2. Christian Humanism was a movement out of the Italian Renaissance to reform the Catholic Church. Believed that to change society they would have to change human beings. Desiderius Erasmus was the best known Christian Humanist.

3. Corruption struck the church from 1450-1520. A series of popes were more concerned with their political careers and personal wealth. Many people desired assurances of their salvation and the Church sold indulgences to fit that demand.

4. German monk who became dissatisfied with the Church. Believed that salvation was achieved through faith alone (justification), which became a chief tenet of the Protestant Reformation. Amongst growing outrage, Luther nailed a list of 95 Theses to the door of Castle Church in Germany.

5. Luther is excommunicated from the Church in January 1521. Edict of Worms makes Luther an outlaw. Luther sets up new religious services to replace the Catholic mass, and his teaching soon becomes Lutheranism. It wasn’t until 1555 that the Peace of Augsburg creates an accepted division of Catholicism and Lutheranism in Germany.

6. French Protestant who offered his thoughts on Christianity. Agreed with Luther on justification by faith alone to explain salvation. Differed from Luther with his belief of predestination. This idea would give Calvinists a firm conviction that they were doing God’s work.

7. King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his 1 st wife Catherine of Aragon, with whom he had a daughter (Mary) but no son. Pope is unwilling to annul his marriage so he can marry Anne Boleyn (the sister of one of his mistresses). Forms the Church of England after his break from the Catholic Church.

8. The Act of Supremacy of 1534 declares that the king was the only supreme head on earth of the Church of England. Position gave king control over religious doctrine, clerical appointments, and discipline. Strongly opposed by Thomas More, who is replaced by Thomas Cromwell as Henry’s advisor. Henry’s son to his 3 rd wife (Jane Seymour), Edward VI, would move the Church of England towards Protestantism.