1. The Protestant Reformation
A religious movement of the 1500’s

2. The Reformation cont.
Protestant: protested against the Catholic Church
Why?
Inspired by Renaissance ideas: Secular interests, humanism, stronger national identities, higher literacy rates, corruption in the Church, …

3. The Reformation cont.
Took about 40 years; nearly half of Europe is Protestant
Several different Protestant churches will form and compete for believers
The first successful group to break from the Roman Catholic Church are the Lutherans
Others had tried, but been suppressed and executed

4. Religious Causes 1303: Kidnap of Boniface VIII
1309: Conflict between French and Italian Popes; At one point, 3 popes!
Great Schism continues into mid-1400’s

5. Luxury & Plague Religious leaders often led luxurious lives
The failure of Church leaders to protect people during the plague damaged its credibility

6. Cultural Causes: Humanism
The revival of learning
during the Renaissance
led to focus on Greek and
Roman texts, many
scholars saw that the
Church had changed
and developed over time
and this raised questions

7. Causes of the Reformation: Political Power
“Ecclesiastical liberty
is nowhere better preserved
than where the Church
has full power in temporal as
well as spiritual matters”
Pope Innocent III (1200’s)
This is challenged by
those kings who were
growing in power

8. Political Causes As feudalism declined the power of kings grew
Kings organized armies,
finances, and became
strong leaders of independent
states (England, Frances, Spain…)
They began to resent the
control the Pope tried to
exercise over secular issues
(and sometimes religious issues, too)

9. Economic Causes Kings’ power also grew as cities developed
More people moved
to urban areas and trade
in wool, glass, iron tools,
furs, wood etc.
required freedom and travel.
People turned to kings for
protection and support;
secular concerns grew

10. Printing Press Johann Gutenberg 1st to use movable type printing 1439
The Bible!!
CHANGES HISTORY: How?!!!

11. Martin Luther: October 31, 1517
The Reformation began within the Church itself
Martin Luther: monk and priest
Deeply religious
Questions practices of Church

12. Castle Church, Wittenberg
Posts 95 Theses
Not unusual
Debate was common
BUT these ideas were radical and challenging

13. 95 Theses
When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent”, he willed the entire life of believers to be be one of repentance
Those who believe that they can be certain of their salvation because they have indulgence letters will be eternally damned, together with their teachers

14. 95 Theses
Men must be on guard especially against those who say that the pope’s pardons are the inestimable gift of God
Because love grows by works of love, man therefore becomes better. Man does not become better by means of indulgences but is merely freed of earthly penalties

15. Luther gets in trouble
Pope Leo X excommunicates Luther in 1521; declares him a heretic; signs Edict of Worms declaring Luther an outlaw

16. Imperial Diet of Worms: 1521
Repudiate all!!
NO! only if scripture proves me wrong!
Runs, “kidnapped” and translates the Bible into German
Says, “faith alone will save you”

17. Calvinists: John Calvin 1540’s
Huguenots;Puritans
Settled in Geneva
Strict interpretation:No cards, dancing, gambling etc.either “elect” or damned; non-believers “dogs” & “swine”
Good works are a sign, not a promise; Predestination
Persecuted by Catholics and Lutherans

18. Henry the VIII and the Anglican Church: early 1500’s
Henry needs a male heir
Married to Catherine of Aragon, Spanish princess; only a daughter, Mary
Pope torn between Henry and King of Spain

19. Act of Supremacy: Anglican Church
Anne Boleyn; encourages his break with Church
He declares the “Act of Supremacy” in 1534 and gets his divorce
Church practice is still much like Catholicism

20. Results of the Reformation
Europe divided: Protestants in north, Catholics in south
The Reformation stimulated reforms in the Catholic Church called the Counter-Reformation
The establishment of state churches reflected growing nationalism (ex. Anglican in England, Catholicism in France)
“Protestant work ethic” (focus on holiness in daily life)

21. The Thirty Years War War from 1619-1648
Catholic HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE (controlled in “the Germanies”) attacked and interfered with the Protestant princces in that region.
Caused extreme destruction and terribly violence! When its ends, RCC and HRE are weakened.

22. Conflict due to religion continues until the mid 1600’s
1555: Peace of Augsburg signed: Rulers could choose the faith of their realm
The German ruler (Frederick the Wise who “kidnapped” and protected Luther) and others, saw this as an opportunity to get out from under Rome and the Holy Roman Empire