Topic 10: Reformation
Objectives:
Knowledge
1. To understand the relationship between Reformation and Renaissance
2. To know the differences between Protestantism and Catholicism
3. To understand the relationship between 16th-century Reformation and
formation of nations
Skills
1. To read and comprehend sources;
2. To categorize sources;
3. To analyse sources;
4. To arrange historical events in chronological order.
Attitude:
To develop respect and tolerance for different religions
Teaching Flow
Items
Format
Teaching Objectives
Content
1
Question to
ponder
Questioning
To let students have a clear
learning focus
What are the
relationships between
Reformation and
Renaissance?
2
To know
more(1)
Concept
map
To let students know about Background, course and
the basic information of the impact of the Reformation
Reformation
3
Task 1
Data-based
questions
To let students understand
the background of
Reformation
Origins of indulgences
4
To know
more(2)
Introduction
To let students know
Martin Luther, the
advocator of the
Reformation
Emergence of the
Reformation
5
Task 2
Data-based
questions
To let students understand
the peasants’ reactions
during the Reformation
Peasants’ War
6
Task 3
Data-based
questions;
Group
discussion
To enable students to
understand the relationship
between Reformation and
the Renaissance
How the Reformation and
the Renaissance affected
each other
7
Conclusion
Summary
chart
Consolidation of main
points
Review the history of the
Reformation and the
relationship between
Renaissance and the
formation of nations
1
Question to ponder
What are the relationships between the
Reformation and Renaissance?
To know more (1)
Corruption of Church
Martin Luther
Zwingli
Calvin
Chief
Advocators
Background
Reformation
Protestantism split out
from Catholicism
It led to wars between
some European countries
2
Impact
Prestige of Catholic
Church was tarnished
Separation of Church and
Politics in European
countries sped up
It facilitated the
Renaissance
Course
Spread of Printing
Conflict of Power
between Kings and
Church
Liberation of
Knowledge due to
Renaissance
1517: Martin Luther challenged the Church
1521: The Church denounced Martin Luther as
dissident
The movement became popular
Formation of new religious sects, e.g. Lutheran
Church, Anglicanism
1533: English King Henry VIII made English
split from Roman Catholic Church
Task 1: The Origins of indulgences
Source A
The text below is a description about indulgences.
The Protestant revolt was sparked by the sale of indulgences, that is, the forgiveness of
sin in return for donation. The Church had long accepted that sinners had to do penance,
as a result of which sins might be forgiven. Payments of money for an indulgence were a
variation of this practice.
Topic10
The Reformation
1. According to Source A, what are indulgences?
Suggested answer:
Indulgences refer to the Church forgiving people’s sins in return for people’s donation
to the Church.
2. Was the function of indulgences in compliance with the spirit of the Church? Explain
your answer with reference to Source A.
Suggested answer:
No, it was not. Source A points out that the Church had long accepted that sinners had
to do penance, as a result of which sins might be forgiven. Therefore, payments of
money for an indulgence were a variation of this idea.
3. Would you pay money for an indulgence? Explain your answer.
Free answer with reasonable explanation.
To know more (2)
Martin Luther was against the Roman Catholic Church.
The Reformation gave rise to the Protestants, as opposed
to the Roman Catholic Church. Both Protestants and
Roman Catholics are Christians. The Protestants reacted
against the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. They
believed that the individual could reach salvation without
the intervention of the church, but they also believed that
individual faith was needed in order for a person to reach
salvation.

The spread of Luther’s doctrines, and the writings of
other Protestant leaders, was helped by the invention
of the printing press.

Once the doctrines against the Roman Catholic
Church spread, they were seized upon by common
people in the countryside (peasants) as excuses for
attacking the monasteries and local lords.

The English Reformation had to do with the English
king’s politics both in England and in relation to
Europe. By becoming the head of the church, the
English king ceased to recognise the Pope’s
authority over England. He also proceeded to
dissolve the monasteries, a move which broke the
power of the Roman Catholic Church in England
2
Martin Luther (a German priest)
Source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:
Luther46c.jpg
Task 2: Peasants’ War
Source B
Peasants plundering a monastery in the Peasants’ War, 1524-1525:
4
Source: Roland H. Bainton, Here I Stand, A Life of Martin Luther, Abingdon Press, 201 Eighth Avenue
South, Nashville, Tennessee 37202, USA.
1. Select from Source B three clues showing the cloister is being attacked by peasants.
Suggested answer:
Clue 1
A person is lying on the ground, injured.
Clue 2
Two people are fighting each other with swords.
Clue 3
Some people attempt to damage the building of the cloister with
weapons.
2 Find out the reasons for the peasants’ attack on monasteries from internet or reference
books.
Suggested answer: Using the doctrines against the Roman Catholic Church as an
excuse, the peasants attacked monasteries. They asked for revival of their traditional
rights, reduction in burden and freedom from oppression by nobles and landlords.
3. Some people say, “Martin Luther’s actions brought about great contributions to
society at the time.” Do you agree with this statement? Why?
Free answers, with reasonable explanations.
Topic10
The Reformation
Task 3: How did the Reformation and the Renaissance affect each other?
Study the two Sources below, and then answer the questions.
Source C
Leonardo da Vinci, The Last Supper (1495-1498)
Source:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/a/a5/Michelangelo%2C_Gludizio_
Universale_02.jpg
Source D
Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgement”, kept in the Sistine Chapel (1508-1522)
2
Source:http://upload.wikimedia.org/Wikipedia/a/a5/Michelangelo%2C_Giudizio_
Universale_02jpg
1. According to Sources C and D, what do you think are the similarities between the
subject matter of Da Vinci’s work and that of Michelangelo? Explain.
Suggested answer:
The subject matters are similar, both are related to Christianity.
Source C is “The Last Supper”, which depicts the scene of Jesus dinner with his
disciples the night before he was nailed to the cross.
Source D is “The Last Judgement”, which depicts the judgment that mankind has to face
at the end of time.
2. Group Discussion
Teaching Tips
Teacher leads the following discussion and briefly introduces the life of
Da Vinci and Michelangelo.
2
Discussion Questions:


Why did the famous artist at the time use Christianity as subject matter of their
works?
Suggested answer:
It is because at that time the Pope wanted the church buildings to be as majestic as
possible, and so they would employ artists to help in the building of the churches.
Therefore, the famous paintings during the Renaissance period often used
Christianity as their subject matter, and some famous paintings were church
wall-paintings. Therefore, the Renaissance and the Reformation are closely related.
In what ways are the Reformation and the Renaissance related?
Suggested answer:
The Pope wanted to build and repair churches and that required plenty of money. So
the Church sold indulgences in order to subsidize artists to help build the churches
and paint related topics. By promoting the Renaissance, this also gave rise to the
Reformation. Some of the artists during the Renaissance were at the same time
scientists, such as da Vinci. They brought about impact on the Church.
Conclusion
The Renaissance led to many consequences, one of which was the Reformation. The
Renaissance introduced not only new ideas, but also expensive church buildings which had to
be paid for by selling indulgences. The Reformation attacked the corruption of the Roman
Catholic Church and revolted against its authority. Ideas of the Reformation spread because
printing was available and the vernacular was becoming popular. Meanwhile, some new states,
such as England, seized upon the religious revolt to break free from the authority of the
Roman Catholic Church. Just as the Reformation was proceeding, a new era of history was
beginning with the discovery of new sea routes.
Summary Chart
Renaissance
Gave impetus to
development of Renaissance
7
The Church was in pursuit
of majestic church building
Protestantism vs.
Roman Catholicism
Corruption of the
Church
(Selling indulgences)
Reformation
King of England
severed the power
of the Catholic
Church in England.
Martin Luther
opposed Roman
Catholic Church