Transcript Document 7151085

The Protestant Reformation
SS.A.3.4.2; SS.B.1.4.4; SS.B.2.4.3
Christian Humanism
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As the new classical learning and
humanism spread north from Italy
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In the north, it is known as Christian
Humanism: the belief that humans have the
ability to reason and improve themselves.
Through study of classics and basic writings
of Christianity, inner piety would reform the
Church
To change society, you must first change the
people who make society
Desiderius Erasmus
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Believed Christianity should show people
how to live, rather than provide a system
of beliefs to achieve salvation
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“Philosophy of Christ”
He wanted to change the Catholic Church
from within
Criticized the abuses of the church
Trouble In The Church
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Renaissance popes fail to meet church’s
spiritual needs
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Too involved in Italian politics
Many church officials used office to
advance their own agenda and fortune
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Sale of Indulgences
Martin Luther &
The Protestant Reformation
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Martin Luther, a German monk and
professor, has idea about salvation from
studying the Bible
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“Good works are not needed, salvation comes
from faith in Christ alone.”
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Justification by faith alone
The Bible becomes the only authority to
Luther and his followers (Protestants)
The Ninety-Five Theses
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Luther did not consider himself a rebel
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1517: Luther writes 95 problems he sees
in the church; Ninety-Five Theses printed
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Upset by selling of indulgences
Spreads throughout Germany, Europe
Pope Leo X ignores problem
1520: Luther begins to ask German
princes to break with Catholic Church and
establish a reformed “German Church”
Break-Away Church
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Luther attacks Church sacraments
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Sees them a destroying the true meaning of
the gospels; to him, only baptism and
Communion (Eucharist) were meaningful
Also wanted priests to be able to marry
Luther is excommunicated in 1521
Holy Roman Emperor Charles V also not
happy with Luther, M.L. is outlawed
Protected by his prince in Wittenberg
Rise of Lutheranism
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Luther’s movement becomes a revolution
Princes who agreed with Luther broke with
the emperor, took control of the Catholic
churches in their areas, and put them
under government control (Lutheran)
Luther changes the Catholic mass, with
more emphasis on The Bible, preaching
and songs
Lutheranism becomes the first Protestant
faith
Political Unrest in Germany
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Peasants rise up against lords
Luther sides with lords
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Many lords have sway on Luther’s thinking
Luther is dependent on German lords for
the growth of his church
The faith of Luther’s movement is closely
based on politics
German Politics & Reform
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Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, was also
Charles I—King of Spain
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Controlled an empire including Spain and its
colonies, Germany, Austria, Bohemia,
Hungary, the Italian Duchy of Milan, the
Kingdom of Naples and the Low Countries
(Flanders)
Hoped to keep control of his empire by
keeping it Catholic
Problems In Germany
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Charles goes to war with France for 20 yrs
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Turks expand empire into Charles’ lands
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Pope sides with France
Charles fights the Turks on the eastern front
German lords/princes who agree with
Luther, break away from H.R. Empire
Lutherans have time to organize while
Charles is fighting his wars, ready for war
Peace of Augsburg: Luther and Catholic
states are equal within the empire