1. Renaissance themes lead to a…
Renaissance themes lead to a…. Rupture in the church (our next unit of study)
Think about...
Who is losing power and who is gaining power in the Renaissance?
How might the belief in the individual impact religion?
How might religion be a “tool of power” for monarchs?

2. Last quarter of the 15th Century
The Northern Renaissance:
Prelude to the Reformation
Last quarter of the 15th Century
More Christian & stressed social reform based on Christian values
Combined the best of classical & Christian cultures
Blend of old & new with less emphasis on purely classical approach
Focused on sources of early Christianity (like Roman Empire) like St. Augustine
They felt that religion should be simple and had been distorted by the Vatican over time.
Believed human beings could reform and improve themselves, the northern humanists felt that through education in classical and Christian sources they could instill inner religious beliefs in individuals –and this in turn would make society better.
Supported schools, education, new editions of the Bible.
To change society – you must change the human beings that compose it.
THEY DID NOT WANT TO BREAK OR REBEL AGAINST THE CHURCH.
Education the key to social & moral reform

3. ‘Prince of the Humanists’
Erasmus
( )
‘Prince of the Humanists’
Dutch, a Northern Christian Humanist.
Spoke in Latin consersationally.
He emphasized personal belief and de-emphasized the external forms of religion (like relics, fasting, pilgrimages). Thought the church needed to return to a simpler form. Edited the Greek version of the bible, which he felt got at the original meaning better than later versions (the Latin one was the currently used version).
Wrote In Praise of Folly which was a satire on corruption in society, and also in the church.
No intention of destroying the church. His ideas are taken by a young monk named Martin Luther, who does break with the church. This is not something Erasmus will approve of.

4. Utopia Sir Thomas More 1478-1535 Northern Humanist
Became Lord Chancellor in England (basically top advisor to King)
Friends with Erasmus
Like Ersamus, made Greek translations of texts and was very devout Christian.
Utopia, imaginary island where people lived an idealistic life. It was meant to expose political, social and economic problems of his day. New social system based on cooperation
He did not want to change the social structure he was in, but just reform it.

5. This unit, the Protestant Reformation, continues some of the themes we learned about in the Renaissance:
- The emergence of individualism in thought and challenges to the church – new religious belief SOCIAL
Monarchs gaining power (over the church) POLITICAL/ECONOMIC
Technology changing the world (printing press) SOCIAL

6. New themes also emerge Religious tolerance SOCIAL
Peasants desire for social change SOCIAL/POLITICAL

7. The Reformation Begins
Assignment #1

8. Roots of the Reformation The Avignon Papacy 1309-1389 Great Schism
Papacy moved to Avignon 1309 – 1378 (Phillip the Fair pressures pope to stay in France)
Becomes instrument of French monarchy – concentrated on financial matters instead of spiritual ones
Church cut off from its historic roots
Great Schism: 2 popes – one in France (urban) and the “anti-pope” in Avignon Resolved with Council of Constance ( )
Divided and lowered cred of church

9. Early Reformers Jan Hus Wycliff - Lollards Wycliff 1330-1384
Denied the power of the Pope and said that the Scriptures should be the standard for Christian belief and practice.
Christians should read the Bible for themselves
Urged church to be stripped of its property
Urged revolt when he said that everyone who was a good Christian should be a lord
His group was called the “Lollards”
Exiled and silenced
Hus –
Followed Wycliffe’s ideas in Bohemia (modern day Czech Republic)
Burned at stake
Jan Hus

10. Why did people want reform?
Immorality
Ignorance
Corruption
Humanism sparked people to think for themselves
The Vatican was preoccupied with finances and was largely corrupt. Sold high positions to wealthy people and nobles. To increase their own wealth high church officials took over more than one office – called pluralism. This in turn led to absenteeism – where clergy could not provide leadership in certain areas because they weren’t there.
Since high officeholders often ignored their duties, they hired unqualified and ignorant local priests who oftentimes were illiterate.
Immorality – popes gambling, having mistresses and children.
Conversely – many “ordinary” people were becoming more religious (not less so) but often found that the church was not living up to their expectations.
This led many people to start calling for reform within the Catholic Church – not breaking away from it. See Erasmus – but he was not the only one.

11. Let’s take a look at your geo guide to understand the HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE
Charles V – Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V – Holy Roman Emperor
On the diversity of his empire: “I speak Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to my horse.”
Wanted to maintain political control and religious unity
The German states had become quite independent of the HRE, while still being in it.

12. 1483-1546 Martin Luther Catholic monk and professor of religion.
Catholic doctrine says that faith and “good works” will give you salvation. Luther believed that human beings were weak and powerless in the sigh of God and could never do enough good works to achieve salvation. Luther believed that humans were not saved through good works but through faith and the promises of God.
“Salvation through faith alone”
Luther – the bible is the chief guide to religious truth – not the church
In this time period “good works” often meant paying the church (see indulgences)

13. The Master Salesman Tetzel
Indulgences: pardoning of sins for a price
The Master
Salesman
Tetzel
The “indulgence” controversy
1517 – Pope Leo X issued a special “indulgence” to finance St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. People could pay to have their sins forgiven.
Luther was greatly distressed by this – the epitomy of “salvation by good works” that he perceived to be false.

14. “The 95 Theses”
95 theses on the church door in Wittenberg. It is doubtful Luther intended any break with the church…but that is exactly what he got.

15. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni1gupkGAW0 (1-38)
Take notes on the film clip to answer the following BIG PICTURE QUESTIONS:
How do Martin Luther’s actions connect to the theme of Individualism ? How is it a revolution in personal belief and action?
How is the reformation political?
How does technology impact the Reformation?

16. Charles V Confronts Lutheranism in the HRE: Peace of Augsburg
While staying with Frederick the Wise he translates the Bible into German – why is this significant?
After Luther is released from Wartburg castle he begins to organize the Lutheran church. Distributes his bible
Luther’s ideas spread quickly throughout the German states in the HRE.
Lutheran services were conducted in vernacular (language of the people) and Luther renounced celibacy and married a former nun.
Charles V fights a number of wars with the German Princes allied as part of a Lutheran league. However, he is beset by wars on all sides with the French and Ottomans, and eventually makes a treaty with the Germany princes called the Peace of Augsburg – It formally recognizes Lutheranism and gives Lutherans the right to practice in the HRE.
Important because = religious tolerance (limited)
Important because = acknowledges there is now no Christian unity.
Invites other Protestant religions to desire the same choices.
Example of Religious Tolerance