Crash Course European History: Religious Reform and Warfare

Introduction

• Speaker: John Green
• Topic: Spread of religious reform and state governance, with a focus on warfare.
• Reminder of the Peace of Augsburg (1555) aimed to settle religious divisions post-Protestant Reformation.

The Aftermath of the Peace of Augsburg

• Temporary Peace: The Peace of Augsburg brought short-term peace to the Holy Roman Empire but turmoil persisted across Europe.
• Monarchical Centralization: Monarchs began to centralize power to improve governance and fund military endeavors.
  • Need for finances for weapons, infrastructure (roads, harbors, ships).
  • Revenue from better tax collection, piracy, and global expansion.
• Territorial Expansion: Leaders like Ivan the Terrible (Russia) and Suleyman the Magnificent (Ottoman Empire) sought to expand their territories.
• Religious Unity: Monarchs aimed to unify their subjects religiously to maintain stability.

New Monarchs

• Definition: Monarchs who centralized power and expanded royal authority.
• Emergence of New Sects: Splintering of Protestantism created challenges for both religious and political structures.
  • Anabaptists and Quakers promoted radical equality and new ideas about direct connections to God.

Calvinism and Its Impact

• Jean Calvin: Key reformer who fled France after the Affair of the Placards (1534).
• Theocracy in Geneva: Calvin established a religious state with strict regulations on behavior, emphasizing predestination.
  • Imposed fines for actions deemed sinful (drunkenness, blasphemy, dancing, gambling).
• Calvinism's Spread: Calvinism expanded significantly, establishing communities throughout Europe.

Henry VIII and the Church of England

• Divorce and Power: Henry VIII used Protestantism to divorce Catherine of Aragon and establish the Church of England, increasing royal power.
• Political Maneuvering: Sold church lands to consolidate support.
• Religious Division: Despite centralization, England remained divided over religious practices.

Mary and Elizabeth: The Tudor Legacy

• Mary I: Sought to restore Catholicism and married Philip II of Spain; her reign ended with her death in 1558.
• Elizabeth I: Restored Protestantism and defeated the Spanish Armada, creating a moderate religious approach.
• Political Savvy: Both monarchs navigated the complexities of religion and governance, with Elizabeth successfully building the royal treasury.

Religious Conflicts in France

• Calvinism's Influence: Calvinism created divisions within the French crown and nobility, merging with political resistance.
• Iconoclasm: Iconoclasts destroyed religious images, leading to civil unrest and the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre (1572).
• Henry of Navarre: Survived the massacre, later converted to Catholicism, and issued the Edict of Nantes (1598) to allow Protestantism.

Conclusion

• Changing Dynamics: The religious reforms led to significant changes in spirituality, governance, and societal structures across Europe.
• Future Topics: Next lecture will explore non-political revolutions in commerce, agriculture, and urban development, alongside the impact of slavery.