The Reformation

Why were European kings angry with the Church?

Because the Church was heavily involved in world affairs and politics, threatening the authority of secular rulers.

How did the Church become corrupt?

The Church grew wealthy, charged high fees for services, sold offices, and high officials lived lavishly.

What are indulgences?

Indulgences were pardons sold by the Church that promised forgiveness of sins and access to heaven, even for the dead.

How did the printing press impact religious reform?

It made the Bible widely available, leading to varied interpretations and growing criticism of the Church.

Who were early reformers before Luther?

Reformers like John Wycliffe and Jan Hus (13th–14th century), and Erasmus and Thomas More (early 1500s), challenged the authority and practices of the Church before Martin Luther’s time.

Who was Martin Luther?

He was a German monk who protested Church corruption, especially the selling of indulgences, and started the Protestant Reformation.

What were Luther’s 95 Theses?

They were a list of arguments against indulgences and Church abuses, which he posted in 1517.

What were Luther’s 3 main ideas?

First, salvation is achieved by faith alone. Second, the Bible is the sole religious authority. Third, all believers have equal access to God, a concept known as the priesthood of all believers.

What was Lutheranism?

It was a new Christian denomination based on Luther’s ideas, featuring services in German, only two sacraments (baptism and communion), and allowing clergy to marry.

What was the Edict of Worms (1521)?

It was a declaration by Emperor Charles V that made Luther an outlaw and a heretic.

Why did some German princes support Luther?

Some supported him to gain independence from Rome and the Holy Roman Emperor, others to seize Church lands, and some because they genuinely believed in his ideas.

How did Luther respond to the Peasants' Revolt?

He condemned the revolt, fearing it would discredit the Reformation; ultimately, the revolt was crushed, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths.

What was the Peace of Augsburg (1555)?

It was an agreement allowing German princes to choose either Catholicism or Lutheranism for their states, marking a major step in religious self-determination.

Why did Henry VIII break from the Catholic Church?

Because the Pope refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

What was the Act of Supremacy (1534)?

It was a law passed by Parliament that made Henry VIII the head of the Church of England.

How did the Church of England differ from Catholicism under Henry VIII?

Although it rejected papal authority, it retained many Catholic practices.

Who was “Bloody Mary”?

Mary I, daughter of Catherine and Henry, attempted to restore Catholicism in England and executed many Protestants, earning her the nickname “Bloody Mary.”

How did Elizabeth I handle religion in England?

Elizabeth reinstated the Anglican Church but followed a moderate policy toward Catholics, which helped stabilize the country after decades of religious turmoil.

What was the goal of the Catholic Reformation?

The Catholic Reformation aimed to stop and reverse the spread of Protestantism and reform the Catholic Church from within.

What did the Council of Trent (1545–1563) do?

It reaffirmed traditional Catholic teachings, banned the selling of false indulgences, and declared that the Church’s interpretation of the Bible was final.

What was the role of the Inquisition during the Counter-Reformation?

It was to root out heresy through secret trials, torture, and executions.

What was the Index of Forbidden Books?

It was a list of publications banned by the Catholic Church for being immoral or heretical.

Who were the Jesuits?

The Jesuits were a Catholic religious order founded by Ignatius of Loyola, focused on combating heresy and spreading Catholicism through education and missionary work.

What were the major results of the Protestant Reformation?

Europe became religiously divided; persecution increased; and new Christian denominations emerged.

What caused widespread witch hunts in Europe?

Religious wars and social tensions led to the scapegoating of so-called “witches,” resulting in widespread hunts and executions.

How were Jews affected by the Reformation?

Jews faced persecution from both Catholics and Protestants, often being forced to flee or live in ghettos.

What was the impact on European monarchs?

As the Church’s influence declined, monarchs gained more power, leading to the rise of centralized nation-states across Europe.