AP Euro Unit 2 - Age of Reformation

Causes of the Reformation

Causes of the Reformation

Simony (paying for church positions), nepotism, absenteeism (people holding several positions, leaving some churches empty), uneducated priests, sale of indulgences

The Printing Press

Adapted by Gutenberg, helped to spread Martin Luther’s works

John Tetzel

Encouraged the sale of indulgences, which he said would bring souls out of Purgatory and into Heaven; “As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from Purgatory springs.”

Martin Luther

Writes his “15 Theses,” believing that the church was teaching the Bible incorrectly and was corrupt. He believed in “Sola Fide,” “faith alone,” where individuals have their own individual connection to the texts.

Diet of Worms (1521)

Luther defends his doctrines in a trial before Emperor Charles V

Defenestration of Prague

Protestants threw Catholic officials from a castle window, helping to start the Thirty Years' War.

German Peasant’s War (1524-1525)

Luther’s teachings inspire peasants to revolt against the Catholic Church, over 100,000 are killed, Luther speaks out against it

Peace of Augsburg (1555)

Religion determined by local rulers; Northern rulers tend Protestant, Southern rulers tend Catholic

Calvinism

Began by John Calvin, inspired by Luther, believed in predetermined fate (whether or not someone goes to Heaven is determined at birth, those chosen are the “Elect”), Iconoclasm (removal of statues and paintings from churches)

Henry VIII

Originally the Pope names him the Defender of the Faith, but after his first wife Catherine of Aragon hasn’t produced a male heir and he wants to get with his mistress, he asks for an annulment and breaks from the Catholic Church when the Pope won’t grant him one (Act of Supremacy). He sells church land and gets rich, in the process creating the Landed Gentry (those who bought the land).

Mary I

After Henry’s son dies, Mary I takes the throne and restores Catholicism, nicknamed “Bloody Mary” for burning ~300 Protestants

Elizabeth I

After Mary I dies, Elizabeth I takes the throne and restores Anglican Protestantism, though she compromises with Catholics and allows for some practices to continue. Her middle ground stance causes people to dislike her. Phillip II wanted to marry her, but she refuses (Virgin Queen) and beats his Spanish Armada when he tries to claim England for Catholicism.

Huguenots

French Protestants (Calvinists)

Thirty Years War (1618-1648)

The Peace of Augsburg didn’t allow for Calvinism, a quickly growing movement. Made up of four phases: Bohemian, Danish, Swedish, and French. Ends with no winner, Holy Roman Empire permanently and significantly weakened.

Bohemian Phase

Catholic ruler, but Protestant majority citizens. Defenestration of Prague, Protestants throwing Catholics out of a window and them surviving. Catholic victory.

Danish Phase

Lutheran king of Denmark invades the Holy Roman Empire to help Protestants, but gets beaten and is forced to retreat. Catholic victory.

Swedish Phase

Lutheran king of Sweden helps; he’s considered the father of modern warfare. They are backed by French funds, because though the French king is Catholic, he wants to balance out power between European countries. Protestant win.

French Phase

After the Swedish king dies, France joins the war physically. Protestant win.

Peace of Westphalia (1648)

Ends the war and with it much of the violence of the Reformation, allows complete religious freedom.

The Council of Trent (1545-1563)

Gathering of high level church officials to respond to Luther’s ideas. They got rid of indulgences, but otherwise doubled down on Catholic ideals

Society of Jesus (Jesuits)

Part of the Counter-Reformation, the Jesuits were an order of the Catholic Church that emphasized obedience and discipline approved by Pope Paul III, focused on education and built schools because they believed it would bring people back to Catholicism, converted many in the Americas, Africa, and some of Europe.

Social Hierarchy

Determined by class, then religion (rank depended on if one was in the religious majority or not in their area), then gender (women were considered inferior). Somewhat more flexible than before.

Nobles’ Houses

House of Lords: owned land (Landed Gentry)

House of Commons: rich and powerful but not land-owning

The Woman Question

Pondering on women’s role in society. Half thought that women were inferior to men by nature; Eve brought Adam to evil. Half thought women just hadn’t been given opportunities; Eve was deceived, it wasn’t her fault.

Anabaptists

A branch of Baptism that gave women leadership roles, even preacher positions. Many ended up murdered for it

Accusations of Witchcraft

Led by religious upheaval, ~40-60,000 executed (most women in the Holy Roman Empire)

Baroque Art

Influenced by Counter-Reformation and absolutism. Rejected the posed restraint of Renaissance art but kept the ideals of Greco-Roman focus). Saw motion, emotion, turbulence, grandeur, and contrast. It was over the top and somewhat wild.

Caravaggio

A painter whose portraits moved away from idealized bodies and symmetry, had action scenes, and could be bloody and evocative. His most famous painting was Judith Beheading Holofernes

Bernini

A sculptor who was most famous for the Ecstasy of St. Teresa, showing action in the scene and a good deal of emotion in her face

Absolutist Kings

Believed that they had divine right as ruler, “ordained by God;” commissioned Baroque works to show off their wealth, similar to the church commissioning art to show grandeur

Rococo (Late Baroque)

Gets even wilder with art, lots of asymmetry and the pushing of limits