Unit VI: The Early Modern Era

The Reformation

A. Spirit of inquiry led some people to question Church authority 1. Leaders of this movement broke away from the RCC and began a new religion B. Erasmus and Humanism 1. By the late 15th century humanism of the Italian Renaissance spread to Northern Europe a. Became known as Christian Humanism -major goal was to reform the RCC -believed in the ability of humans to reason and improve themselves and society b. Desiderius Erasmus-best known Christian Humanist -Christianity should show people how to live good lives rather than provide a system of beliefs to be saved

C. Religion on the Eve of the Reformation 1. Reformers concerned with the corruption of the RCC a. Pope accused of being more political than spiritual b. Clergy using power and wealth to advance themselves 2. Black death and failure of the Crusades undermined people’s faith in the Church 3. Lack of Guidance a. People wanted to be assured of salvation, have meaningful religious experiences, and forgiveness of sins 4. Indulgences a. Purchased from clerics for passage into heaven b. Critics of the practice charged that it was corrupt; driven by economic gain, not spirituality 5. Simony a. The selling of church offices and positions b. Also nepotism- employment of relatives and friends 6. The Inquisition a. Spread all over Europe and caused skepticism, panic, and “witch hunts” (fear tactics)

The Protestant Reformation A. Martin Luther 1. Monk and professor of theology 2. He was greatly offended by another monk, Johann Tetzel a. Tetzel sold indulgences 3. The 95 Thesis a. October 31, 1517, Luther sent a list of 95 “issues” he had with the RCC -selling of relics and indulgences -salvation achieved by faith alone (not good works) -Bible should be sole source of religious truth -Clergy should marry b. the Pope did not take him seriously

A.Martin Luther (cont’d) 4. Edict of Worms 1521: Luther made an outlaw 5. Luther’s reforms started the Protestant Reformation a. German princes took over RC churches in Germany and instituted Lutheranism -the first Protestant faith 6. Peace of Augsburg (1555) a. Leaders of German states could choose btw RCC & Lutheran B. John Calvin 1. Born in France a. Influenced by Luther’s teachings about Christianity 2. Calvin fled to Geneva, Switzerland a. Set up a theocracy based on moral discipline b. He was very successful and the city became a center for Protestantism c. He developed Calvinism, which became the leading form of Protestantism

C. Reformation in England 1. King Henry VIII a. Wanted to divorce his wife -he need an heir to the throne b. Pope unwilling to grant an annulment -Henry and Parliament decided in 1534 to break away from the RCC -The Act of Supremacy of 1534 declared the king was the head of the Church of England (Anglicans) 2. Queen Mary (Bloody Mary) a. Reverted English monarchy back to Catholicism -burned over 300 heretics (Protestants) at the stake - These extreme measures alienated many from her reign and she was hated -Elizabeth I took the throne (1558) and restored “peace”

The Catholic (Counter) Reformation A. Many Europeans converted to a form of Protestantism 1. especially in Germany, the Netherlands, England B. RCC needed to act 1. needed to get these people to convert back 2. RCC began to undergo reforms or “revitalizations” a. End the corruption w/in the RCC a Reform Commission to appointed to institute changes -Council of Trent, March 1545: a group of clerics met in Trent on/off for the next 18 yrs 3. Council of Trent a. Stated the differences btw Protestantism and Catholicism 4. Society of Jesus (Jesuits) a. Founded by Ignatius Loyola in 1540 a. A Spanish nobleman -took an oath of absolute obedience to the Pope -used education to spread their message -able to restore Catholicism in certain parts of Germany and E. Europe