1. Renaissance and Reformation
Guided Notes
Renaissance and Reformation

2. Definitions Protestant Reformation
To express strong objection
Reform
To improve by correcting errors

3. Protestant Reformation Defined:
Reformation: a spiritual/religious revolution that aimed to correct the “problems” of the Catholic Church and sparked a century and a half of religious civil war. It resulted in the establishment of the Protestant branches of Christianity- e.g. Lutheranism, Calvinism etc
Renaissance and Reformation

4. Religion: Powerful Force
Belief in the devil, hell, and a punishing God were powerful forces
Thinkers of the Renaissance and Reformation would challenge some of these beliefs
Religion guided people
Renaissance and Reformation

5. I. The Church’s Problems
Charges of greed
Worldly political power challenged
Weariness of dependence on the Church and the constraints it enforced
Growing human confidence vs. “original sin”
Catholic church becomes defensive in the face of criticism
The confusing nature of scholasticism

6. Causes of Protestant Reformation
Dissatisfaction with the harsh laws of the Catholic Church
An appetite for spiritual experience
Open minded people
More educated peasants
Martin Luther's 95 Theses
Renaissance and Reformation

7. Corruption
The Church raised money through practices like selling indulgences.
Woodcut of the pope selling indulgences, from Passionary of the Christ and Antichrist. Source:
Plenary indulgence; inscription on the left transept of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Rome. © Marie-Lan Nguyen / Wikimedia Commons. Source:

8. Advantages of Buying Indulgences Go Directly to Heaven!
Do not go to Hell!
Do not go to Purgatory!
Get through Purgatory faster!
Do not pass Go!

9. Political Conflict KINGS AND QUEENS POPES
King Philip IV of France (ruled 1285 – 1314); source:
Pope Urban VI (reigned 1378 – 1389); source:

10. Renaissance and Reformation 1450-1600
Martin Luther
Roman Catholic Monk in Germany
Believed that faith alone will bring salvation
1517, he published his 95 Theses listing all problems with the Catholic Church
Renaissance and Reformation

11. Luther Looks for Reforms
Luther criticized Church practices, like selling indulgences.
He wanted to begin a discussion within the Church about the true path to salvation.
He nailed his Ninety-Five Theses, or arguments, to the door of Wittenberg cathedral for all to see.
Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses; source:

12. The Printing Press
Luther’s ideas spread quickly with the help of the printing press.
Luther’s supporters distributed copies of his speeches and essays far and wide.
Millions of people sided with Luther against the Roman Catholic Church.
Printing press; source:

13. Protestant Teaching: Justification by Faith Alone
The Bible is the only source of truth.
People can read and understand the Bible themselves.
Salvation comes only through faith in Christ.
Luther’s Bible; source:
Luther’s Bible

14. Excommunication
Pope Leo X demanded that Luther recant 41 of his Ninety-Five Theses.
In January 1521, Luther was excommunicated from the Church.
Luther before the Diet of Worms; source:

15. A New Church Luther soon had many followers.
His supporters began to organize a new Christian denomination.
Several German princes supported Luther.
Lutherans and Catholics fought each other.
The first wars ended with the Treaty of Augsburg, but fighting in Europe over religion continued to the mid-seventeenth century.
Saint Bartholomew’s
Day massacre
Saint Bartholomew’s Day massacre, by François Dubois; source:

16. Renaissance and Reformation 1450-1600
Counter Reformation
Actions taken by Catholic Church to counteract the impact of Protestant Reformation
Includes:
Council of Trent
Priests went to special training
Ended the sale of indulgences
Cracked down on corruption
Roman Inquisition
Label anyone Protestant a heretic or witch
Kill thousands
Index of Prohibited Books
Reading any religious book that isn’t the Bible will result in you losing your soul forever.
Renaissance and Reformation

17. Ulrich Zwingli – Created the Protestant religion
Reformer Ulrich Zwingli and his Old Testament persona
Occurred in Switzerland
Zwingli also opposed purgatory, clerical celibacy, worshiping of the saints, and salvation by works

18. Calvinism John Calvin’s leadership in Geneva from 1541-1564
Stress on order and rigorous adherence to God’s law
Believed people were pre-destined for heaven or hell before they were born
Mandatory church
Live a simple life to set an example for others
No jewelry, dancing, singing, or feasting…ever.

19. The Six Wives of Henry VIII
To satisfy his desires and to secure a male heir, Henry married six times:
His marriage to CATHERINE OF ARAGON was annulled 1533.
In 1536, ANNE BOLEYN was executed for alleged treason and adultery and her daughter Elizabeth was declared illegitimate.
JANE SEYMOUR died in 1537 shortly after giving birth to the future Edward VI.
Henry wed ANNE OF CLEVES sight unseen on the advice of Cromwell, the purpose being to create by the marriage an alliance with the Protestant princes. The marriage was annulled by Parliament and Cromwell was dismissed and eventually executed.
CATHERINE HOWARD was beheaded for adultery in 1542.
Henry’s last wife, CATHERINE PARR, a patron of humanists and reformers, survived him.

20. Marriage to Catherine of Aragon
In 1509, Henry VIII had married Catherine of Aragon, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, and the aunt of Emperor Charles V. By 1527, the union had produced no male heir to the throne and only one surviving child, a daughter, Mary. Henry was justifiably concerned about the political consequences of leaving only a female heir. In this period, people believed it unnatural for women to rule over men. At best a woman ruler meant a contested reign, at worst turmoil and revolution.

21. The King’s Affair
By 1527, Henry was thoroughly enamored of Anne Bolyn, one of Catherine’s ladies in waiting. He determined to put Catherine aside and take Anne as his wife. This he could not do in Catholic England, however, without papal annulment of the marriage to Catherine. The year 1527 was also the year when soldiers of the Holy Roman Empire mutinied and sacked Rome. The reigning Pope Clement VII was at the time a prisoner of Charles V, who happened also to be Catherine’s nephew.

22. Marriage to Anne Boleyn
In January 1533, Henry wed the pregnant Anne Boleyn, with Thomas Cranmer officiating.

23. B. England (cont) The brief reign of Edward VI – died at age 16
Henry’s 1st daughter, Mary rules. She reunites England with the Catholic Church and murders all non-believers. Is called “Bloody Mary”
Henry’s other child Elizabeth takes the thrown, kicks out the Catholic Church.

24. VI. Results of the Reformation
Germany was politically weakened and fragmented
Christian Church was splintered in the West
100 Years of Religious Warfare
Right of Rebellion introduced by both Jesuits and Calvinists
Pope’s power increased
Furthered societal individualism and secularism
Growing doubt and religious skepticism

25. In your own words, explain what each statement means:
Vain is the hope of salvation through letters of pardon, even if a commissary-nay, the Pope himself- were to pledge his own soul for them
Again, why does not the Pope, whose riches are at this day more ample than those of the wealthiest of the wealthy; build the one Basilica of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with that of poor believers?
Renaissance and Reformation