Today, the possibility that there was once a female pope, or papess, is known to many people – from reading Lawrence Durrell’s light-hearted novel, Pope Joan. For centuries, however, the historical existence of a female pope was treated as fact.

From Hero or Villain: More Prisoners of Eternity.

In other parts of Europe, particularly in the coastal areas of the Atlantic and the western side, the formation of the kingdoms and the development of national identities continued. The Swedes, Danes, and Norwegians, who were formerly part of the tribes that roamed the frontiers of the Roman Empire, had by now formed their own kingdoms. The Slavs were united under the leadership of the Czechs, while the Poles rallied behind the Duchy of Poland. The Magyars formed what we now call Hungary.

In AD 1500, just like Europe, the Catholic Church was experiencing rapid growth and prosperity as they began to engage in church building throughout Europe including the building of the Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. But it was this rapid growth that led to shortage of cash – thus the selling of indulgences. One brave man, Friar Martin Luther, stood up aganist the church and revolutionized Europe and the world.