L1. The
Reformation
THE HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION
You will learn to…
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Consider the historical
importance of religion
Evaluate the historical
importance of the
Reformation
Explain the role of one
reformer, Martin Luther
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KEY-WORDS
for this unit
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Clergy
Reformation
Indulgence
Theology
Salvation
Papal bull
Excommunication
Diet of worms
Diet of edict
Lutheran
Calvinist
Protestant
Theses
Christianity in Europe in 1500
Christianity in Europe in 1500
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In Catholic countries, the Pope in Rome was the head of the
Church, and Catholic cardinals and bishops had great power in
their countries
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Religion played a very important role in people’s lives.
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They believed that the church provided all the answers to life
and that it was only through the Catholic Church that salvation
(a place in heaven) could be achieved.
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BUT there were many problems with the Catholic Church and
this lead to the REFORMATION.
What caused the Reformation?
The Catholic Church was extremely wealthy and
The Renaissance had shown this wealth to
everyone
1. People resented this
wealth when they were
poor themselves
1. Princes saw this wealth
and wanted it for
themselves. It benefited
them to support the
Reformation for their
own political and
financial gain
3. The Printing Press
The Printing Press spread ideas around Europe
People could find out about new ideas about religion quicker than they had
previously done
4. The Abuses
What were the abuses of the Catholic
Church?
Abuses in the Catholic Church before the Reformation
1. Simony – Buying and selling of positions in the Church
2. Pluralism – Having more than one diocese/parish to take care of
3. Absenteeism – Being absent from one diocese/parish because you are in
another
4. Nepotism – Giving a job to someone just because they are your friend or
family member
5. Sale of Indulgences – Special prayers that would forgive sins and allow you
to get to heaven more quickly
Where did the Reformation begin?
What Was The Reformation?
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The Reformation began in Germany in the 16th century
as a protest against the abuses of the Catholic
Churches.
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It began as an attempt to improve the Catholic
Church.
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But less than 100 years later, most of the people in
Northern Europe were Protestants, who rejected the
pope and his teachings.
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The Reformation brought about this change.
Task: Answer the following questions
in your exercise book
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What was the Reformation?
Where and when did it begin?
List four causes of the Reformation
What was Nepotism?
What was Simony?
Why was the printing press significant in the
Reformation?