In early 16th century, reformers throughout western Europe preached new ideas about religious doctrine and religious practice

• Initially, the ideas took form of sustained critique of Roman Catholic Church but soon gained momentum of their own

There were problems with Churches

• Renaissance Popes were considered too worldly

• Church officials were poorly educated

• Priests didn’t abide by the rules

• People developed higher standards

Christian leaders and Humanists of Northern Renaissance presented new ideas

• Printing Press

• Italian Humanism combined with Christain Humanism

Italian Humanism

• Secular interests

• Texts and languages (classical)

• Examined words and their meanings

Christian Humanism

• Reform movement

• Applied ideals of Humanism to Church doctrine

• Wanted to make people better Christians

• Education of Women

• Challenged Church education

Erasmus

• Wanted to unite individual Christian with textual basis of Christian doctrine

Printing Press (1455)

• 9-10 million books printed in 50 years

• Bible is the first book printed (Johann Gutenburg)

• Increase in education

• Government increased uniformity of law

• Newly emerging scientific ideas spread quickly

• Increased value placed on discovery of new ideas

Reformation

• People formed own opinions on religion

• Ideas spread more quickly

• People started to criticize the church more

• New economic pressure

Economic innovation from Renaissance allowed people to be more independent in their daily lives

Feudal systems started to make way for a more nationalist worldview

Reformation became a way to challenge political authority

Martin Luther believed that salvation came from having “faith in God”

• Wrote 95 Theses

• Put on trial by Charles V at Diet of Worms

• Luther was supported by the Germans

• German Princes joined Luther in protest against the Pope

Luther was supported by the German Princes, free towns, and women

Switzerland had two reformation movements

Henry VIII

• Became king in 1509 at age 18

• Was a devout Catholic

• “Defender of the Faith”

• Henry established new church to annul his first marriage to marry Anne Boleyn to have a son

• Head of the Church of England

• Seized all church property and sold it to nobles

• Beheaded Anne Boleyn cause he still didn’t have a male child

• Had a son with third wife

• Had 6 wives

• Died in 1548

Henry VIII’s son Edward becomes king at age 12

• Mary becomes queen after Edward’s death

• Elizabeth I locked up Mary and became Queen

  • Restored Protestantism to England

  • Dealt with return of radical Protestants and Catholics

  • Compromise between conservatives and radicals was created by 39 Articles

Early Protestants didn’t believe in separation of church and state and weren’t democratic

Protestant values made the commercial and industrial middle class stronger

Reformation created a new social, economic, and political way of life with the emerging middle class being able to flourish

Accumulation of wealth became a sign of living a “good life”

Western Europe developed due to geographical advantages such as coal and iron

Protestantism and Catholicism acted in ways that supported emerging capitalism