Areopagitica

by

John Milton

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Areopagus

A rock formation in Athens, Greece. During ancient times, the Court of Areopagus, Greece’s governing body, met near the rock formation to hear public disputes and decide laws. The Court of Areopagus is implied both… read analysis of Areopagus

The Council of Trent

A council of the Roman Catholic Church held in Trent, Italy, from 1545-1563. The Council of Trent is often referred to as the Counter-Reformation, and it was created specifically to stop the progress of the… read analysis of The Council of Trent

Cynics

Members of an ancient Greek school of philosophical thought who were opposed to pleasure. The word “cynical” comes from the school of Cynics, and Milton claims that not even their pessimistic words were censored in… read analysis of Cynics

Cyrene

A city in ancient Greece, and later in Rome, in what is present-day Libya. Cyrene was one of the most important cities in the region and was widely known to embrace liberal beliefs and values… read analysis of Cyrene

Parliament’s Licensing Order of 1643

An ordinance mandated by English Parliament in 1643 that stipulated every piece of writing must be licensed prior to publication and that every written work must contain the name of the author, the printer, and… read analysis of Parliament’s Licensing Order of 1643
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Polemic

An aggressive written argument, usually involving political or religious matters. The word is derived from the Greek word for “war,” and it was a popular form of writing in ancient Greece. Milton’s Areopagitia is… read analysis of Polemic

Presbyter

A minister, pastor, or elder of the Protestant faith. read analysis of Presbyter

Prelate

A bishop of the Catholic Church. In 1642, King Charles I excluded prelates from serving in Parliament. read analysis of Prelate

The Protestant Reformation

A movement within Christianity in which the Roman Catholic Church splintered and Protestantism was born. Protestants reject several of the accepted beliefs of Catholicism, such as that of the sacraments and papal authority, and they… read analysis of The Protestant Reformation

The Spanish Inquisition

A tribunal of the Roman Catholic Church that was part of the greater Catholic Inquisition, which also included the Roman Inquisition and the Portuguese Inquisition. The purpose of the tribunal was to maintain Catholicism in… read analysis of The Spanish Inquisition

The Star Chamber Decree

The Star Chamber was an English court and major governing body of England from about 1422 until it was abolished in 1641, three years before Milton wrote Areopagitica. In 1637, The Star Chamber issued… read analysis of The Star Chamber Decree