The Reformation
The European World
Focus Questions
What
is reform?
How would you reform the organization of
decision making at the H.F. High School?
Causes of the Reformation
1500
- Renaissance emphasis
on the secular and the
individual challenged Church
authority
Causes of the Reformation
1500
- Renaissance emphasis
on the secular and the
individual challenged Church
authority
printing press spread secular
ideas
Causes of the Reformation
1500
- Renaissance emphasis
on the secular and the
individual challenged Church
authority
printing press spread secular
ideas
German rulers resented the
Popes’ attempts to control
them
it
was difficult for the Pope or
Holy Roman Emperor to impose
central authority
Causes of the Reformation
1500
- Renaissance emphasis
on the secular and the
individual challenged Church
authority
printing press spread secular
ideas
German rulers resented the
Popes’ attempts to control
them
it
was difficult for the Pope or
Holy Roman Emperor to impose
central authority
northern
merchants resented
paying Church taxes to Rome
Martin Luther
 became
a monk in 1505
Martin Luther
 became a monk in 1505
 from 1512 until his death
he taught scripture at the
University of Wittenberg
in the German state of
Saxony
Martin Luther
 became a monk in 1505
 from 1512 until his death
he taught scripture at the
University of Wittenberg
in the German state of
Saxony
 wanted to be a good
Christian, not to lead a
religious revolution
Martin Luther
 became a monk in 1505
 from 1512 until his death
he taught scripture at the
University of Wittenberg
in the German state of
Saxony
 wanted to be a good
Christian, not to lead a
religious revolution
 1517 - decided to take a
public stand against the
actions of a friar named
Johann Tetzel
Indulgences
a
pardon which released a sinner from performing any
penalty a priest might impose for sins
a
“get out of Hell free” card
Johann Tetzel
a
German Dominican friar
Johann Tetzel
a
German Dominican friar
 raising money to rebuild
St. Peter’s Cathedral in
Rome by selling
indulgences
Johann Tetzel
a
German Dominican friar
 raising money to rebuild
St. Peter’s Cathedral in
Rome by selling
indulgences
 gave people the impression
that buying indulgences
could buy one’s way into
heaven
The 95 Thesis
 October
 Luther
31, 1517
posted his theses
(arguments) on the door of
the castle church in
Wittenberg
 invited other scholars to
debate him
The 95 Thesis
 October
 Luther
31, 1517
posted his theses
(arguments) on the door of
the castle church in
Wittenberg
 invited other scholars to
debate him
 someone
copied Luther’s
words and took them to a
printer
The 95 Thesis
 October
 Luther
31, 1517
posted his theses
(arguments) on the door of
the castle church in
Wittenberg
 invited other scholars to
debate him
 someone
copied Luther’s
words and took them to a
printer
 quickly, Luther’s name
became known all over
Germany
Luther’s Three Main Ideas
1.

people could win salvation only
by faith in God’s gift of
forgiveness
the Church taught that faith and
“good works” were needed for
salvation
Luther’s Three Main Ideas
1.

people could win salvation only
by faith in God’s gift of
forgiveness
the Church taught that faith and
“good works” were needed for
salvation
2. all Church teachings should be

clearly based on the words of
the Bible
the pope and church traditions
were false authorities
Luther’s Three Main Ideas
1.

people could win salvation only
by faith in God’s gift of
forgiveness
the Church taught that faith and
“good works” were needed for
salvation
2. all Church teachings should be

clearly based on the words of
the Bible
the pope and church traditions
were false authorities
3. all people with faith were

equal
therefore, people did not need
priests to interpret the Bible
for them