History Notes

Notes: The Protestant Reformation Continued church conflict and reform Religious/social/political elements of Protestant Reformation Conflict outside of Europe Catholic Church and the Papacy: Pope (Bishop of Rome) was head of this Western/Catholic church Investiture Controversy Pope Innocent III & 4th Lateran Council Political decline due to struggle of Philip IV and Boniface VIII By 15th/16th Century Church hierarchy/administration at Rome was very well-organized Individual popes had little political power because Avignon papacy and Great Schism Papa admin did have significant control over Christian belief Earlier Periods of Change in the Churches: Examples of reform in the western church Church councils of 4th and 5th centuries. Council of Nicaea, 325 Carolingian liturgical and monastic reforms Papal reforms of 11th and 12th century focused on canonical problems 14th century Avignon Papacy Theological differences had already led to numerous Christian churches Arian Church Monophysite Church Catholic (Roman) Orthodox (Greek) Pre-Modern Printing: Woodblock printing China by 220 CE India by 7th century CE Europe by 14th century Invention of movable type In China Using porcelain by 1040 Copper by early 12th century In wood by late 13th century In Korea Using bronze by c. 1230 In Germany Johann Gutenberg, using a metal alloy c. 1450 European Printing Press: Aided rapid dissemination of new ideas in this period, movable type 1st in Europe by Johann Gutenberg of Mainz between 1452-1453 145 on paper, 46 survived Technique of printing with moveable type spread quickly across Europe By 1500 there were around 1000 presses in Europe in more than 250 towns Neither Renaissance nor Protestant Reformation could have taken on proportions which they did without its existence Education, Printing Press, and the Reformation: More widespread education leads clergy and lay people to question rule of the church and a single interpretation of Christianity Erasmus (1466-1536), Dutch An intellectual ink between Renaissance and Reformation Humanist Focused his attention on humanity and human affairs Very good early education, especially classical authors Strong interest in morality Wrote “The Praise of Folly”, praise of human foolishness “Best to be a fool for Christ” Some ideas were shared by reformers, like Martin Luther. What was the Protestant Reformation? “Protestatio”= Declaration, Protestation Intellectual and religious reformation of the church Basic spiritual questions involved Sacraments Importance of Christian morality Basic practical ideas included Right to choose own pastor Christian Bible in vernacular translations Religious reform incorporated into very violent social changes Desire to be relieved from serfdom Freedom from some taxes Who were some important figures of the Reformation? Martin Luther of Wittenburg (1483-1546) Augustinian monk in Germany Achieved a late education, centered on Christian thought Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) Swiss priest turned popular preacher John Calvin (1509-1564) French lawyer who moved to Geneva in 1536 King Henry VIII of England (r. 1509-1547) Not really a reformer until it suited him politically Consequences of the Protestant Reformation: Widespread violence Peasants’ War in 1525 in Germany demanding more rights By April 1525 as many as 300,000 peasants and artisans were in revolt against feudal and territorial lords 70,000-100,000 peasants killed during summer of 1525 30 Years War (1618-1648) to bring Bohemia back to Catholic church Violence is carried to world exploration and conquest Permanent split between Catholic and Protestant Churches 1555: Peace of Augsburg promoted principle of “cuius regio cuius religio” (whose territory, his religion) Allowed Germans to choose religion for their state Once reformers had upper hand in England, English church prohibited Catholic church for some time Catholic Counter-Reformation Medieval Roman Church completely transformed because of Protestant Reformation