1. Chapter 17 Section 3 & 4

2.  By the 10 th century the Roman Catholic Church dominated religious life in Northern and Western Europe.  However the Church was not without criticism.  Many felt the church was too concerned with gaining wealth and political power.

3.  The spirit and ideas of the Renaissance threatened the authority of the church.  The printing press allowed for the spread of the secular ideals of the Renaissance thinkers.  Some rulers began to challenge the Church’s political power. In a divided Germany it was difficult for the Pope to impose central authority.  Merchants resented paying taxes to the church.

4.  Many claimed the church leaders were corrupt.  Popes during the Renaissance spent extravagantly on the arts, in personal pleasure, and fought wars.  Some lower level clergy were poorly educated, broke priestly vows by secretly marrying, and drank to excess or gambled.

5.  In 1517 Luther (a monk) decided to take a public stance against the corruption of the Catholic church.  Luther particularly spoke out against the selling of Indulgences, or pardons which released a sinner from performing the penalty that a priest imposed for sins.  In an effort to speak our Luther wrote his 95 thesis.

6.  Luther wrote his 95 thesis (formal statements) attacking the “pardon- merchants”  On October 31 st 1517 he posted these statements on the door of the castle in Wittenburg, Germany.  These 95 thesis were copied and widely distributed.  Luther’s 95 thesis led to the beginning of the Reformation (movement for religious reform.)

7.  Luther wanted a full reform of the church. His teaching rested in 3 main ideas. 1. People could win salvation only by faith in God’s gift of forgiveness. 2. All church teachings should be clearly based on the words of the Bible. 3. All people with faith were equal, therefore people did not need priests to interpret the Bible for them.

8.  Luther’s ideas spread rapidly and in turn he gained many followers.  As Luther's followers became more numerous he became a legitimate threat to the church  In response Charles V, the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire issued the Edict of worms.  This edict declared Luther an Outlaw and heretic.  No one in the empire was to give him food or shelter.  As a result Luther and his followers separated themselves from the Catholic faith and began there own religious group called Lutherans.

9.  Many Northern Germany Princes supported Lutheranism.  In 1529 German princes who remained loyal to the pope agreed to join forces against Luther's ideas and those that supported them.  Those Princes that supported Luther signed a protest against this agreement.  They became known as protestants, which was eventually applied to Christians who belonged to non Catholic churches.  Charles V went to war against these Protestant Princes. Although he defeated them he failed to force them back into the Catholic Church.

10.  Soon England also turned away from the Catholic Church  Henry VIII had a strong desire to have a son to become heir to his throne.  He was convinced that his wife at 42 could not have any more children.  He hoped to have his marriage annulled, however this request was denied.  He then took matters into his own hands by asking Parliament to pass a set of laws that ended the Pope’s power in England.

11.  Henry VIII then secretly married Anne Boelyn and shortly after Parliament Legalized his divorced and went against the Pope’s Rule.  This act made Henry the official head of England’s Church.  England has officially moved to Protestantism.

12.  Boleyn gave birth to a daughter and quickly fell our of favor with Henry VIII.  As a result she was charged with treason and eventually beheaded.  Jane Seymour finally gave him the son he desired.  She died 3 weeks later  Henry married three more time (that makes 6 wives)

13.  After Henry’s death in 1547 each of his 3 children ruled England in turn.  Edward VI: Rules for 6 years and Protestants remain strong.  Mary I: begins rule and restores the Catholic Church (many Protestants are executed)  Elizabeth I: Restores the Protestant Church

14.  Throughout Europe the move away from the Catholic church continued.  Another branch of Protestantism emerged, based mainly on the teachings of a Frenchman named John Calvin.

15.  Men and women are sinful by nature.  Predestination: God chooses a very few people to save.  These people were known as “the elect”  He believed that God has known since the very beginning of time who will be saved.  Calvin’s Teachings became known as Calvinism.

16.  While the Protestant churches won many followers, millions remained loyal to the Catholic Church.  In response to the development of the Protestant movement the Catholic Church led a reformation of their own.  Often refereed to as the Counter Reformation

17.  Ignatius of Loyola  Wrote a book called Spiritual Excercises which laid out day-by-day plans of mediation prayer and study.  Ultimately created a religious order called the Jesuits.  Reforming Popes  Investigated the selling of indulgences and other papal abuses.  Most importantly called a council of church leaders to meet in Trent.

18.  At this meeting the Catholic Bishops and Cardinals agreed on several doctrines  The Church’s interpretation of the Bible was final.  Followers needed faith and good works to reach salvation.  The bible and church tradition were equally powerful in guiding Christian life.  Indulgences were valid expressions of faith but selling of indulgences were banned.

19.  Social and Religious Effects:  New denominations developed  Catholic Church became more unified  Role of Education increased  Political Effects:  Ended Christian unity in Europe  Individual monarchs and states (countries) gained power.  Laid the groundwork for the Enlightenment