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What was it about the political setting of Germany -where Martin Luther was born- that allowed him to thrive and spread his message?
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| During Martin Luther's lifetime Germany was not strongly unified and local nobles had substantial authority. Charles V had been elected Holy Roman Emperor and he attempted to further unite Germany and as was popular at the time. However, he ran into several obstacles. Surrounded by land controlled by France, he became involved in the Habsburg-Valois was in which fighting continued intermittently for 24 years. These foreign wars prevented him from focusing his resources on domestic issues. In addition, while he expected help in dealing with the Lutherans from the pope, the pope instead decided at one point to support the French. After Charles V managed to get through this conflict and was recognized by papal authority another war emerged involving the Ottoman Empire who had gained new territory in Europe. By the year 1529 Charles V was finally able to address the instability at home. However, the nobility formed alliances such as the Schmalkaldic League to resist his authority and protect Lutheranism. Charles the V then also had to deal with new wars against the French and Ottomans. Frustrated, he finally abdicated all his power to his brother Ferdinand in 1556. |
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Explain Charles V attempts to secure Catholic superiority in the Holy Roman Empire, including the Diet of Augsburg and the conflicts with the Schmalkaldic League.
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| At the time of 1529, the first two Habsburg-Valois Wars (France vs Holy Roman Empire) and the Ottoman Turks had been defeated for the time being. At this time Charles the V sought to address the rise of Lutheranism in Germany. However, the Holy Roman Empire at this time was made up hundreds of princely states, ecclesiastical principalities, and free imperial cities who out of a want to preserve their own power, did not want greater central authority. Charles V created the Diet of Augsburg in order to meet with the nobility and address the problem, but it fell apart and in the end he simply demanded that all Lutherans return to the Catholic Church by April 15, 1531. In protest, several Lutheran nobles created the Schmalkaldic League which was an alliance meant to protect Lutheranism and protect central authority. At this time new threats from the Ottoman Turks arose in regards to the Holy Roman city Vienna and two Habsburg-Valois wars followed. This made so that he had to compromise due to the attention the wars demanded. After these wars (15 years after the diet of Augsburg) Charles waged war upon the Schmalkaldic League and mostly destroyed it. However, it was able to revive itself and (strangely enough) secured an alliance with the new French king. Finally Chalres V abdicated his rule to his brother, and the Peace of Augsburg soon followed. This was huge as nobles were now granted the right to choose between Lutheranism and Catholicism for their subjects, and both Catholics and Lutherans received equal legal status. |
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Explain how the intellectual climate of the Roman Holy Empire aided the spread and acceptance of Lutheranism.
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| First, it is important to consider how the Reformation occurred soon after the Italian Renaissance (1350-1550) and the Northern Renaissance. During this time a greater understanding spread (through the upper classes) of the human being's ability to reason. The Northern Renaissance also put an emphasis upon mankind's ability to reform and progress. Due to this, they placed an emphasis upon education and the northern humanists specifically greatly valued the reading of old texts such as the Greek New Testament. With this grew a greater literacy rate and an intellectual environment more open to new interpretations of the bible. Also, with humanism came new ideas of individuality that supported the more spiritual approach taken by Luther. |
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Describe the viewpoints of Desiderius Erasmus and remind us of how he is an example of how northern humanism lends itself to Lutheranism.
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| Erasmus (1466-1536) developed and spread Christian humanism which became popular. His called his view of Christianity "the philosophy of Christ". With this statement he meant that Christianity should be used as directions on how to live and experience life, rather than becoming series of dogmatic beliefs and practices as obsessed over by the Catholic Church. He emphasized more spiritual forms of religion such as inner piety as opposed to external forms such as pilgrimages, fasts, the veneration of saints, and relics. He also believed that Christians should learn to better understand the original meaning of the scriptures. From this we can see how he is very much of product of northern humanism in the value he places on reading original documents such as the bible and religious writings often in Latin in Greek. His views are also pretty similar to Martin Luther's and perhaps prepared many for the coming reformation. |
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What was the significance of the Peace of Augsburg on Europe as whole?
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| The Peace of Augsburg was an earth shattering moment (historical safety belt) because it brought an end to Christendom, that is, a Europe united under the Roman Catholic Church. At this point it soon came clear that it would be impossible for Europe to become similarly united as Lutheranism soon spreads beyond Germany and alongside it develop several new branches of Christianity. These include the Zwingli Reformation, the Anabaptists, and eventually Calvinism. It probably also played a role influencing the reformation in England. Individual interpretation began to play a more major role versus just accepting what the Catholic Church dictated. |
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Describe the Zwinglian Reformation and Ulrich Zwingli's viewpoint on Christianity.
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| In the 16th century the Swiss Confederation was a loose association of thirteen self-governing states. These circumstances which Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531)faced were similar to those handed to Martin Luther in the Holy Roman Empire to which the Swiss Confederation had once belonged. Zwingli spread the reformation ideas through the Swiss Confederation, and he did so through town hall debates which became common throughout settlements deciding whether to support Lutheranism or Catholicism. These meetings usually favored the reformers. Zwingli looked for the state to supervise the church, which he felt to be important. He also was extreme in that he banned all relics and images and whitewashed church walls; as well as remove music from services. In 1531 war began between the Swiss Protestant and Catholic cantons. The Swiss were defeated and Zwingli killed. Zwingli had been unable to secure an alliance with the German Lutheran states due to a disagreement between him and Martin Luther. Zwingli felt that communion was a ceremony where Luther felt it was to be taken more literally. |
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What is the Anabaptist Reformatiom and what is their perspective on Christianity?
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| Although the views of Anabaptists varied, The most distinctive belief that they held was that the church should remain separate from the state. This combined with the way they ran their communities was seen as fairly radical. They based their church services only upon what was described of early church communities in the New Testament and also kept their beliefs simple which were also very closely tied to scripture. In their communities everyone had equal say as they were all considered priests and they selected their ministers which were just about always men. They were found in places such as Germany, Switzerland, Austrian Habsburg lands, Poland, the Netherlands, and Moravia. Due to what was seen as their radical views both Protestants and Catholics were very hostile towards them. |
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What about Martin Luther's Ninety-Five These?
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| Martin Luther's theses presented a new view on the validity of indulgences. Written in 1517, Luther spoke out agaisnt clerical abuses that were happening amoung those with power in the chruch. Luther focused mainly and commented on the church heads selling indulgences and taking advantage of others by doing so. |
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| The Cathlics response to the reformation is known as the counter-reformation. 1545 to 1563: Council of Trent issued decrees to lessen abuses and reaffirm traditions. |
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| Decided what were Protestant heresies and gave specific orders regarding Church teachings in the areas of Scripture and Tradition. |
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| Wrote about the Christian doctrine and life and was second only to Luther in the Reformation. "Salvation came by faith in God's grace" |
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| Zwingli was the leader of the fledgling reformation in Zurich. He preached on biblical sermons. Zwingli was against what the Bible did not specifically allow. Wanted a return to the Apostolic Church. |
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Luther Fuels the Rebellion
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| Luthers 95 Theses acted as a support that helped rally the revolters. He became somewhat of a leader as he questioned church rules, doctrines, and old religious traditions. |
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Probelms in England that Fueled the Reformation?
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| England was having politcal problems as well at the time which greased the wheals for a revolt. Under Henry VIII reighn, the Church of England seperated from rome |
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| A scottish cleargyman known as a leader in the Protestant Reformation. He sought to reform the scottish church but was sent to exile in 1547. Especially interested in the murder of Cardinal Beaton. |
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