THE REFORMATIONTHE REFORMATION15171517

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHCHURCH• Dominates religious life in

Northern and Western Europe by the 10th Century

CAUSES!CAUSES!

Social Causes:Social Causes:

• Renaissance values of HUMANISM and SECULARISM led people to question the church

• The PRINTING PRESS helped to spread ideas critical of the church

Political CausesPolitical Causes

• Powerful monarchs challenged the Church as the supreme power in Europe

• Many leaders viewed the pope as a foreign ruler and challenged his authority

Economic CausesEconomic Causes

• European princes and kings were jealous of the Church’s wealth

• Merchants and others resented having to pay taxes to the Church

Religious CausesReligious Causes

• Some Church leaders had become worldly and corrupt

• Many people found Church practices such as the sale of indulgences unacceptable

Indulgence = PardonIndulgence = Pardon

• Catholic Church officials sell “Indulgences”

• Sinners were released from performing penalties that a priest imposed for sins

• “Buy way into heaven”

Martin Luther 1483-1546Martin Luther 1483-1546

• Monk & Teacher at the University of Wittenberg in German state of Saxony

95 Theses95 Theses

• Luther writes 95 formal statements (Theses) attacking the “pardon-merchants”

• Posts statements on the door of the castle in Wittenberg and invited scholars to debate him.

• Theses are printed and distributed through Germany

• Begins the Protestant Reformation – a movement of religious reform.

Martin Luther 1483-1546Martin Luther 1483-1546

• Monk & Teacher at the University of Wittenberg in German state of Saxony

Edict of WormsEdict of Worms

• Pope Leo X excommunicates Luther in 1520

• Holy Roman Emperor Charles V calls Luther to Worms in 1521 orders Luther to recant. Luther refuses

• Charles issues the Edict of Worms declaring Luther an outlaw and heretic. Books are to be burned.

• Luther is sheltered by his followers –• “Lutherans”

Europe after the Reformation