The Protestant Reformation Essential Question: What issues in the Catholic Church led to Martin Luther writing his 95 Theses?

Pope competed with Italian princes for political power Pope lived lavish lives Paid for their lifestyles through indulgences Indulgence-lessened the time a soul would spend in purgatory (where souls go to wait to enter heaven, atone for sins committed during their life) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiSCnZ4wSMo

England 1300s, John Wycliffe called for change by using his sermons and writings After his death, his movement was still kept alive in secret

Martin Luther: Wittenberg, Germany– 1517 German monk and professor of theology Wittenberg, Germany– 1517 Johann Tetzel offered indulgences to Christian who gave money to build St. Peter Claimed it would get them into heaven for both the buyer and their deceased family Peasants could not afford this

95 Theses– Luther’s arguments/criticisms of the Catholic Church Not in the bible, pope could NOT release souls from purgatory Only saved through FAITH Printed and distributed throughout Europe Church called on Luther to take back what he said 1521, Pope Leo excommunicated Luther Diet of Worms– Luther was called on by Charles V the Holy Roman Emperor Diet = meeting of German princes Charles wanted Luther to recant and Luther refused Charles declared Luther to be an outlaw

Luther wanted people to be able to read the bible for themselves  translated parts into German Banned indulgences, confession and prayers to the saints Emphasized the sermon Allowed clergy to marry

The printing press helped to spread the ideas of Luther 1524– peasant revolt Wanted social and economic change Grew violent and Luther denounced it By 1530, went by Lutherans or Protestants German princes accepted Luther  wanted to throw out the authority of the Catholic Church and Charles V Seized church property

Peace of Augsburg- Charles V tried to force the princes back into the Catholic Church Signed in 1555, allowed each prince to DECIDE their religion!! North = Lutheran South = Catholic

Switzerland-Ulrich Zwingli, stressed the bible over elaborate rituals John Calvin– explained how to organize and run the Protestant church Predestination-idea that God determined who would gain salvation – Saints and Sinners Geneva, set up a theocracy-government run by the church

Saw themselves as “chosen people” Stressed hard work, discipline, thrift, honestly, and morality Faced fines and punishment for cursing, fighting, laughing in church, or dancing Reformers visited Geneva and took the ideas home By the late 1500s, Calvinism had spread to Germany, France, The Netherlands, England and Scotland Led to bloody wars in Europe In Germany both Catholics and Lutherans were against Calvinism France, wars against the Calvanists and Catholics In England some fled persecution to the Americas Scotland, John Knox (Calvinist) overthrew the Catholic queen