Protestant Reformation and Counter-Reformation Vocabulary

A set of 100 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, figures, dates, doctrines, and events of the Protestant Reformation and Catholic Counter-Reformation based on lecture notes.

Protestant Reformation

A movement starting around 1500 where Europeans called to reform the Catholic Church.

Protestantism

A new form of Christianity produced by a split in the church in Germany around 1500, meaning to 'protest the Church'.

Reason for Catholic Church Power Loss

The decline of Church power over previous centuries due to the Crusades, Black Death, and Hundred Years War.

1500s Humanism Shift

The transition from a primary focus on religion during the Middle Ages to Humanism during the 1500s.

Social Cause of the Reformation

Renaissance values of humanism and secularism leading people to question the Catholic Church.

Political Cause of the Reformation

Powerful monarchs challenging Church supreme power and viewing the pope as a foreign leader.

Economic Cause of the Reformation

European kings being jealous of the pope's and Catholic Church's wealth.

Religious Cause of the Reformation

Worldly corruption among Church leaders and the unacceptable sale of indulgences.

John Wycliffe

An Englishman who translated the Bible into English in 1430 so everyone could read and understand it.

Year 1430

The year John Wycliffe translated the Bible into English.

John Huss

A priest in Prague who embraced Wycliffe's work, preached in the vernacular, and was burned at the stake in 1415.

Prague

The city, now part of the Czech Republic, where priest John Huss embraced Wycliffe's work and preached.

Year 1415

The year John Huss was arrested, put on trial, and burned at the stake for defying Catholic Church rules.

Vernacular

The everyday local language of the people used for preaching and Bibles rather than Latin.

Martin Luther

A German monk who was studying to be a lawyer before starting the Protestant Reformation.

Wittenberg

The German city where Martin Luther was a monk and posted his 95 Theses.

Justification by Faith

Luther's core belief that a person goes to heaven through faith alone.

Romans (Scripture)

The biblical book containing the text 'He who through faith is righteous shall live,' which inspired Luther.

Pope Leo X

The pope who tried to raise money to build St. Peter's Basilica in Rome by selling church positions and indulgences.

St. Peter's Basilica

The church building in Rome for which Pope Leo X raised funds through the sale of indulgences.

Indulgences

Paying the church money for forgiveness of sins, described as a ticket to heaven for sale.

Indulgence Rhyme

'Once you hear the money's ring, the soul from purgatory is free to spring.'

95 Theses

Martin Luther's written collection of criticisms of the Catholic Church, especially regarding indulgences.

October 31, 1517

The date Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg Chapel door.

Wittenberg Chapel Door

The physical location where Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses.

Gutenberg's Printing Press

The major technological reason Luther's 95 Theses and essays spread quickly across Europe.

Lutheran Source of Religious Truth

The Bible alone, rather than the Pope.

Lutheran Vernacular Bibles

Bibles printed by Lutherans in common languages including German, French, and English.

Lutheran View of Hierarchy

The doctrine that there is no church hierarchy and all people are equal in the eyes of God.

Consequences of the 95 Theses

Loss of religious unity in Europe, a Catholic/Protestant split, and the formation of other Protestant religions.

John Calvin

A Protestant reformer born in France and exiled to Geneva, Switzerland, who created Calvinism.

Geneva, Switzerland

The city where John Calvin established his Protestant movement after being exiled from France.

Predestination

The Calvinist belief that God predetermines the path and salvation of every person.

Calvinist Work Ethic Concept

The belief that a good work ethic indicates entry to Heaven, while being lazy leads to Hell.

Calvinist Political View

Encouraged people to overthrow 'ungodly' rulers, contributing to later revolutions in the 1600s and 1700s.

Spread of Calvinism

The expansion of John Calvin's movement into Scotland and the Netherlands.

Anabaptists

Radical reformers throughout Europe who initiated adult baptism and denied local government authority.

Anabaptist Baptism Practice

Initiated baptism specifically for adult members rather than infants.

Anabaptist Government Denial

Refusal to swear oaths, bear arms (no guns), or acknowledge local government authority.

Anabaptist Persecution and Flight

Frequent persecution that caused Anabaptists to wander and flee to North America in the 1600s.

Anabaptist Legacy in America

Promoted ideas of religious liberty and the separation of church and state.

Anabaptist Descendants

Modern groups including Baptists, Mennonites, and the Amish who trace their ancestry to Anabaptists.

King Henry VIII

The King of England who broke from the Catholic Church to start the Church of England.

Catherine of Aragon

The first wife of King Henry VIII whom he sought to divorce, leading to the English Reformation.

Anne Boleyn

The woman King Henry VIII wanted to marry after divorcing Catherine of Aragon.

Church of England

The English state church created by King Henry VIII, also known as the Anglican Church.

Act of Supremacy

The English act declaring King Henry VIII as the supreme head of the Church of England.

Anglican Doctrine Preservation

The Church of England's choice to keep all traditional Catholic doctrines and rituals.

Anglican Salvation View

The doctrine that salvation is achieved through faith and good works.

King Henry VIII's Marriages

King Henry VIII married 6 times in search of an heir/son.

Edward

King Henry VIII's only son who inherited the English throne but died as a teenager.

Queen Mary I

Devout Catholic daughter of Henry VIII who tried to restore Catholicism in England.

Bloody Mary

The nickname given to Queen Mary I for burning hundreds of Protestants at the stake who questioned her.

Queen Elizabeth I

Protestant daughter of Henry VIII who firmly reestablished England as a Protestant nation.

Episcopalian

The later name given to the Anglican Church continued under Elizabeth I.

Edict of Nantes

A declaration issued by the French Catholic monarchy granting Protestant Huguenots freedom to worship.

Huguenots

French Protestants granted freedom of worship under the Edict of Nantes.

Progressive Nature of Edict of Nantes

Its departure from the norm where monarchs expected all subjects to follow the monarch's religion.

Catholic Reformation

The Catholic Church's attempt to counter Protestant growth by making slight internal reforms.

Council of Trent

A meeting of Catholic bishops in Italy in 1545 that reaffirmed Catholic teachings.

Year 1545

The year the Council of Bishops convened at Trent, Italy.

Council of Trent Reaffirmations

Reaffirmed the importance of rituals, services, and the Latin version of scriptures.

Council of Trent Indulgence Decision

The specific policy change made by the Council of Trent ending the sale of indulgences.

The Society of Jesus

A Catholic religious order founded to spread Catholicism, also known as the Jesuits.

Ignatius of Loyola

The Spaniard who founded the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits).

Year 1540

The year the Pope officially recognized The Society of Jesus.

Jesuit Obligations

To spread Catholicism globally, serve on missions, stop Protestantism, and start schools/universities.

Jesuit Mission Scope

Missions conducted across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

European Geographic Religious Division

The division of Europe into Protestantism in the North and Catholicism in the South.

Religious Classification of England

Protestant.

Religious Classification of Germany

Protestant.

Religious Classification of France

Catholic.

Religious Classification of Spain

Catholic.

Religious Classification of Italy

Catholic.

Thirty Years War

A 1600s religious war between Catholics and Protestants in Germany that devastated the population.

30 Years War Participants

Conflict engaging German Hapsburgs and German princes.

30 Years War Impact

Ruined Germany and resulted in the deaths of half of the population.

WHII Standard 3

The curriculum standard requiring knowledge of the Reformation and its impact on Western Civilization.

Approximate Reformation Start Year

1500 AD.

Country of Reformation Origin

Germany.

Foundational Figures of the Reformation

John Wycliffe and John Huss, who sparked the ideas carried out by Martin Luther.

Wycliffe's Primary Recommendation

Encouraged all Englishmen to read and understand the Bible.

Luther's Career Before Monkhood

Luther was studying to be a lawyer before becoming a monk.

Denomination Fleeing to Americas

AnaBaptists fleeing European persecution for North America.

Devout Catholic English Monarch

Mary (Bloody Mary).

Monarch Who Reestablished Protestantism in England

Elizabeth I.

Monarch Who Succeeded Henry VIII

His son Edward.

Calvinist Movement Location

Geneva, Switzerland.

Main Purpose of the Jesuits

Mission work across all continents to spread Catholicism.

Martin Luther's Criticism Document

95 Theses.

Lutheran Means of Salvation

Faith alone.

Most Important Aspect of Calvinism

Predestination.

Henry VIII's Primary Reason for Breaking with Rome

To divorce his wife Catherine of Aragon.

Core Anabaptist Beliefs

Adult baptism, refusal to bear arms or swear oaths, and denial of local government authority.

Buying Forgiveness

An Indulgence, or paying money to buy forgiveness for sins.

Purpose of Pope Leo X's Fundraising

To build St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Spread of Lutheran Ideas

Facilitated primarily by Gutenberg's printing press.

Vernacular Definition

The local or everyday spoken language of the people.

Teenage English Monarch

Edward, King Henry VIII's son who died as a teenager.

Religious Division in Modern Europe

Protestantism predominant in the North and Catholicism predominant in the South.