Unit 2: The Reformation

Laity/Laypeople

Ordinary members of the Christian Church who are not clergy.

Clergy

Religious officials/leaders of a church, such as priests, bishops, and popes.

Pluralism

The existence of multiple religious groups within a society.

Why was pluralism important during the Reformation?

Pluralism challenged the idea of a unified Christian Europe because different religious groups began existing within Europe.

Catholic Europe

Before the Reformation, most of Europe was Catholic, and the pope had significant religious authority.

Protestant Reformation

A movement in the 1500s in which Christians challenged the Catholic Church and formed Protestant churches.

16th-Century Church

The Catholic Church faced challenges to its authority, including conflicts with monarchs, corruption, and criticism of church practices.

Power struggle between the Catholic Church and secular monarchs

A conflict over who should have greater authority: the pope and Church or kings and queens.

Secular monarchs

Non-religious political rulers, such as kings and queens.

Egalitarian Church

The idea of a church in which people are considered more equal rather than having authority concentrated among a religious hierarchy.

Northern Renaissance

A Renaissance movement that developed in northern Europe and helped create an intellectual and religious environment that contributed to the Reformation.

Connection between the Northern Renaissance and Protestant Reformation

The Protestant Reformation began in northern Europe, where Northern Renaissance ideas were influential.

Early challenges to Catholic Church authority

Events and problems that weakened confidence in the Catholic Church, including the Avignon Papacy, Great Schism, and corruption.

Avignon Papacy

The period when the papacy was based in Avignon, France, rather than Rome, from 1309 to 1377.

Babylonian Captivity

Another name for the Avignon Papacy, referring to the period when the popes lived in Avignon instead of Rome.

How many popes lived in Avignon?

Seven popes lived in Avignon during the Avignon Papacy.

Effect of the Avignon Papacy

It weakened the authority and reputation of the papacy because the pope was based outside Rome and appeared heavily influenced by France.

Great Western Schism

A period when multiple people claimed to be the legitimate pope, at one point resulting in as many as three competing popes.

Why did the Great Western Schism weaken the Catholic Church?

It damaged the Church's credibility because Christians were unsure which pope was the legitimate leader.

Church corruption

Problems within the Church, including abuses involving money and the sale of indulgences, contributed to criticism of the Catholic Church.

Indulgences

Church documents or practices associated with reducing punishment for sins; their sale became a major source of criticism of the Catholic Church.

Renaissance Papacy

A period when Renaissance popes supported art and culture and spent large amounts of Church money on projects and artwork.

Renaissance Papacy and art

Renaissance popes spent Church money on art and building projects, including works associated with artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

Why did Renaissance art contribute to criticism of the Church?

Some people criticized church leaders for spending large amounts of money on art and luxury while ordinary people contributed money to the Church.

Main causes of criticism of the Catholic Church

Political conflicts with monarchs, scandals such as the Avignon Papacy and Great Schism, corruption, indulgences, and criticism of Church spending.

Big idea of the Reformation

Problems and challenges within the Catholic Church helped create conditions in which people questioned Church authority and supported religious reform.

Critiques of the Catholic Church: Indulgences

Pay money to the Church to reduce punishments for sin; could buy indulgences for the dead to help them get to heaven.

Critiques of the Catholic Church:Simony

Buying or selling Church positions.

Critiques of the Catholic Church: Usury

Lending money and charging interest; merchants did this, but the Catholic Church said Christians shouldn't charge interest to other Christians.

Critiques of the Catholic Church: Church Taxes

Churches were getting money from taxes but were not paying taxes.

Critiques of the Catholic Church: Absolute Wealth and Power of the Church

The Church had a large amount of wealth and power, which caused criticism.

Critiques of the Catholic Church: Domination of the Church by Italians

Most Church officials were Italian, even when serving in other countries, such as England.

Critiques of the Catholic Church: Pluralism

Church officials holding more than one position.

Critiques of the Catholic Church: Absenteeism

Church officials were not present for their congregation because they might hold a position at another church.

Avignon Papacy / Babylonian Captivity

For a period, 7 popes were in France instead of Rome; this took power away from Italy and made the Church seem very corrupt.

The Great Schism

There were 3 people claiming to be pope at the same time, which weakened the Church's authority.

Critiques of the Catholic Church: Pope's Spending

The Church spent a lot of money from the people on art, such as Michelangelo's work, which contributed to criticism of the Church.

Erasmus

Critic of Church operations; wrote Praise of Folly.

John Wycliffe

Translated the Bible into English in the 1380s.

John Wycliffe's Treatment After Death

The Catholic Church dug up his body after his death, put him on trial, burned him, and threw his ashes into a river.

Jan Hus

Picked up Wycliffe's ideas and became a leader of the Czech Reformation in Bohemia.

Jan Hus's Church Beliefs

Believed Church services should be in the vernacular.

Jan Hus's Treatment

Was put on trial by the Church and burned to death.

Martin Luther

German monk who was dissatisfied with the Catholic Church and became an important figure in the Protestant Reformation.

Sola Fide

Belief that faith saves people, not good works.

Martin Luther's View of Authority

Believed the ultimate authority was the Bible.

Martin Luther's View of Equality

Believed all humans are equal before God.

What was Luther’s 95 Thesis?

95 things Luther believed was wrong in the Church. He posted them on church doors. Happened in 1517

Luther’s 95 Thesis was spread by the…

Printing Press

The three topics Luther’s 95 Thesis covered was…

Pope’s Power, Church’s extreme wealth, Indulgences

Sola Scriptura (Luther’s Idea)

Emphasized the importance of the BIBLE’s authority.

Pope’s response to Luther

Pope Leo X Medici told Luther to give up beliefs > Luther did not a burned the orders > Luther was excommunicated (kicked out of Catholic Church) in 1520.

Holy Roman Emperor (Germany) response to Luther

Brought Luther to “The Diet of Worms” (1521), which is a meeting > Luther is excommunicated an declared a heretic (enemy of the Church)

Luther was hid by a nobleman after he was excommunicated. What did he do in hiding?

Translated the Bible from Latin to German (vernacular)

What new religious group formed from Martin Luther?

Lutherans

Why did Princes side with Luther?

Some agreed with him while others knew if they followed Luther’s beliefs, the Catholic Church would be kicked out, given the Princes all the wealth and power the Church had

What was the Peasant Revolt (1525)

Peasants saw Luther as an ally and asked him for support in demands to end serfdom. Luther was supported by noble people for his goals, so he did not support the peasants.