Protestant Reformation 1517
Renaissance's effect
People began to question their lives and authority
Catholic Church had been biggest authority of the Middle Ages.
Conflicts that challenged the authority of the Church in Rome
Merchant wealth challenged the Church’s opposition to usury (charging interest)
German & Eng. Nobility disliked Italian domination of the Church
Church’s great political power & wealth caused conflict
Corruption & sale of indulgences
Church Dissenters prior to Martin Luther John Wycliffe – English philosopher
1320 -1384 Led movement of opposition to medieval
Church Forerunner of the Reformation
Jan Huss – Czech priest 1369-1415
Church reformer Tried & burned for heresy
Martin Luther nails “95 Theses” to church door in Wittenberg, Germany - 1517
Martin Luther- 1517 German monk Questioned Churches
practices such as: Sale of indulgences by
Johann Tetzel building a church
“ selling forgiveness for sins”
Automatic trip to heaven
"As soon as a coin in the coffer rings / the soul from purgatory springs."
The Lutheran Tradition
Views: Salvation by faith
alone Bible = ultimate
authority Bible should be in
vernacular Priests; no special
powers All humans =
before God
The Lutheran Tradition
Actions: 95 Theses
95 things church is doing wrong
Nailed to church door in Wittenburg, Germany
Birth of Protestant Church
Role of Printing Press
Growth of literacy stimulated by Gutenberg printing press
Bible printed in Eng., Fr., & Ger.
Spread ideas of Ref. and Ren.
Church’s Reaction
Want Martin Luther to recant (take back) what he said @ Diet of Worms
Diet – group/assembly
Worms is a place in Germany
Luther says NO!!!!!!!!!!
Hier stehe ich. Ich kann nicht anders. Gott helfe mir. Amen." ("Here I stand. I can do nothing else. God help me. Amen.")
He is excommunicated from church and forced into hiding for the rest of his life
Results of Luther’s actions?
- Opened people’s eyes to corruption of the church
-new churches created based on own beliefs– ex John Calvin-- Calvinism
-Ex. Protestant, Lutheran, Baptists, Puritans, Methodists, Calvinists, and so on.
The Calvinist tradition
Views: Predestination - God
has already decided who is saved/condemned.
Faith revealed by living a righteous life
Work ethic
The Calvinist tradition
Actions: Expansion of the
Protestant movement Spreads to France,
Germany, Netherlands, Scandinavia, Scotland
Scottish Presbyterians, American Baptists, Puritans, from this branch.
Henry VIII of England Wished to divorce
Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn
Pope refused to grant it Henry dismissed the
authority of the Pope in Rome
declares himself head of the Church of England, or Anglican Church
Act of Supremacy- 1534
The King is head of the church in England, not the Pope!!
Actions: Divorced Broke w/Rome Took lands & wealth of
Roman Catholic Church in England
Mary I of England - 1553-58 Daughter of Henry and 1st
wife Catherine of Aragon Catholic Queen Actions:
Restored Roman Catholicism, briefly
Persecuted, burned dissenters
Mary’s successor, Elizabeth, returned England to Protestantism
Queen Elizabeth I – 1558-1603 Established English
Protestant or Anglican Church
Tolerance for dissenters Expansion &
colonialism Victory over Spanish
Armada (1588) Catholic Spain attacking
Protestant England
Reformation in Germany Northern Germany
princes – convert to Protestantism End authority of Pope in
their states Austrian Hapsburg
family & authority of Holy Roman Empire continue to support RCC
Conflicts between Protestants & Catholics ex. Thirty Years War
Reformation in France Catholic monarchy
grants Huguenots (French Protestants) religious freedom Edict of Nantes Later revoked
Reformation in FranceIncreased centralized power
Cardinal Richelieu French “Prime Minister” Changed focus of 30
Years War from religious to political.
Sought to centralize French political power
Oppose Hapsburg/Spanish aggression/influence
Returned restrictions on Huguenots
Reduced taxation on nobility Peasants oppressed
The COUNTER-Reformation
Or,The Catholic
ChurchStrikes Back!!
1545 Council of Trent
Determined what was heresy (against church teachings)
Reaffirmed most church doctrine & practices
Launched the Inquisition, and the Jesuits
The Society of Jesus - Jesuits
Founded to spread Catholic doctrine around the world
Stop spread of Protestantism
The Inquisition Catholic Church’s prosecution of “heretics” Thousands killed/imprisoned
Galileo – heliocentric theory doesn’twork for Catholic Church
The Inquisition
Changing Cultural Values, Traditions & Philosophies of the time Growth of:
Secularism Individualism Religious tolerance
IN SHORT,THE REFORMATIONENDED CHURCH UNITY IN WESTERN EUROPE