The 14th century saw upheavals in Christianity due to disasters like the plague and conflicts within and against the church. The plague wiped out half of Europe's population, causing famine from a lack of cultivation. Social rebellion and crackdowns ensued. Peasants like Wat Tyler demanded an end to systems like villeinage. Meanwhile, the once powerful church had become corrupt and faced challenges from secular rulers over taxation. This led to the "Babylonian Captivity" where the pope resided in Avignon under French influence and the Great Schism with popes controlling Rome and Avignon. Reformers like John Wyclif and John Huss questioned the church's necessity, leading the church to react through councils