter concludes with careful consideration of the impact of the different reformers on Christian theologies of salvation, grace, work, and the poor. Calvin in particular gave new life to the idea that work demonstrated the worth of the individual, and wealth was evidence of God’s blessing. Wealth was no longer problematised but poverty was.
Abstract
This chapter includes the Middle Ages through the Reformation, the 12th to the mid-16th centuries. It considers Gratian’s Decretum (ca. 1140) and two pivotal disasters of the 14th century, the Great Famine and Great Plague. The Great Famine (1315–17 CE) resulted in the deaths of millions in Europe. The Great Plague (1347–53) resulted in an estimated 25–200 million more deaths throughout Europe and Asia. These catastrophes impaired the church’s ability to provide care to the poor, and its authority waned. Civic authorities provided resources but retained distribution through churches and monasteries. Labour shortages resulted in legislation to stabilise population movements and wages; these were the first of the English and continental poor laws. The reformers Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and Arminius challenged the Roman Catholic Church’s theology and authority and founded what became known as Protestantism on the continent and in England. The chapter concludes with careful consideration of the impact of the different reformers on Christian theologies of salvation, grace, work, and the poor. Calvin in particular gave new life to the idea that work demonstrated the worth of the individual, and wealth was evidence of God’s blessing. Wealth was no longer problematised but poverty was.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents ix
- Acknowledgements xi
- Introduction 1
- A royal responsibility 18
- Inventing the poor 42
- Reforming the poor 67
- Capitalising the poor 94
- Industrialising the poor 121
- Liberalising the poor 154
- Professionalising work with the poor 180
- A global perspective 198
- Creating a global future 214
- References 224
- Index 246
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents ix
- Acknowledgements xi
- Introduction 1
- A royal responsibility 18
- Inventing the poor 42
- Reforming the poor 67
- Capitalising the poor 94
- Industrialising the poor 121
- Liberalising the poor 154
- Professionalising work with the poor 180
- A global perspective 198
- Creating a global future 214
- References 224
- Index 246
