Late medieval reform movements in the Church (including lay piety, mysticism, and Christian humanism) created a momentum that propelled a new generation of 16th-century reformers, such as Erasmus and Martin Luther. After 1517, when Luther posted his 95 Theses attacking ecclesiastical abuses and the doctrines that spawned them, Christianity fragmented, even though religious uniformity remained the ideal. Some states, such as Spain and Portugal, which had recently expelled Muslims and Jews, held fast to this ideal. Others - notably the Netherlands and lands under Ottoman control, which accepted Jewish refugees - did not. In central Europe, the Peace of Augsburg (1555) permitted each state of the Holy Roman Empire to be either Catholic or Lutheran at the option of the prince. By the late 16th century, northern European countries were generally Protestant and Mediterranean countries generally Catholic. To re-establish order after a period of religious warfare, France introduced limited toleration of the minority Calvinists within a Catholic kingdom (Edict of Nantes, 1598; revoked in 1685). Jews remained a marginalized minority wherever they lived.
Differing conceptions of salvation and the individual's relationship to the church were at the heart of the conflicts among Luther, subsequent Protestant reformers such as Calvin and the Anabaptists, and the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church affirmed its rational theology at the Council of Trent (1545 - 1563), ruling out any reconciliation with the Protestants and inspiring the resurgence of Catholicism in the 17th century.
Differing conceptions of salvation and the individual's relationship to the church were at the heart of the conflicts among Luther, subsequent Protestant reformers such as Calvin and the Anabaptists, and the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Church affirmed its rational theology at the Council of Trent (1545 - 1563), ruling out any reconciliation with the Protestants and inspiring the resurgence of Catholicism in the 17th century.
Key Concept 1.2:
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Reading Schedule:
The Early Reformation (pgs. 392 - 404) The Reformation and German Politics (pgs. 404 - 407) The Spread of Protestant Ideas (pgs. 407 - 415) The Catholic Reformation (pgs. 415 - 418) Religious Violence (pgs. 418 - 422) |
Assignments
In the great chain of cause and effect it is often difficult to determine what was the original cause of any event. In this case study you will analyze the first steps that eventually led to the Reformation.
Why and how did Luther change Christian belief in Europe? What impact did the reforms of Martin Luther have on Christian Europeans?
Charles lived through a very auspicious time in European history. The Renaissance, Reformation and Age of Exploration all took place during his reign. In this case study you will evaluate how well Charles juggled all these differing issues.
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One aspect of European society that we will analyze throughout the course is the spread of ideas. The development of new ideas in Europe will have a profound impact on history. In this activity we will track the spread of Protestantism in comparison to a contagious disease
In response to the spread of Protestant ideas the Catholic Church underwent its own process of reform. In this activity we will debate the extent to which the Catholic Church actually reformed.
In this assignment you will analyze the broader context of the conflicts and crisis that erupted in the 16th century.
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