Unit 2 Vocab & Important Events

I. Important Vocabulary

Protestant Reformation

1. Indulgences – Payments to the Catholic Church for the reduction of punishment for sins, a major issue criticized by reformers.

2. Justification by Faith Alone (Sola Fide) – Martin Luther’s belief that salvation comes through faith, not good works.

3. Sola Scriptura – The Protestant belief that the Bible alone is the ultimate authority in religious matters, rather than the Pope.

4. Predestination – The Calvinist doctrine that God has already chosen who will be saved and who will be damned.

5. The Elect – Calvinist term for those chosen by God for salvation.

6. Huguenots – French Calvinists who faced persecution in Catholic France.

7. Puritans – English Protestants who sought to further reform the Church of England by removing Catholic elements.

8. Anabaptists – Radical Protestant sect that rejected infant baptism and believed in complete separation of church and state.

9. Act of Supremacy (1534) – Law passed by Henry VIII declaring the King as the head of the Church of England.

Catholic Counter-Reformation

10. Council of Trent (1545–1563) – A Catholic response to the Reformation that reaffirmed Catholic doctrines, ended abuses, and emphasized education.

11. Jesuits (Society of Jesus) – A religious order founded by Ignatius of Loyola that focused on education, missionary work, and defending Catholicism.

12. Index of Prohibited Books – A list of books banned by the Catholic Church to prevent the spread of Protestant ideas.

13. Roman Inquisition – A Church court established to investigate and punish heresy.

14. Baroque Art – A dramatic, emotional artistic style used by the Catholic Church to inspire devotion during the Counter-Reformation.

Religious Wars & Political Changes

15. Schmalkaldic League – An alliance of Lutheran princes against the Holy Roman Emperor.

16. Peace of Augsburg (1555) – Agreement allowing German princes to choose either Lutheranism or Catholicism for their states (Cuius regio, eius religio).

17. French Wars of Religion (1562–1598) – A series of conflicts between French Catholics and Huguenots.

18. St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (1572) – A Catholic attack on Huguenots in France, leading to widespread killings of Protestants.

19. Edict of Nantes (1598) – Issued by Henry IV of France, granting limited religious freedom to Huguenots while maintaining Catholicism as the official religion.

20. Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648) – A devastating war within the Holy Roman Empire between Catholic and Protestant states, later involving major European powers.

21. Defenestration of Prague (1618) – Protestant nobles in Bohemia threw Catholic officials out of a window, sparking the Thirty Years' War.

22. Peace of Westphalia (1648) – Treaty ending the Thirty Years' War, granting religious tolerance to Lutherans, Catholics, and Calvinists while weakening the Holy Roman Emperor.

II. Key Events

Protestant Reformation (1517–1555)

1. Martin Luther Posts the 95 Theses (1517) – Luther criticizes indulgences and Church corruption, sparking the Reformation.

2. Diet of Worms (1521) – Holy Roman Emperor Charles V declares Luther an outlaw after he refuses to recant.

3. German Peasants’ War (1524–1525) – Inspired by Lutheran ideas, peasants revolt against feudal oppression, but Luther condemns them, and the rebellion is crushed.

4. Schmalkaldic Wars (1546–1555) – Conflict between Charles V and Lutheran princes, ending in the Peace of Augsburg.

Catholic Counter-Reformation (1545–1600s)

5. Council of Trent (1545–1563) – The Catholic Church reaffirms traditional teachings, improves clergy education, and bans indulgence sales.

6. Formation of the Jesuits (1540) – Missionary and educational efforts to strengthen Catholic influence.

7. Expansion of the Roman Inquisition (1542) – Increased efforts to suppress Protestantism in Catholic territories.

Religious Wars & Political Shifts (1562–1648)

8. French Wars of Religion (1562–1598) – Series of conflicts between Catholics and Huguenots, leading to Henry IV’s conversion to Catholicism.

9. St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (1572) – Thousands of Huguenots killed in France, worsening religious tensions.

10. Henry IV Issues the Edict of Nantes (1598) – Ends the French Wars of Religion, granting Huguenots religious freedom.

11. Thirty Years’ War Begins (1618) – Initially a religious conflict within the Holy Roman Empire, it expands into a broader European power struggle.

12. Peace of Westphalia (1648) – Ends the Thirty Years' War, establishing religious tolerance and weakening the Holy Roman Emperor’s authority.

III. Key Figures

Protestant Reformation Leaders

1. Martin Luther (1483–1546) – German monk who initiated the Protestant Reformation with the 95 Theses.

2. John Calvin (1509–1564) – French theologian who founded Calvinism, emphasizing predestination and strict religious discipline.

3. Huldrych Zwingli (1484–1531) – Swiss reformer who rejected Catholic rituals and argued for a purely symbolic Eucharist.

4. Henry VIII (1491–1547) – English king who established the Church of England after being denied a divorce by the Pope.

5. Elizabeth I (1533–1603) – English queen who established the Elizabethan Settlement, blending Protestant doctrine with Catholic traditions.

Catholic Counter-Reformation Figures

6. Pope Paul III (1468–1549) – Initiated the Council of Trent to reform the Catholic Church and combat Protestantism.

7. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) – Founder of the Jesuits, who emphasized education and missionary work.

8. Philip II of Spain (1527–1598) – A staunch Catholic monarch who led Spain in religious wars, including the attempted invasion of Protestant England (Spanish Armada, 1588).

Religious Wars Leaders

9. Henry IV of France (1553–1610) – Originally a Huguenot, he converted to Catholicism to end the French Wars of Religion and issued the Edict of Nantes (1598).

10. Ferdinand II (1578–1637) – Holy Roman Emperor whose policies helped spark the Thirty Years’ War.

11. Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden (1594–1632) – A Protestant military leader in the Thirty Years' War, known for his advanced military tactics.

12. Cardinal Richelieu (1585–1642) – Chief minister of France who supported Protestants in the Thirty Years' War to weaken the Habsburgs.