The Colloquies of Erasmus

The 1516 work "The Colloquies of Erasmus" elevated his profile due to their controversial nature. Designed as a Latin study book for young students, "Colloquies" is written as a series of intellectual dialogues, touching on a wide range of subjects. Theology, philosophy, and literature are all visited with lightness not void of seriousness. Many of the religious dialogues criticized traditions of the Catholic Church, instigating a backlash from the Papacy that would haunt Erasmus the rest of his life. Yet "Colloquies" slowly became popular across Europe, simultaneously altering public dialogue about the Church's seemingly unfailing position in a changing society.