Empires of the 1500s and 1600s Flashcards
Who was Martin Luther?
An English monk who lived from 1483 to 1546 who critiqued the Catholic Church. His protests over abuses in the Catholic Church led to the founding of the Protestant churches. He wrote the 95 Theses.
Why did Martin Luther begin a movement against the Catholic Church?
Martin Luther was upset about the actions of a friar named Johann Tetzel and decided to take public action. Tetzel was raising money to rebuild St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. He raised money by selling indulgences, or pardons, to people who had sinned. Martin Luther was angry that Tetzel was giving people the idea that they would go to heaven if they bought indulgences.
Why did the growing middle class back monarchs in the 1500s?
The middle class supported monarchs because the monarch promised a peaceful, supportive climate for businesses.
How did empires make monarchs rich?
Monarchs claimed a part of every shipment of treasure that came in from their colonies. The shipments included goods such as silver and gold, and so the monarchs became very rich.
What is a monarch?
A monarch is the head of state of a country, such as a king or queen.
What problems arose in the 17th century? How did the monarchs respond?
Some of the problems that arose in the 17th century include:
- Continual warfare caused by conflicts over land and religion.
- Unrest and discontent among the population
- Peasant revolts
The monarchs responded by:
- Trying to impose order by increasing their own power
- Increasing regulations on everything
- Creating new government bureaucracies to control the economy
What is the idea of Divine Right?
Divine Right is the idea that God created the monarchy and that the monarch acted as God’s representative on Earth.
