1. The Protestant Reformation
AP European History
Mr. Stepek

2. Roman Catholic Church is in need of reform
Lack of credibility
Black plague
Why can’t the church protect the faithful?
Avignon papacy
French pope under influence of French king
“Babylonian captivity”
Later “Great Schism”:
2 same time
One pope in Rome
One pope in Avignon

3. Other factors influencing the Reformation
Earlier movements: Forerunners to the Reformation
Jan Hus
John Wycliffe
Influenced by Wycliffe
Opposes church in Bohemia
Burned at stake as a heretic
Leads Lollards in England. poor priests who imitate Christ
many beliefs similar to Luther
Persecuted posthumously

4. Other factors influencing the Reformation
Christian Humanism: links individualism with Christianity
(Sir) Thomas More
Erasmus
Utopia (perfect society)
Criticizes materialism by idealizing a “socialist” type society.
In Praise of Folly
Satirical look at church superstitions and abuses

5. de’ Medici as Popes Renaissance Popes
sponsored by or from wealthy families
elected by college of cardinals
stacked with “nephews” of previous popes who had appointed them
this is where we get the word “nepotism”
like their “secular” relatives, they were concerned with projecting power through patronage.
Raphael (School of Athens)
Michelangelo (Sistine Chapel)
lives of wealth and extravagance
Leo X

6. Renaissance Popes

7. Roman Catholic Church is in need of reform
concerned more with secular (temporal) rather than spiritual world
Wants to maintain political power and wealth
Papal state wars
Julius II “The Warrior Pope”
leads armies against Venice

8. Roman Catholic Church is in need of reform
Scandalous
Pope Alexander VI (Borgia)
mistresses
illegitimate children

9. Papal scandal and secularism
Caricature of Pope Alexander VI by Martin Luther (1545)
Lucretia Borgia sits on the Holy See in father’s absence

10. Roman Catholic Church is in need of reform
corrupt
sold church positions (simony)
fees for services
marriage, baptism, etc.
to view relics = religious artifacts
brothel tax/clergy mistress tax
Indulgences = pardon for sins
Johann Tetzel
Used guilt and power of persuasion to become the Church’s best indulgence seller
Luther movie clip (29:00 – 39:17)

11. Other factors influencing the Reformation
Nationalism
loyalty to one’s own land/people
Germans resent foreign control
Luther translates Bible into German
Von Hutten riles against Roman control

12. Timeline of the Reformation
1517
1520
1521
1524
1530
1555
95 Theses (spread by printing press)
Luther excommunicated
Luther refuses to Diet of Worms
HRE Charles V decl. Luther an outlaw
while in hiding translates Bible into German
Peasant’s War : class warfare 100,000 die
(black mark on Luther’s legacy)
½ of German princes →Lutherans
“Augsburg Confession”
Catholic and Protestant factions make war
“Peace of Augsburg”
Charles V = each prince decide for territory

13. Basic Lutheran Beliefs (3)
1. Salvation by faith alone
Not thru “good works”
good works are rewards
2. Bible = only authority
Church traditions are not valid unless explicitly stated in Bible
3. No need for priests
People should interpret the Bible for themselves
“priesthood of all believers”
2nd black mark on Luther
Encourages Jews be punished for not converting to Lutheranism
Anti-semitism