He’s born into a wealthy aristocratic family who offers him as an oblate to the church – which is one of

the ways the aristocrats up their wealth, by putting him there

Background – born 1225, a very wealthy and urbanized period in European history since fall of Roman
empire- The culture is for first time, a large area of world is in contact. Muslim and Jewish philosophers
in Spain, plus Pope is writing letters to Mongolians asking for help against the Muslims. Also the west
has conquered Constantinople in 1205 and occypying an area where its previously had very little contact
with.

You also have rise of radical form of Christinaity challenging old form of Christianity 0 th friars of the
Dominican and frncisicans are challenging the corrupting wealth of the medieval church.