The Reformation

Flashcards covering key concepts and events related to the Reformation.

What is the Protestant Reformation?

A religious movement in the 1500’s that split the Christian church in western Europe and led to the establishment of a number of new churches.

What were some factors that led to the Reformation?

Social, political, economic, and religious factors, including displeasure with Church practices, powerful monarchs challenging the Church, and the spread of critical ideas via the printing press.

Who sparked the Reformation and how?

Martin Luther sparked the Reformation in 1517 by posting his '95 Theses' on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

What were indulgences?

Pardons issued by the pope that people could buy to reduce a soul’s time in purgatory.

What significant event occurred at the Diet of Worms?

Martin Luther was tried on heresy charges and refused to recant, leading to his excommunication by Pope Leo X.

Who were some early reformers before Martin Luther?

John Wycliffe, who advocated for personal Bible interpretation, and Jan Hus, who wanted bishops elected rather than appointed by the Pope.

What were the Papal States?

Significant territory in Italy ruled by the Church, important in the context of the Church's political power in Western Europe.

What was one critique of Church practices during the Reformation?

The sale of indulgences and the corruption of Church leaders.

What role did the printing press play in the Reformation?

It helped to spread ideas critical of the Church and facilitated the dissemination of reformative texts.

What were the consequences of the Reformation?

The formation of several new churches such as Lutheran, Calvinist, and the Church of England, as well as conflicts like the Thirty Years War.