The Reformation

Content Statement #7The Reformation introduced changes in religion including the emergence of Protestant faiths and a decline in the political

power and social influence of the Roman Catholic Church

Renaissance Review The Renaissance was a period of rebirth of

learning in Europe Inspiration from Ancient Greeks and Romans Also influenced by Muslims and Islamic Culture Art▪ Humanism ▪ Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo

Literature▪ Niccolo Machiavelli (Italian)▪ William Shakespeare (English)

Science▪ Study of bones and muscles▪ Printing Press Invented

The Reformation During the Renaissance,

the Church still held great power.

The Reformation was an effort to reform, or improve, the Catholic Church. The Renaissance heavily

influenced the Reformation

The Reformation began in 1517 in Germany

Martin Luther

Born November 10, 1493

Died February 18, 1546 ▪ 62 years old

Occupation Monk

Location Germany

Luther’s Beliefs

Luther disagreed with many of the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church of the early 1500’s

He believed that people did not need Popes or other Church officials to tell them what God wanted them to do.

According to Luther, faith in God and common sense (not obedience to the Church) was the key to a proper Christian life.

Reading and the Bible Luther also believed that

ordinary people could understand the Bible for themselves This goes against the

Church He translated the Bible

into German so that ordinary people could read it

He was in favor of creating town schools that would teach everyone to read

Indulgences

Luther especially despised the Church practice of selling indulgences Indulgences were pardons for sins

During this time people could pay money to the Church to be forgiven for their sins

Luther felt that the Church did not have the power to exchange God’s forgiveness for money The church would sell indulgences more to

raise money than for any truly religious reason

Luther’s 95 Thesis Luther began to

publically criticize the Catholic Church

On October 31, 1517, Luther posted a list of complaints on the door of his church in Wittenberg, Germany

This list of complaints became known as the “95 Thesis”

Luther’s Teachings Spread In Germany, priests, nobles, and

ordinary people rallied behind Luther’s ideas.

Some priests agreed with Luther about corruption in the Church

Nobles were eager to limit the Church’s overwhelming power.

They wanted to collect their own taxes and make their own laws Like the leaders of Italy’s city-states

Conflict with the Pope On 15 June 1520,

the Pope Leo X warned Luther that he risked excommunication unless he withdrew is writings criticizing the Church This included his “95

Thesis” Luther refused

Excommunication As a consequence of

refusing to withdraw his criticism, Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X on January 3, 1521

The enforcement of the ban on the “95 Theses” fell to the secular authorities.

Diet of Worms On 18 April 1521,

Luther appeared as ordered before the “Diet of Worms”. This was a general

assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire

Luther still refused to withdraw his writings

Diet of Worms Outcome

Over the next five days, private conferences were held to determine Luther's fate.

The Emperor declared Luther an outlaw, banning his literature, and requiring his arrest

It also made it a crime for anyone in Germany to give Luther food or shelter. It permitted anyone to kill Luther without

legal consequence.

Luther Returns to Wittenberg… After the Diet of Worms, Luther was sent back to

Wittenberg On the road home Luther was abducted by a

group of men Luther's disappearance during his return trip

back to Wittenberg was planned. Prince Frederick III had him intercepted on his

way home in the forest near Wittenberg by masked horsemen who were made to appear as armed highwaymen They escorted Luther to the security of Wartburg

Castle (home of Prince Frederick III)

Luther at Wartburg Castle While at Wartburg,

Luther translated the New Testament from Greek to German

From the safety of Wartburg Castle, Luther continued to criticize the Church

Luther’s Later Life

Luther secretly returned to Wittenberg

While in Wittenberg, Luther organized and supported many peasant uprisings

Martin Luther later married Katharina von Bora (a former nun) Remember marriage

was not permitted for monks

Protestant Churches

Soon people in much of Northern Europe held views similar to Luther’s

They created their own Christian Churches, free of Roman Catholic control

These came to be called Protestant Churches because they grew out of protests against the power and abuses of the Roman Catholic Church Today their members are still called

Protestants

The Catholic Reformation Many Roman Catholics agreed with

some criticisms made by Protestants.

Instead of turning away from the Church, they worked to reform and correct the abuses of the Church

The Catholic Reformation also wanted to bring Protestants back to the Catholic Church and to make sure that Catholics held strictly to Church teachings

Jesuits

Jesuits were members of the Society of Jesus who became well-known as teachers and missionaries

They were among the best-educated people of Europe at this time

The Impact of the Reformation Religious Impact

Catholic and Protestant Political Impact

Nations aligned themselves with each branch▪ England (Protestant)▪ France (Catholic Majority, Protestant Minority)▪ Spain (Spain Catholic)

Social Impact Middle class became stronger Lower class wanted more rights Importance of the individual