What subjects did Erasmus criticize in Praise of Folly?

In his satirical work Praise of Folly, Desiderius Erasmus employed a strategy of irony and imagination to explore an unruly domain of topics. The book serves as a set of variations on the idea of folly, functioning as a powerful medium for attacking a variety of social institutions.1

While the text is a broad exploration of human behavior, it is noted for its critique of the complexities and pretenses of medieval institutions, both secular and religious. Erasmus used this platform to push the limits of what was then considered permissible expression, challenging the status quo of his time. His broader body of work, which shares the critical spirit found in Praise of Folly, further clarifies his opposition to:1

• Religious Superstition: He criticized preachers who nurtured superstitious observances among the faithful to serve their own interests.2
• Ecclesiastical Corruption: He targeted popes who imitated Caesar’s warlike ambitions rather than the teachings of Christ.2
• Warlike Princes: He condemned rulers who dragged entire nations into conflict to avenge personal slights.2
• Scholasticism: He rejected the argumentative, logic-chopping methods of Scholastic theologians in favor of a "philosophy of Christ" rooted in the study of classical and Christian antiquity.2