Chapter 13

Christian Humanism

A movement focusing on reforming the church by returning to early Christian writings and integrating logic, reason, and education.

Erasmus

Influential Christian humanist known for works like 'In Praise of Folly' and 'Acts of the Apostles,' advocating for inner faith and a simpler Christianity.

Sir Thomas More

Author of 'Utopia'; advocated for social equality and was executed for opposing Henry VIII's break from the Catholic Church.

Pluralism

A practice where clergy held multiple positions, leading to corruption and inefficiency in the Catholic Church.

Martin Luther

German monk whose 95 Theses criticized indulgences and corruption, sparking the Protestant Reformation.

Indulgences

Payments to the Church for the reduction of time in purgatory, heavily criticized by Martin Luther.

95 Theses

Martin Luther's list of grievances against the Catholic Church, posted in Wittenberg, igniting widespread reform.

Peasants' War

A rebellion in Germany that Luther condemned, siding with princes to suppress the revolt.

Lutheran Sacraments

Luther retained only two sacraments, baptism and communion, discarding others practiced by the Catholic Church.

Schmalkaldic League

An alliance of German princes who supported Lutheranism and resisted Emperor Charles V's Catholic restoration efforts.

Peace of Augsburg

A 1555 treaty allowing German princes to choose the religion (Catholic or Lutheran) of their territories.

Lutheranism in Scandinavia

Spread under King Christian III, making Scandinavia a stronghold of Lutheran faith by the mid-16th century.

Ulrich Zwingli

Swiss reformer who emphasized scriptural authority and rejected practices like relics, images, and music in churches.

Marburg Colloquy

A meeting between Luther and Zwingli that failed to unite their reform movements due to differences over the Eucharist.

Anabaptists

Radical reformers advocating for adult baptism, separation of church and state, and nonviolence, leading to persecution.

John of Leiden

An Anabaptist leader who declared himself king of Munster, leading to a violent siege and his execution.

Henry VIII

English king who established the Church of England to annul his marriage, rejecting papal authority.

Act of Supremacy (1534)

Declared Henry VIII the supreme head of the Church of England.

Bloody Mary

Queen Mary I of England, who attempted to restore Catholicism, earning her nickname for persecuting Protestants.

John Calvin

French reformer who developed Calvinism, emphasizing predestination and moral discipline.

Calvin’s Geneva

A theocratic city governed by strict moral laws and the Consistory to enforce discipline.

Family in Protestantism

Reformation-era teachings emphasized family life but maintained traditional gender roles.

Protestant Education

Advocated for universal education to improve literacy and spread religious teachings.

Catholic Reformation

Also called the Counter-Reformation, efforts by the Catholic Church to address corruption and combat Protestantism.

Jesuits

A Catholic order founded by Ignatius of Loyola, focusing on education, missionary work, and combating Protestantism.

Council of Trent

A Catholic council (1545–1563) reaffirming traditional beliefs and opposing Protestant doctrines.

French Wars of Religion

A series of conflicts (1562–1598) between Catholics and Huguenots, culminating in the Edict of Nantes.

Edict of Nantes

A 1598 decree granting religious toleration to Huguenots while recognizing Catholicism as France's official religion.

Philip II

Spanish king who championed Catholicism, leading Spain to prominence but also financial ruin.

Revolt of the Netherlands

A rebellion against Spanish rule fueled by religious and economic grievances, leading to independence for the northern provinces.

Elizabeth I

English queen who established religious compromise, defeating the Spanish Armada and strengthening England's global position.

Spanish Armada

A failed Spanish invasion of England in 1588, marking a turning point in European power dynamics.