1. The Reformation

Question 1

By 1500 Europe mainly followed which branch of Christianity?

Answer 1

Catholicism

Question 2

How powerful was the Catholic Church by 1500?

Answer 2

The leader was the Pope who was very powerful, had great wealth and had his own army. Many countries followed Catholicism in Europe e.g. Spain and France and so the Pope could have people fight for him.

Question 3

What did Martin Luther criticise the Church for?

Answer 3

• Indulgences were a fraud - you could pay the priest to get you less time in purgatory
• The Pope claimed powers to which he had no right
• Christians were not being taught the true religion - people were being manipulated
• The Church was greedy and money focused. The Pope had a lot of money and gave money and houses to his friends and family.
• The Bible was incorrectly translated into other languages meaning people were not being taught the true word of God.
• Some monks were known to gamble, drink and sleep with women. This went against monastic rules.

Question 4

What did Martin Luther do with his criticisms?

Answer 4

He wrote a list of 95 Theses and nailed these to a Church door in Wittenburg in 1517

Question 5

How did the Church respond to Martin Luther’s criticisms?

Answer 5

He was called to a Diet of Worms (an assembly at Worms in Germany).

Pope Leo X told him to take back his criticisms but he refused. He was made a heretic - a person who differs in opinion from established religious rules/beliefs

Martin Luther was made an outlaw and was excommunicated by the Pope in 1521.

He wrote a German translation of the bible and set about organising his own Church. This became known as the Protestant Church