Chapter 1: Conditions in early 16th century Germany Flashcards
Which key factors enabled Luther’s success in the Reformation?
- There was no strong central authority in the HRE.
- There was much nationalistic, anti-papal anger in Germany as they were being financially exploited by Rome.
- There was anger at the Church due to clerical abuses and their immense power.
- Humanist literature spread after the invention of the printing press.
- Many believed the end of the world was approaching; a holy man was expected.
- Charles V (the Emperor) didn’t have enough power to silence Luther.
Why was the HRE difficult to control?
- There were many semi-independent states with varying degrees of power.
- These states guarded their individual liberties and privileges.
- Each state was ruled by their own leaders, including princes, kings, bishops and dukes.
- The Emperor had to provide defence, law and order to the states within the HRE without undermining their autonomy.
What powers did the Holy Roman Emperor have?
- Secular head of Christendom
- Could use political powers to defend the Roman Catholic Church
- The role demanded respect
How did the Holy Roman Emperor lack power?
- No salary
- No imperial army
- No imperial taxation or coinage
- Needed electors’ permission to raise troops in defence of the Empire
- Had to ask the prince-dominated diet for taxation rights
- No right to directly intervene in states’ and cities’ internal affairs
What were the terms of the Capitulation of 1519?
Charles would:
- Respect the rights and privileges of the princes
- Consult the diet and electors on all imperial matters
- Use only Latin or German when in the HRE
- Not appoint foreigners to imperial positions
- Not bring foreign troops into the empire
- Not declare war without the electors’ consent
How did the imperial election of 1519 benefit Luther?
- The Capitulation weakened the position of HRE as he needed to work through the diet and electors to take action against Luther
- The pope allowed Luther not to travel to Rome where he could be executed as he wanted to maintain Frederick the Wise’s favour
- Charles being elected meant that the HRE had a ruler who would be largely absent from the empire and couldn’t focus on internal issues
How had the population grown in Germany?
Germany’s population rose from 12 million to 15 million between 1500 and 1550.
How were towns and cities changing in Germany?
The 4000 towns and cities of the HRE were expanding rapidly in the early 16th century.
How was inflation impacting the economy in Germany?
From 1530, prices rose sharply but wages didn’t rise at the same rate.
What percentage of the HRE’s population were peasants?
70%
What was the rate of failure of harvest?
1 in 4.
How many significant peasant revolts were there between 1500 and 1525?
18, compared to 21 in the last century
What were the key principles of Catholic belief?
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Penance
- Eucharist
- Marriage
- Extreme unction
- Ordination
How did the Catholic Church teach people they could be saved?
- Obeying the 10 Commandments
- Doing ‘good works’ such as going on pilgrimages and buying indulgences and relics
- Showing devotion to the Virgin Mary and the saints
- Participating in the seven sacraments
Why was humanism pre-1517 significant?
- Attempted to create the purest translations of the Bible, exposing errors in the Vulgate
- Promoted the idea of personal understanding of the Bible over blind following of the Church’s teachings
- Openly criticised the Church including the papacy, the exploitation of Germany, hypocrisy and immorality
- Created a climate in which Luther’s ideas could thrive
