1. Content Statement #7 The Reformation introduced changes in religion including the emergence of Protestant faiths and a decline in the political power and social influence of the Roman Catholic Church

2.  The Renaissance was a period of rebirth of learning in Europe  Inspiration from Ancient Greeks and Romans  Also influenced by Muslims and Islamic Culture  Art ▪ Humanism ▪ Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo  Literature ▪ Niccolo Machiavelli (Italian) ▪ William Shakespeare (English)  Science ▪ Study of bones and muscles ▪ Printing Press Invented

3.  During the Renaissance, the Church still held great power.  The Reformation was an effort to reform, or improve, the Catholic Church.  The Renaissance heavily influenced the Reformation  The Reformation began in 1517 in Germany

4.  Born  November 10, 1493  Died  February 18, 1546 ▪ 62 years old  Occupation  Monk  Location  Germany

5.  Luther disagreed with many of the teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church of the early 1500’s  He believed that people did not need Popes or other Church officials to tell them what God wanted them to do.  According to Luther, faith in God and common sense (not obedience to the Church) was the key to a proper Christian life.

6.  Luther also believed that ordinary people could understand the Bible for themselves  This goes against the Church  He translated the Bible into German so that ordinary people could read it  He was in favor of creating town schools that would teach everyone to read

7.  Luther especially despised the Church practice of selling indulgences  Indulgences were pardons for sins  During this time people could pay money to the Church to be forgiven for their sins  Luther felt that the Church did not have the power to exchange God’s forgiveness for money  The church would sell indulgences more to raise money than for any truly religious reason

8.  Luther began to publically criticize the Catholic Church  On October 31, 1517, Luther posted a list of complaints on the door of his church in Wittenberg, Germany  This list of complaints became known as the “95 Thesis”

9.  In Germany, priests, nobles, and ordinary people rallied behind Luther’s ideas.  Some priests agreed with Luther about corruption in the Church  Nobles were eager to limit the Church’s overwhelming power.  They wanted to collect their own taxes and make their own laws  Like the leaders of Italy’s city-states

10.  On 15 June 1520, the Pope Leo X warned Luther that he risked excommunication unless he withdrew is writings criticizing the Church  This included his “95 Thesis”  Luther refused

11.  As a consequence of refusing to withdraw his criticism, Luther was excommunicated by Pope Leo X on January 3, 1521  The enforcement of the ban on the “95 Theses” fell to the secular authorities.

12.  On 18 April 1521, Luther appeared as ordered before the “Diet of Worms”.  This was a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire  Luther still refused to withdraw his writings

13.  Over the next five days, private conferences were held to determine Luther's fate.  The Emperor declared Luther an outlaw, banning his literature, and requiring his arrest  It also made it a crime for anyone in Germany to give Luther food or shelter.  It permitted anyone to kill Luther without legal consequence.

14.  After the Diet of Worms, Luther was sent back to Wittenberg  On the road home Luther was abducted by a group of men  Luther's disappearance during his return trip back to Wittenberg was planned.  Prince Frederick III had him intercepted on his way home in the forest near Wittenberg by masked horsemen who were made to appear as armed highwaymen  They escorted Luther to the security of Wartburg Castle (home of Prince Frederick III)

15.  While at Wartburg, Luther translated the New Testament from Greek to German  From the safety of Wartburg Castle, Luther continued to criticize the Church

16.  Luther secretly returned to Wittenberg  While in Wittenberg, Luther organized and supported many peasant uprisings  Martin Luther later married Katharina von Bora (a former nun)  Remember marriage was not permitted for monks

17.  Soon people in much of Northern Europe held views similar to Luther’s  They created their own Christian Churches, free of Roman Catholic control  These came to be called Protestant Churches because they grew out of protests against the power and abuses of the Roman Catholic Church  Today their members are still called Protestants

18.  Many Roman Catholics agreed with some criticisms made by Protestants.  Instead of turning away from the Church, they worked to reform and correct the abuses of the Church  The Catholic Reformation also wanted to bring Protestants back to the Catholic Church and to make sure that Catholics held strictly to Church teachings

19.  Jesuits were members of the Society of Jesus who became well- known as teachers and missionaries  They were among the best-educated people of Europe at this time

20.  Religious Impact  Catholic and Protestant  Political Impact  Nations aligned themselves with each branch ▪ England (Protestant) ▪ France (Catholic Majority, Protestant Minority) ▪ Spain (Spain Catholic)  Social Impact  Middle class became stronger  Lower class wanted more rights  Importance of the individual