AP
Est. 1300
Get Wrecked for European History
Changes Caused by Reformation
The Catholic Reformation helped to revive the Roman Catholic Church but also cemented the divisions in Christianity. The Jesuit Order played one of the most important roles in the revival of the Catholic Church by helping spread its teachings farther than Europe. The Jesuits built missionaries in the New World and Japan, successfully converting many locals. Their goal was to teach obediency to the papacy and turn people into soilders of Christ. The Council of Trent helped with a spiritual rivival of the Church. They validated the seven sacraments, transubstantiation, and the Scriptures. They also destroyed matters that caused people to question their faith such as pluralism and the selling of indulgences.
The Roman Inquisition helped to cement the divide in Christianity by prosecuting those who practised Protestantism, those who practised the Old Covenant Laws, and heretics. The Index of Prohibited Books was implemented by Pope Pius VII and banned books that the catholic Church deemed 'dangerous to ones faith or morals'. Such books that were banned were books that went against the Catholic agenda, those containing scientific theories, or books containing sexual content. The roles the Roman Inquistion and The Index of Prohibited Books played in the Catholic Reformation was a strong one. It successfully got rid of any people or works that did not agree with the Catholic Church's teachings.
Source - The West of the World by McGraw-Hill, A History of Western Society by McKay
Sir Thomas More wrote a book titled Utopia and published it in 1516. This book was a wonderful example of English Humanism of the time and portrayed More's most prominent ideas for religious reform.
Erasmus wrote many satires that criticised the Catholic Church, such as A Praise of Folly. He also wrote normal papers that talked about the church members not practising celibacy and reducing religious cerimonies to mere habits.
Source- history.hanover,edu, historytoday.com
Change in State Control Due to Religious Reform
Henry VIII created a religious reform in England during the 1530s and established the Church of England. The main reason for this change was so he could divorce his first wife and marry another, and the Roman Catholic pope refused to allow his divorce. But along with making the Angelican Church, he appointed himself pope and took back all land that was previously owned by the Catholic Pope. Don't worry though, once Elizabeth I gained the throne of England, she immediately started working to change the country back to Catholicism. But really, how full of yourself do you have to be to create an entirely new church just so you can divorce someone! Like? Really?? And then he declares himself head of it??
Source- A History of Western Society by McKay
Nearly all of Martin Luther's critisicms of the Catholic Church can be found in his 95 Theses. Luther criticises the selling of indulgences mostly, he believed that the selling of indulgences was just a way for the Church to gain more money for the building of St. Peter. He asked why the Church would take money from the poor instead of using the surpluss of money they already have to build it themselves. His criticisms helped to create the first division of the Catholic Church and protesstantism to form.
John Calvin's biggest contribution to the Reformation was creating a branch of Christiantiy that focused on people's place in the universe instead of individual salvation, this branch was called Calvinism. This establishment of new religion was caused by John Calvin not agreeing with many of the Catholic Church's teachings, therefore spreading hhis ideas in Geneva, Switzerland. Then spreading to other countries.
Anabaptists did not seem to have many criticisms of the Catholic Church, except for not baptizing children, and waiting for a person to confess their faith to baptize them. People in the religion differred greatly from one another, some believed they should be pacifists yet others strictly ounished those not completely adhering to their doctrine.
Source- history.com, The West of the World by McGraw-Hill
John Calvin and the anabaptists had quite similar views regarding the church's subordination the the state. Both parties believed that the church should be more in charge than the governmnet. They believed that the government's job was to represent the heavans and rule under God. But, the anabaptists believed that those put into positions of power had been put there by God and that even desicions made by the government were overseen by God.
Source- http://thirdmill.org/newfiles/jac_arnold/ch.arnold.rmt.10.html
The Huguenots became a basis for challenging the monarch's control of religious institutions. This is because the Huguenots were protestants in France, a country that was strictly Catholic for a very long time. The French monarchy and government continually tried to rid themselves of these protestants by killing them. And many French Catholics saw the Huguenots as heretics because that is what they were taught by the church. But you know, they didn't really agree with that and pretty much argued, "mm maybe you should just let me do my thing? I'm not hurting anyone just let me be me?" and the monarchy was just all "that's your fault boo" and then so much tension! Violence and intense hatred between Catholics and Huguenots!
Source- The West in the World by McGraw-Hill
Conflicts Amongst Religious Groups
Four of the Hapsburg rulers had tried to restore Catholic unity across Europe, but maibly failed. Charles IV attempted this first by issuing bills that allowed gave people some independance from the royal family, and the ability to practise their religion in peace. Phillip II remade the church so that the aristocracy was weakened by it. But protestants rioted and broke or stole church artifacts, this caused Phillip II to force everyone under Catholic rule again. Phillip III simply expelled all non Catholics from the country in an effort to unify. The idea was that with only one religion in a land, the people will unite. And at last, Phillip IV expelled Jews from France and surpressed the Knight's Templar.
Source- The West in the World by McGraw-Hill
The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, War of Three Henries, Henry IV, and Catherine de' Medici all worsened the conflicts between the monarchy and nobility during the French Wars of Religion.
The St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre was an event that took place five days after the marriage between Margaret, the French king's sister, and Henry III of Navarre. A groups of Catholics had committed a group assasination againast the Huguenots and lasted several weeks. many believe it was an acting out against the monarchy and not over religious matters.
Catherine de' Medici is often blamed for starting the French Wars of Religion and even for setting up the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. But we know that Catherine was born in Italy, which was obviously something French people disliked about her. But once her husband dies while jousting, she became ruler and many people were upset of this foreigner ruling their country.
The War of the Three Henries was the final battle in the French Wars of Religion. It was a battle between Henry III of France, Henry III of Navarre, and Henry of Lorraine. The war lasted for several years, but ended in the reunification of France religiously, and Henry IV converting to Catholicism.
Henry IV
Source- historylearningsite.co.uk, The West of the World by McGraw-Hill
So, as we've seen a lot in history before, people use the excuse of religion to gain what they want. In the case of Spain at the time, Isabella and Ferdinand used Catholicism to unite Spain under their rule. And in England with Queen Elizabeth I? She ruled a protestant land but gave her people more freedom to worship. A lot of people liked her better than previous rulers who were like, "man worship my way or die".
Source- The West in the World by Sherman
The Edict of Nantes was signed in 1598 by Henry IV of France. This document not only ended the Wars of Religion, but also helped the Huguenots or French Protestants. Before the signing, France was majorly a Catholic land. Due to the Edict of Nantes granting French Protestants the right to practice their own religion without fear of punishment, religious pluralism finally found it's way into France as Catholics and Protestants were allowed to worship. Since the Huguenots were no longer under fear of prosecution, domestic peace was achieved for some time. That is, until Louis XIV revoked the edict and religious conflict started up again. Get reckd Louis, this all on you. SHoulda left it as is.
Source: The West of the World by McGraw-Hill