1. Chapter 11 Donald Sterrett 9/13/07

2. The Reformation  Reformation emerges out of conflict between the rise of nations who push conformity across borders and the small self-governed areas who desired autonomy.  It is in the small areas where the reformation breaks out.  Also the growing middle class and merchants supported the expansion of literacy, power and Protestantism.

3. Criticisms of the Catholic Church  Many felt the Church had become corrupt  This led to a discontent with the Church as well as other criticisms of the Church.  The Printing press spread ideas faster and led to more literacy and thus a wider audience for those attacking the church.  Certain groups like the Modern Devotion attempted to reform the church and began preaching in the “vernacular” or common languages.

4. Other problems with the Catholic Church  For years many high church offices (cardinal, pope, bishop) had been sold to the highest bidders and were not simply given to the most holy.  The sale of indulgences (Payment for forgiveness of sins).

5. Martin Luther  Unlike France Germany was not politically unified and did not like being controlled by the Pope in Italy.  Luther was a priest who saw the problems of the Catholic Church (indulgences, corruption etc.)  Luther also felt the salvation came through faith alone and the faithful did good works, but the good works did not save you.

6. Indulgences  Indulgences had been originally created to get people to fight in the crusades.  In Luther’s time they were sold to help rebuild St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome and for a price all your sins would be remoced.  He placed these and other issues with the Church on the door of the Church in his 95 Theses.

7. After the 95 Theses  Charles I of Spain became the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V with the help of Frederick the Wise who was also Luther’s protector.  There was great outcry over Luther and he continued to push his ideas including attacking the idea of papal infallibility (belief that the pope could not make a mistake).  In response the Pope excommunicates Luther and condemned him for heresy.

8. Diet of Worms  At the Diet (Meeting) of Worms (City) Luther is told to recant (admit he was wrong).  Luther refuses and is forced to go into hiding while protected by Frederick.  While in hiding he translates the Bible into German.  Because Charles V is fighting a war and needs German support he agrees to let the German princes do what they want with Luther.

9. The Spread of Protestantism  Protestantism spreads in Switzerland and Germany as Princes realize they have a lot to gain by taking Catholic land and losing Italian influence over their people.  The Swiss reformation is led by Zwingli who was a humanist and followed the ideas of Erasmus.  Zwingli criticized church corruption, Swiss mercenary service and allowed the priests to marry and only supported following what could be found in the Bible. He challenged many Catholic traditions like fasting, pilgrimages, and clerical celibacy.

10. Diet of Augsburg and Augsburg Confession  Charles V calls together a meeting of Catholics and Protestants called the Diet of Augsburg.  Not surprisingly the Diet calls for Protestants to give up their beliefs and become Catholics.  Also not surprisingly Luther refuses and his followers leave to start their own political union the Schmaldic League and he creates the Augsburg Confession which is a Protestant statement of beliefs.

11. Peace of Augsburg  Charles V battles the Protestants and after losing many battles agrees to the peace of Augsburg which says that the ruler of the area can choose the religion and if you were of a different religion you could move.  This created legal divisions between Lutheran and Catholicism as the Anabaptists and Calvinists were not recognized.

12. Zwingli, Calvin and Anabaptists  Zwingli and Luther disagreed over the Eucharist (Luther took Christ’s body literally while Zwingli saw it as a symbol).  Zwingli fights in Swiss Civil Wars and is killed.  Radical group known as Anabaptists rejected infant baptism and only baptized consulting adults.

13. Calvinism  By the late 1500s Calvinism became the dominant Protestant force in Europe.  Believed in predestination and that the individual should change society to fit God’s plan. Not surprisingly it was popular with those who wanted political change as well.  Calvin was French but he makes a huge impact in Geneva, Switzerland and made it a refuge for Protestants and even a safer place for women as there were harsh laws punishing men who beat their wives.

14. English Reformation  Henry VIII’s England that had attempted to limit the power of the Pope over England.  Henry was married to Catherine of Aragon for 18 years but she had only borne him one child a daughter Mary and he loved Ann Boleyn.  He asks the pope for an annulment and is refused partly because Charles V is Catherine’s nephew and had captured the pope.  Henry decides to create his own Church of England with him at the head through the Act of Supremacy.