Conditions Early 16th Century - State of Catholic Church

Question 1

What was the power structure of the Catholic Church and what were each ones roles?

Answer 1

Pope -> Cardinal (Advisors/electors -> Archbishops (In charge of ecclesiastical states) Bishops -> Priests

Question 2

Why were people so *obedient* to the Church what did they have to do?

Answer 2

As they thought obedience was crucial for minimising time in purgatory. They did this by: - Participate in seven sacraments (Baptism, Marriage, Penance - confession etc, Communion, Last rites and ordination) - Obey ten commandments - Show devotion to saints - Take part in annual holy ceremonies

Question 3

What were the reactions to these teachings(How did majority and elite react in 1500 and whats a conclusion for general reaction to Church rules?

Answer 3

Majority - People more concerned about life after death and did not care about how Church wanted them to act as more worried about crops etc and ceremonies were looked forward to as holiday. Elite - Far more concerned with afterlife and were exceptionally devout boasted huge collections of relics. Conclusion - In 1500 everyone respected Church and little heresy was present in Germany

Question 4

HUMANISM - What was humanism and what did a famous historian say about them?

Answer 4

In the decades before reformation intellectuals began to question religious ideas. Historian Bernard Moeller said ‘No humanism, no reformation’.

Question 5

HUMANISM - What did humanists do and what mood did they create before 1517?

Answer 5

• Pioneered purest translations of Bible went back to old sources for accuracy e.g. Erasmus produced Greek translation - Provided idea that good Christian lives should be based on understanding the Bible(Erasmus wanted everyone to read it) - They openly criticised the Church e.g. Ulrich Von Hutten wrote letters mocking clerical ignorance. Created mood of anticlericalism and anti-papalism.

Question 6

Why was Erasmus important?

Answer 6

• Started spread of humanism - Reputation based on his biblical scholarship and mastery of greek and latin - Wanted to reform Church from within but rejected Luther completely.

Question 7

ANTI CLERICALISM - Why was it so prominent - What were the two main theories at the time?

Answer 7

1- Level of Clerical Abuse 2 - Power of Church and privileges of Clergy.

Question 8

ANTI CLERICALISM - Why was it so prominent - What is the first theory? (3 Points)

Answer 8

Level of Clerical abuse: - People expected high standard of professionalism in church but this was often missing. - People believed anti clericalism was due to Church being riddled with abuse: Positions in Church were sold resulting in unqualified Bishops who manipulated Church AND Germany for money. - People hated Church staff for womanising, being drunk and gambling.

Question 9

ANTI CLERICALISM - Why was it so prominent - Why does clerical Abuse alone not explain the level of anti-clericalism in Germany? (3 points)

Answer 9

• Level of abuse often exaggerated in literature for more sales - Situation was not that bad, half the priests in southern germany had a degree which was a high proportion. - Many critics were Clergy themselves and had been openly criticising the church and wanting to reform from within like Erasmus

Question 10

ANTI CLERICALISM - Why was it so prominent - What is the second theory? (3 points)

Answer 10

Power of Church and privileges of Clergy: - Widespread resentment of Church’s interference in everyday life(Tax etc) - Forced people to pay indulgences (certificate to reduce year in purgatory) and for pilgrimages baptisms and marriages, they had to pay. - Church made the poor poorer 1/10 of everyones income went to Church

Question 11

ANTI CLERICALISM - Why was it so prominent - Conclude about anti clericalism’s role in the reformation?

Answer 11

Anti-Clericalism was prominent in the empire and both clerical abuse and the power of the church aided the hatred towards the Church but neither were the main causes. The main cause was people attacking the Church causing people to reconsider the social norms of the Church and aid Luther in his attempt to reform.

Question 12

ANTI-PAPALISM - What were the three main reasons for this?

Answer 12

1) Personal behaviour of Renaissance popes. (Leo X, Alexander VI and Julius II. 2) Condition of the Church in Rome (Bad example of Christendom) 3) Growing belief that hypocritical ‘foreign’ popes and the scandal ridden Roman Catholic Church were financially exploiting germany

Question 13

ANTI-PAPALISM - What did historian John Lotherington say about anti-papalism?

Answer 13

“Anti-Papalism did not automatically mean rejection of Catholic doctrine but it did mean the enemy of the Pope might well have been seen as a friend of the German people.

Question 14

Who were the main two renaissance popes who were in charge before 1513? Talk about their actions and why they were hated.

Answer 14

Alexander VI (1492-1503) : Was Spanish and very scheming and ‘unpapal’. Poisoning murder and extortion lay at his door as he adored his murdering children. Julius II(1503-13): His passions were art and war, established Swiss guard and acted more like European Prince. rumoured to be homosexual (RESENTED) and make alliances with Maximilian and led his troops to war

Question 15

Who was the Renaissance pope after 1513.

Answer 15

Leo X - Became Pope before, he was a priest. He sold places in Church to replenish treasury (1513-1521)

Question 16

How effective were the Renaissance popes in doing their job?

Answer 16

These popes failed in their roles as leaders and allowed ignorance and corruption and also failed to condemn humanist writers.

Question 17

What was the condition of the Church in Rome and how did this link to anti-papalism?

Answer 17

Lack of respect for Renaissance Popes was linked with reports about behaviour in Germany. Believed they were making mockery of Christianity (Luther visited and so did Erasmus and reported)

Question 18

How and why did Rome exploit Germany ? (4 Points)

Answer 18

• By 1500, Rome exploited Germany far more than any other country due to the lack of central government - Multiple states of the Empire didn’t have much strength making them prey for the Pope - Huge amounts of money came from tax and indulgences went to Rome not Germany - Publications challenging rome received good audience in Germany

Question 19

What was the indulgence controversy(What year, who, why)?

Answer 19

1517 - Leo X needed money to build new building in Rome. - He used Jacob Fugger (Banker) to link sale with needs of Albert of Brandenburg (Brother of one of seven electors). Archbishop of Mainz position had fallen vacant. To get this position he could either spend a large amount or give his old positions up. Fugger lent Albert the money and Albert sold indulgences and sent half money to Fugger and half to Rome.

Question 20

What were the reactions in Saxony to the indulgence controversy?

Answer 20

3 reactions 1) Frederick the Wise refused his entry. 2) His people flooded the border to cop 3) Luther wrote the 95 Theses against indulgences.

Question 21

Who did Albert hire to run the indulgence sales?

Answer 21

Johann Tetzel