THE REFORMATION
The Origins of the Reformation
I. Martin Luther
A. He survived a thunderstorm and had vowed to become a monk.
1. Entered a monastery
B. Travels to Rome, the Catholic Church Center
1. Priests and bishops ignored duties, lacked proper training
2. Priests and bishops broke vows: fathered children
3. Priests and bishops lived luxurious lives
4. Indulgences were sold. Pardoned sins, "free ticket to heaven", sold mainly by Johann Tetzel
C. Luther= very enraged by corruption, wrote 95 Theses
1. Works published and quickly spread word with new printing press
2. Excommunicated in 1521 by Diet of Worms, believed that the Bible was the only authority
D. Published a new Bible in German so it was more commonly read
II. John Calvin
A. Published institutes of Catholic religion
B. Taught pre-destination
1. God determined salvation
2. Believed salvation was gained through faith
C. Believed in theocracy
1. Government ruled by religious leaders
D. Geneva, Switzerland: Ruled by John Calvin, set a strict government
III. William Tyndale
A. Translated Bible to English, brought Reformation to England
A. He survived a thunderstorm and had vowed to become a monk.
1. Entered a monastery
B. Travels to Rome, the Catholic Church Center
1. Priests and bishops ignored duties, lacked proper training
2. Priests and bishops broke vows: fathered children
3. Priests and bishops lived luxurious lives
4. Indulgences were sold. Pardoned sins, "free ticket to heaven", sold mainly by Johann Tetzel
C. Luther= very enraged by corruption, wrote 95 Theses
1. Works published and quickly spread word with new printing press
2. Excommunicated in 1521 by Diet of Worms, believed that the Bible was the only authority
D. Published a new Bible in German so it was more commonly read
II. John Calvin
A. Published institutes of Catholic religion
B. Taught pre-destination
1. God determined salvation
2. Believed salvation was gained through faith
C. Believed in theocracy
1. Government ruled by religious leaders
D. Geneva, Switzerland: Ruled by John Calvin, set a strict government
III. William Tyndale
A. Translated Bible to English, brought Reformation to England
The Counter-Reformation
I. The Society of Jesus
Main Idea: The Jesuits helped win back respect for the Catholic Church.
A. Counter-Reformation: movement to strengthen the teachings of the Catholic Church.
1. Reformers founded new religious orders.
2. Won respect by helping the poor, teaching catholic doctrine, and leading spiritual lives
3. Society of Jesus= Jesuits= most influential religious order
B. Ignatius Loyola became Catholic after reading about Jesus and the saints while recovering from
military service.
1. Founded Jesuits: goal to defend and spread Catholic faith around the world.
2. Organized like a military troop, had to go through vigorous training to become a full member.
C. Jesuits corrected some Church abuses.
1. Strict training= priests did better jobs by helping the sick and poor
2. Expanded Catholic membership by sending missionaries to spread religion
3. Founded schools and universities
4. Contributions to religious and secular scholarships
II. The Council of Trent
Main Idea: The Council of Trent discussed ways to end abuses in Church practices and redefine Church
doctrine.
A. Council of Trent: meetings where Church leaders sought ways to revive moral authority of Church and
stop spread of Protestantism.
1. Rejected Luther's views: faith alone will not bring salvation, good work and fulfillment of sacrament
are needed.
2. Changed doctrine: priests must be 25+ years old, educated
B. Inquisition was used to enforce Council's decisions.
1. Suspects= harshly questioned, tortured before death.
2. people= put on trial for minor violations,
3. Church leaders, nobles, Protestants=suspects
4. Victims= burned at the stake
C. Tried to stop the spread of Protestantism by banning books: created the "Index of Forbidden Books"
1. authors like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and William Tyndale= banned
Main Idea: The Jesuits helped win back respect for the Catholic Church.
A. Counter-Reformation: movement to strengthen the teachings of the Catholic Church.
1. Reformers founded new religious orders.
2. Won respect by helping the poor, teaching catholic doctrine, and leading spiritual lives
3. Society of Jesus= Jesuits= most influential religious order
B. Ignatius Loyola became Catholic after reading about Jesus and the saints while recovering from
military service.
1. Founded Jesuits: goal to defend and spread Catholic faith around the world.
2. Organized like a military troop, had to go through vigorous training to become a full member.
C. Jesuits corrected some Church abuses.
1. Strict training= priests did better jobs by helping the sick and poor
2. Expanded Catholic membership by sending missionaries to spread religion
3. Founded schools and universities
4. Contributions to religious and secular scholarships
II. The Council of Trent
Main Idea: The Council of Trent discussed ways to end abuses in Church practices and redefine Church
doctrine.
A. Council of Trent: meetings where Church leaders sought ways to revive moral authority of Church and
stop spread of Protestantism.
1. Rejected Luther's views: faith alone will not bring salvation, good work and fulfillment of sacrament
are needed.
2. Changed doctrine: priests must be 25+ years old, educated
B. Inquisition was used to enforce Council's decisions.
1. Suspects= harshly questioned, tortured before death.
2. people= put on trial for minor violations,
3. Church leaders, nobles, Protestants=suspects
4. Victims= burned at the stake
C. Tried to stop the spread of Protestantism by banning books: created the "Index of Forbidden Books"
1. authors like Martin Luther, John Calvin, and William Tyndale= banned
The Division of Christendom
I. Protestant Northern Europe
Main Idea: Most of northern Europe became Protestant during the Reformation.
A. England, Henry VII criticized Luther's ideas in a book, he burned Protestants at the stake.
1. 1529= Henry VII vs. pope, wanted to annul marriage, pope refused.
2. Henry VII ignored pope, married many times
4. Parliament put into action: declared Church of England separate from Catholic Church, passed Act of
Supremacy: king= Church of England's leader
B. Southern Germany= Holy Roman Empire was Catholic, sided with Church
1. Religious war between Catholics vs. Protestants
2. Peace of Augsburg ended war, allowed each prince to choose what religion he wanted for his realm
II. Catholic Southern Europe
Main Idea: Southern Europe remained largely Catholic during the Reformation.
A. French Protestants (Huguenots)= allowed to worship freely until they denounced Catholic religion
B. St. Batholomew's Day Massacre= thousands killed during war, most violent day
1. Henry of Navarre (heir to throne) = Huguenot military leader, helped end civil war. Became a
Catholic, assumed throne, ended wars.
2. Proclaimed the Edict of Nantes: made Catholicism the official France religion, but Huguenots could
worship freely.
C. Spain did not allow Protestants to worship freely. Philip II used Inquisition, financed troops.
1. Philip II inherited Netherlands, tried to convert with Inquisition, but 75 year war damaged economy=
remained Calvinist country
2. Tried to convert England, Armada was defeated, weakened Spain's power.
D. Spanish had little success, involved in 30 Years War
1. Holy Roman Empire vs. Protestant rebels, other countries joined conflict
2. War= ended by Peace of Westphalia in 1648, allowed people to practice their religion of choosing,
even if it differed from the king
Main Idea: Most of northern Europe became Protestant during the Reformation.
A. England, Henry VII criticized Luther's ideas in a book, he burned Protestants at the stake.
1. 1529= Henry VII vs. pope, wanted to annul marriage, pope refused.
2. Henry VII ignored pope, married many times
4. Parliament put into action: declared Church of England separate from Catholic Church, passed Act of
Supremacy: king= Church of England's leader
B. Southern Germany= Holy Roman Empire was Catholic, sided with Church
1. Religious war between Catholics vs. Protestants
2. Peace of Augsburg ended war, allowed each prince to choose what religion he wanted for his realm
II. Catholic Southern Europe
Main Idea: Southern Europe remained largely Catholic during the Reformation.
A. French Protestants (Huguenots)= allowed to worship freely until they denounced Catholic religion
B. St. Batholomew's Day Massacre= thousands killed during war, most violent day
1. Henry of Navarre (heir to throne) = Huguenot military leader, helped end civil war. Became a
Catholic, assumed throne, ended wars.
2. Proclaimed the Edict of Nantes: made Catholicism the official France religion, but Huguenots could
worship freely.
C. Spain did not allow Protestants to worship freely. Philip II used Inquisition, financed troops.
1. Philip II inherited Netherlands, tried to convert with Inquisition, but 75 year war damaged economy=
remained Calvinist country
2. Tried to convert England, Armada was defeated, weakened Spain's power.
D. Spanish had little success, involved in 30 Years War
1. Holy Roman Empire vs. Protestant rebels, other countries joined conflict
2. War= ended by Peace of Westphalia in 1648, allowed people to practice their religion of choosing,
even if it differed from the king
The Political Impact of the Reformation
I. Royal Rulers Increase Their Power
Main Idea: Religious wars increased the power of Europe's monarchies.
A. Only strong kings with power to tax a large area could fight huge wars
1. 30 Years War= kings outfitted huge armies with 10,00+ men
B. Religious wars strengthened secular rulers' power
1. Pope= ignored, king and queens determine religion THEY want
II. New Ways of Governing
Main Idea: As European nations grew in size and power, new forms of government emerged.
A. France= favored absolute monarchy: ruler had complete power over government and subjects, made laws, made new taxes, COMPLETE control
1. Believed they ruled by the divine right of kings: states that a king's right to rule comes from God
2. Louis XIV appointed officials, troops in major town to keep order, ministry of war, close Protestant
Churches.
B. Parliament protected rights of the Magna Carta.
1. Gradually gained power over the centuries, could approve or disapprove taxes from monarch
2. 1642= Parliament's troops vs. King's armies, king lost= executed
3. Established a republic, then monarchy= restored
4. Glorious Revolution= William and Mary= new England rulers, both Protestant because new king
wanted Catholic return
5. Accepted English Bill of Rights: many principles in Magna Carta, people could hold property, choose
religion, recognized Parliament, established constitutional monarchy: king or queen= limited by
constitution
C. Protestant nations experimented with self-government, influenced by Calvinism
1. Geneva= elected own leaders
2. Expressed views in religious and political issues
3. John Althusius= influenced by Calvinism, thought city should be free to rule itself, invented
federalism: power is shared between local and national levels
Main Idea: Religious wars increased the power of Europe's monarchies.
A. Only strong kings with power to tax a large area could fight huge wars
1. 30 Years War= kings outfitted huge armies with 10,00+ men
B. Religious wars strengthened secular rulers' power
1. Pope= ignored, king and queens determine religion THEY want
II. New Ways of Governing
Main Idea: As European nations grew in size and power, new forms of government emerged.
A. France= favored absolute monarchy: ruler had complete power over government and subjects, made laws, made new taxes, COMPLETE control
1. Believed they ruled by the divine right of kings: states that a king's right to rule comes from God
2. Louis XIV appointed officials, troops in major town to keep order, ministry of war, close Protestant
Churches.
B. Parliament protected rights of the Magna Carta.
1. Gradually gained power over the centuries, could approve or disapprove taxes from monarch
2. 1642= Parliament's troops vs. King's armies, king lost= executed
3. Established a republic, then monarchy= restored
4. Glorious Revolution= William and Mary= new England rulers, both Protestant because new king
wanted Catholic return
5. Accepted English Bill of Rights: many principles in Magna Carta, people could hold property, choose
religion, recognized Parliament, established constitutional monarchy: king or queen= limited by
constitution
C. Protestant nations experimented with self-government, influenced by Calvinism
1. Geneva= elected own leaders
2. Expressed views in religious and political issues
3. John Althusius= influenced by Calvinism, thought city should be free to rule itself, invented
federalism: power is shared between local and national levels