The Reformation

Flashcards covering key vocabulary, people, and events related to the Protestant Reformation.

The Catholic Church

Medieval Christian church called itself “Catholic” which meant “universal” - Began to mean the traditional church

Pope

Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Supervised bishops and elected Popes

Archbishops

Supervised priests, settled disputes over Church teachings and practices

Priests

Administered the Sacraments, gave advice, taught about right and wrong

Monks and Nuns

Lived apart from society in monasteries or convents. Devoted their lives to prayer and good works. Might teach skills like carpentry and weaving. Often set up hospitals and gave shelter to travelers. These were also the missionaries of their day.

7 Sacraments

Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation, Holy Orders

Social Cause of Reformation

The Renaissance values of humanism and secularism led people to question the Church.

Political Cause of Reformation

Powerful monarchs in Europe were jealous of the Church's wealth.

Economic Cause of Reformation

Merchants and others resented having to pay taxes to the Church.

Religious Cause of Reformation

Many people found Church practices such as the sale of indulgences unacceptable.

Criticisms of the RCC - Corrupt Leaders

Renaissance popes spent extravagantly on personal pleasures and wars.

John Wycliffe (England) & Jan Hus (Czech)

Both denied the pope had the right to worldly power and taught the Bible had more authority than Church leaders

Desiderius Erasmus

Father of Humanism, Believed Christians should read the Bible for themselves and not rely on priests

Thomas More - Utopia

Society free of poverty, crime, corruption, Did not want to split from the RCC

Martin Luther-95 Theses

Criticisms of Johann Tetzel’s selling of indulgences to rebuild St. Peter’s cathedral in Rome

Martin Luther-Teachings

People could only have salvation by faith in God—not through good works like the RCC taught. Church teachings should be based only on the Bible—not the Pope or Church teachings. All people of faith are equal—they don’t need priests to interpret the Bible because they can read it themselves.

Response to Luther

Luther was threatened with excommunication by Pope Leo X, but Luther didn’t recant and was excommunicated. 1521-HRE Charles V deemed Luther a heretic after the Diet of Worms.

Response to Luther cont.

Prince Fredrick ignored the HRE and gave Luther shelter for almost a year. Luther translated the Bible into German while in hiding.

Peasants’ War - 12 Articles

Peasant demands for lower taxes, right to use woods and meadows, etc. Used scripture to back up their demands

Peasants’ War - Luther's Response

Luther wrote to German princes and told them to “smite, slay and stab” rebellious peasants

German princes started to support Lutheranism

Princes who supported Luther signed a protest against this agreement—became known as Protestants

Peace of Augsburg

Allowed princes to choose the religion for their own territories/states. Those who disagreed could move to another territory with beliefs similar to theirs