Question

Identify the correct definition of the Great Western Schism in the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries.

A) A conflict between Eastern and Western Christianity
B) A series of wars in medieval Europe
C) A division within the Roman Catholic Church involving multiple claimants to the papacy
D) A political uprising in the Holy Roman Empire

Answer 1

The Great Western Schism was a period from 1378 to 1417 within the Roman Catholic Church where multiple individuals claimed to be the legitimate pope, leading to a significant religious and political crisis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Great Western Schism occurred in the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries from 1378 to 1417. This period was marked by significant discord within the church when there were conflicting claims to the papal throne, ultimately resulting in the appointment of three different popes at the same time.

This internal conflict led to a crisis of authority and severely damaged the papacy's reputation, resulting in the questioning of the church's integrity. Resolution came with the Council of Constance, which, from 1414 to 1418, managed to persuade two of the claimants to resign, effectively ending the Schism and restoring a measure of unity within the Roman Catholic Church.