Protestant Reformation

1. Protestant Reformation

2. Let’s say you’re a prince somewhere in north of the Holy Roman Empire. What’s happening to the power of states during the Renaissance?

3. You’re far away from Rome. But, the Pope is building a fantastic and fantistically expensive cathedral in Rome. He has to raise a lot of money to build it, so he raises the tithe on peasants in your region. Tithe = tax paid to the church. Usually 10%

4. St. Peter's Basilica

6. Meanwhile, Scholars in your area are having a public conversation through printed letters. They are discussing their views on the Bible. One man has been working with an old, Greek translation of the Bible and translating it into the vernacular. The Greek version of the Bible is believed to be older, and therefore, more accurate than the Latin version. This guy is saying that the way the Catholic Church has been interpreting the scriptures has been wrong.For example, he says that there is no mention of Purgatory in the Bible.

7. This guy is also saying that the Catholic Church is corrupt because it is making so much money selling indulgences. He says it is up to God to decide if you go to Heaven or Hell, and you shouldn’t be able to buy your way to Heaven. In fact, so many indulgences are being sold, it is the number one item coming off of Europe’s printing presses! Accusing the Church of being wrong makes him a heretic! Heretic: Someone who interprets the Bible differently from the Catholic Church. Indulgence: A slip of paper purchased from the Church that forgives you of sins and promises you a place in Heaven.

8. Of Course, You’re supposed to arrest heretics, but you start thinking about the taxes levied to build St. Paul’s Cathedral in Rome, and you begin to wonder if you might be able to make this heretic useful. What use could he possibly be to you?

9. His name was Martin Luther. Because of the printing press, his complaints, and other materials were published and circulated. leading to a break with the Catholic church. His most famous act was posting his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittemberg church in 1517. This began the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Church and put on trial by the Inquisition. At his trial, he refused to recant. He stated that he was still loyal to his faith, just not to the Pope’s interpretation of Christianity. The Pope ordered his death, but he managed to survive! What people in power would have wanted to protect him? Why?

10. From Martin Luther’s 95 Theses -“If the pope truly has the power to forgive sins, shouldn’t he do it for free out of love instead of for money?” -“All those who are sure of salvation because of indulgences will be doomed to Hell, together with their teachers.” -“Christians should be taught that one who gives to the poor, or lends to the needy, does a better action than if he purchases indulgences.” -“The pope’s indulgences cannot remove even the guilt of the smallest sins.” -“Since the pope is the richest man in the world, why doesn’t he use his own money to build churches instead of poor believers?”

11. In 1518, Martin Luther published a pamphlet claiming that the Pope is a bigger threat than the Turks! Meanwhile, the Pope is trying to raise another crusade against the Ottoman Empire… Martin Luther calls it just another scheme to raise more money.

12. Review! How are these two pictures related?

14. Soon after Martin Luther initiated a break with the Catholic Church, other movements began to spring up around Europe. These included Calvinists, Anabaptists and Anglicans. To find out more, read pages 182-187 in your textbook and answer questions 1, 2, 3 and 5 on page 187 by Thursday,

15. Pop Quiz! In Groups, answer the following questions: What were 3 ways in which the rise of the Ottoman Empire influenced Europe ? What were 3 ways the Printing Press changed European Culture? Explain the connection between the Black Death and the Renaissance.