History week 22.

 Gerhard Groote was born in Deventer, a city in Netherlands in 1340. He grew up in a wealthy and prominent family which means he got good education. He studied in Paris and became a French Teacher, however, after a near death experience he underwent a spiritual transformation. He gave up his wealth and worldly possessions to devote his life to religious study and reform. In 1374 Groote founded the brethren of common life, a religious community dedicated to living a simple life. The Common Life education focused on education and manual labor, he thought doing your problems yourself was the right way. The Brethren of the Common Life had a significant impact on religious life and education in Europe. The schools they founded helped spread positive ideas and contributed to the climate that led Reformation. Groote’s focus on education and piety left a legacy scar for the world and created many good speakers and teachers to spread his word longer. All the European teachers never left his side after he died and kept teaching young curious people, his ides helped pave a path for the spiritual education community