AP European History Period 1 Review - Reformation and the Wars of Religion (Vocabulary)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the notes on Reformation, Wars of Religion, and Catholic Reformation.

Religious pluralism

Before the Reformation, the Catholic Church was the dominant faith in Europe; pluralism means multiple religions existed, ending a unified Catholic Europe.

Reformation

A period of religious, political, and cultural change challenging Catholic authority and transforming state structures and social norms.

Protestant Work Ethic

A belief that hard work and frugality are signs of salvation and a disciplined life, influencing wealth and social behavior.

State religion

A policy where the state endorses and enforces a single official religion, limiting tolerance for others.

Centralization of church power

Increased state control over churches within nations,often reducing plural religious authority.

No tolerance

Official or practical intolerance of other faiths; persecution of those not adhering to the state religion.

Nuclear family

A family unit with a father as leader; a core social/economic unit where all members contribute.

Family economy

Subsistence-based economic system where families collectively work to meet daily needs.

Religious holidays and social norms

Festivals and events centered on religion shaping community life and behavior; differences between Protestant and Catholic communities caused tensions.

Levels of centralization

Greater centralization often mirrored cultural and legal unity under a single faith and state codes.

Peace of Augsburg (1555)

Legal recognition of Lutheranism; German princes could choose Catholicism or Lutheranism for their realms.

Martin Luther

Leader of the Protestant Reformation who posted the 95 Theses (1517) challenging Catholic abuses.

Diet of Worms (1521)

Imperial assembly where Luther refused to recant; he was excommunicated and condemned by Charles V.

Habsburgs

Powerful imperial family (Charles V’s dynastic house) that dominated the Holy Roman Empire and opposed reform.

Holy Roman Empire (HRE)

A decentralized collection of hundreds of states ruled by princes under an emperor, central to early Reformation conflict.

Schmalkaldic Wars

Conflicts where German princes rebelled against Charles V; aided by France, linked to the spread of Lutheranism.

Anabaptists

Radical reformers advocating church/state separation, adult baptism, and social equality; persecuted by all sides.

John Calvin

French theologian; authored Institutes of the Christian Religion; promoted predestination and a theocratic Geneva.

Predestination

Belief that God has already chosen who gains salvation; central to Calvinist doctrine.

Ecclesiastical Ordinances

Calvinist church laws governing church leadership and discipline in Geneva.

Consistory

Calvinist body enforcing moral discipline, combining church and state authority.

Puritans

English Protestants seeking further church purification; persecuted under Elizabeth I and influential in later conflicts.

Pilgrims

English separatists seeking religious freedom; persecuted at home and later influential in colonization.

Elizabeth I (Elizabethan settlement)

Policy of Anglican middle ground; maintained a state church with limited toleration for Catholics and Puritans.

Act of Supremacy (1534)

Formal break with Rome; the Church of England established with the monarch at its head.

Act of Treason (during Henry VIII's reign)

Criminalized refusal to acknowledge the monarch’s religious authority; many were executed for dissent.

Council of Trent

Catholic council (1545–63) reaffirming doctrine, reforming clergy education, and ending indulgences.

Jesuits (Society of Jesus)

Ignatius Loyola’s order focused on education, missions, and disciplined reform to strengthen Catholicism.

Index of Forbidden Books

Catholic list banning books that contravened Catholic doctrine to curb Protestant influence.

Inquisition

Catholic tribunal enforcing doctrinal conformity through coercive measures, notably in Spain.

Baroque Art

Art style used by the Catholic Church to display power and convey religious messages; dramatic and emotional.

Dutch Baroque

Baroque style in the Dutch Republic, often secular and focused on daily life rather than strictly religious themes.

Catholic Reformation / Counter-Reformation

Catholic reform movement to stop Protestant expansion through mysticism, monastic reform, education, and new religious orders.

Jesuit education and missions

Jesuits established schools worldwide and used disciplined, mission-driven methods to spread Catholicism.

Indulgences

Sale of indulgences criticized by Luther; removal of indulgences was a key reform outcome of Trent.

Treaty/Peace outcomes of the Wars of Religion

Legal recognitions (like Peace of Augsburg) that ended certain wars by allowing some religious plurality.