Reformation
A religious movement in the 16th century that led to the establishment of Protestant churches and a break from the Catholic Church.
Martin Luther
A key figure in the Reformation known for his 95 Theses, which criticized the Catholic Church's practices.
95 Theses
A list of propositions for debate written by Martin Luther that challenged the Catholic Church's practices, particularly the sale of indulgences.
Protestantism
The branch of Christianity formed as a result of the Reformation, including denominations such as Lutheranism and Calvinism.
Calvinism
A major branch of Protestantism founded by John Calvin, emphasizing predestination and the sovereignty of God.
Henry VIII
King of England known for his split from the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England.
Church of England
The English national church established by Henry VIII, which retained many Catholic traditions but rejected the Pope's authority.
Indulgences
Payments made to the Catholic Church that were said to reduce punishment for sins, criticized by Martin Luther.
Counter-Reformation
The Catholic Church's response to the Reformation, aimed at reforming the church and countering Protestantism.
Council of Trent
A council of the Catholic Church convened to address issues raised by the Reformation and to clarify Catholic doctrine.
Jesuits
A religious order founded by Ignatius of Loyola during the Counter-Reformation known for their educational and missionary work.
Elizabeth I
Queen of England who firmly established Protestantism in England and is known for the Elizabethan Religious Settlement.
Spanish Armada
A fleet sent by Spain in 1588 to invade England, ultimately defeated, symbolizing the decline of Spanish dominance.
Inquisition
A church tribunal established to combat heresy, often employing severe measures and torture.
Reformers
Individuals involved in the Reformation who sought to improve or change practices within the church.
Peasants' War
A widespread popular revolt in Germany (1524-1525) influenced by Reformation ideas that sought to improve peasant conditions.
Zwingli
A leader of the Reformation in Switzerland, known for his role in establishing Reformed churches.
Anne Boleyn
The second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I; her marriage triggered the English Reformation.
Edict of Nantes
A 1598 decree by Henry IV of France granting religious freedom and rights to Huguenots, a Protestant group.
Wittenberg
The German city where Martin Luther famously nailed his 95 Theses to the church door.
Diet of Worms
An assembly of the Holy Roman Empire in 1521 where Martin Luther was declared an outlaw for refusing to recant.
Lutheranism
A major branch of Protestantism that follows the teachings of Martin Luther.
Anabaptists
Radical reformers who believed in adult baptism and the separation of church and state.
Huguenots
French Protestants who were influenced by Calvinist teachings and faced persecution.
Defenestration of Prague
The event in 1618 that marked the beginning of the Thirty Years' War, when Protestant nobles threw Catholic officials out a window.
Tudor Dynasty
The royal dynasty that ruled England from 1485 to 1603, known for major religious changes.
Mary I
Queen of England known for her attempt to restore Catholicism and her persecution of Protestants.
Ninety-Five Theses
The document that criticized the Catholic Church's practices and initiated the Reformation.
Westminster Confession
A document composed during the English Civil War outlining the beliefs of the Church of England.
Pilgrimage of Grace
A popular uprising in 1536 against the English Reformation and the dissolution of monasteries.
Catherine of Aragon
The first wife of Henry VIII, whose marriage was annulled to allow for Henry's second marriage.
Habsburg Empire
A prominent royal family that played a key role in European politics and Catholicism during the Reformation.
Sola Scriptura
The doctrine stating that Scripture alone is the basis for faith and practice, promoted during the Reformation.
Dissolution of the Monasteries
Henry VIII's process in the 1530s of disbanding monasteries in England and appropriating their income.
Transubstantiation
The belief that during the Eucharist, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, a point of contention between Catholics and Protestants.
English Civil War
Conflict from 1642 to 1651 between Parliamentarians and Royalists, leading to the temporary establishment of a republic.
Act of Supremacy
The 1534 Act declaring Henry VIII as the Supreme Head of the Church of England.
Ulrich Zwingli
A Swiss pastor and theologian who was a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland.
Gustavus Adolphus
The Swedish king whose military innovations significantly impacted the Thirty Years' War.
Book of Common Prayer
The official prayer book of the Church of England, reflecting Protestant beliefs.
Treaty of Westphalia
1648 treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War and marked the beginning of a new political order in Europe.
Puritanism
A movement within Protestantism seeking to purify the Church of England of Catholic practices.
English Bill of Rights
A 1689 document that limited the powers of the monarchy and outlined the rights of Parliament.
Great Schism
The division in the Catholic Church that resulted in a rival papacy in Avignon, France.
Congregationalism
A form of church governance in which each congregation governs itself independently.
Mystical Union
The belief in a spiritual union between Christ and the believer, significant in Protestant theology.
Theocracy
A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God; associated with certain Reformed groups.
Ecumenism
The movement aimed at promoting unity among different Christian denominations.