Reformation #1 Flashcards
Erasmus
Known for “Laying the egg that Luther hatched.” He was a Christian humanist who called his view of religion “the philosophy of Christ”. He wrote the Praise of Folly in 1509 where he criticized monks and attempted to reform the church. He didn’t want to break away from the Church (he wanted to reform it) but his ideas paved the way for the Reformation.
Praise of Folly
Written by Erasmus and published in 1509. Spread the “philosophy of Christ,” educated people on Christianity, and criticized the abuses in the Church, as well as the monks.
Renaissance Popes
A series of popes that ruled from 1450 to 1520 that were corrupt and the reason reform was called. They were too consumed with their politics and worldly interests than to be the spiritual leaders of the Church.
Julius II
The fiery “warrior pope” that personally led armies against his enemies. This disgusts many Christians, as the pope was supposed to be a religious leader, not a military leader.
Alexander VI
His neglect of the spiritual inheritance of the Church contributed to the revolution. He was a patron of the arts, ruled during an extreme period of war (France, Ottoman Turks) and created the Treaty of Tordesillas.
Borgia Family
Known for their scandals (Alexander slept with his daughter and his favorite son was killed). Ruined the meaning of the church for many.
Savonarola
A Dominican preacher who took advantage of the corruption and economic decline under the Medici family rule and who had so many citizens turn to him that the Medici family turned Florence over to him. However, people grew tired of his strict rule, and Savonarola attacked the corruption of the church, angering the pope, and was accused of heresy and executed in 1498.
Jan Hus
Studied the English theologian John Wycliffe’s work and spread his words. Opposed the sale of indulgences at Prague’s township, and he left as he began to be accused of heresy. He set off to Constance in hope to defend his case, but wasn’t given time. He was labeled a heretic and thrown in prison. By 1414, he was dead.
John Wycliffe
First translator of the Bible into English and one of the forerunners of the Protestant Rebellion. He believed the church should give up worldly possessions.
Great Schism
Split within the Roman Catholic Church where two men simultaneously claimed to be the pope. These two men were Urban VI in Rome and Clement VII in Italy. This period ended in 1414 at the Council of Constance with the election of Martin V.
Absenteeism
The practice of ruling from afar. Ex. An Italian man could rule a French territory. Many Bishops ruled from afar during the Reformation.
Pluralism
The practice of bishops ruling multiple districts at once.
Heresy
Speaking out/opposing the Catholic Church
Simony
People paying for positions in the Church
Protestant
A new form of Catholicism, one that disagrees with the Roman Catholic Church and agrees with the principles of the Protestant Reformation.
Indulgences
If you paid for indulgences (pieces of paper) you could be free from sin. People began to think you could buy salvation.
Pope Leo X
Excommunicated Luther after he refused to retract his theses. He didn’t take Luther or his movement seriously until after Luther’s death.
95 Theses
Began the Protestant Rebellion. Martin Luther was greatly angered by the sale of indulgences, especially Johann Tetzel’s, and on October 31, 1517, he stuck his Ninety-five Theses on the Church’s doors. These theses were a list on everything the Church did wrong, and it especially targeted the sale of indulgences.
Wittenberg Castle
Martin Luther was a monk and professor at the University of Wittenberg. He stuck his 95 theses to the wall of the Wittenberg Castle.
1517
Martin Luther sticks his 95 theses on the Wittenberg Castle’s door, beginning the Protestant Reformation.
Johann Tetzel
The Catholic Church authorized monk Johann Tetzel to sell indulgences to raise money. This infuriated Luther. Luther also found it extremely offensive that Tetzel’s slogan was “as soon as the coin in the money box rings, the soul from purgatory springs.” Luther believed this was wrong on so many levels, and the complete opposite on what Christianity was actually about.
Bohemia
Stayed Roman Catholic, and closed Protestant churches, beginning the 30 years war
Slavata and Martinitz
When Protestant churches closed, many Protestants were angry and they threw two royal governors, Slavata and Martinitz and their secretary out a window. This was because they believed they violated the Letter of Majesty, issued by the Holy Roman Emperor, that granted religious freedom to Protestants.
30 Years War
Battle among the Catholic and Protestant states in the Holy Roman Empire. It aimed to establish freedom of religion.
