AP European History - The Protestant Reformation and Wars of Religion

Importance

• Understanding this unit is crucial for a high grade and a strong performance on the AP exam.

Background

• 1054 Split: First major split in the Christian Church, resulting in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.
• Dominance of the Catholic Church: Dominated Western Europe; limited options for religious practice.

Corruption in the Catholic Church by the 1500s

1. Simony: Buying and selling of church offices.
2. Nepotism: Appointing family and friends to church offices.
3. Indulgences: Buying and selling of forgiveness/salvation.

Martin Luther's Role

• Key Ideas: Salvation by grace alone through faith, the authority of scriptures over the Pope, priesthood of all believers.
• 95 Theses (1517): Criticism of church corruption, spread rapidly due to the printing press.
• Diet of Worms: Luther was declared a heretic, refused to recant, and was excommunicated.

Spread and Impact

• Supported by German princes for political power.
• Printing Press: Enabled widespread distribution of Reformation ideas.
• Vernacular Bible: Increased accessibility and understanding of scriptures, supported reformation ideas.

John Calvin

• Predestination: God pre-decides salvation.
• The Elect: Saved individuals who naturally perform good works.
• Calvin's Geneva: Theocratic government, strict laws on morality and church attendance.
• Impact: Influenced Presbyterian, Huguenot, and Puritan traditions.

Anabaptists and Other Movements

• Differences: Adult baptism, separation of church and state, pacifism.

Wars of Religion

• France: Huguenot conflict, Massacre of Vassy, and St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.
• War of the Three Henrys: Power struggle among Henry III, Henry of Navarre, and Henry of Guise. Led to Henry IV's rule and the Edict of Nantes.
• Holy Roman Empire: 30 Years War, initiated by defenestration of Prague, ended with the Peace of Westphalia.

Catholic Reformation (Counter-Reformation)

• Council of Trent: Reaffirmed Catholic doctrines, suppressed corrupt practices like simony.
• New Orders: Jesuits founded by Ignatius of Loyola, significant missionary work.

Social Hierarchy and Gender

• Class: Merchant elite rise, some upward mobility.
• Religion: Significantly influenced social standing.
• Gender: Patriarchal society, limited roles for women.

The Witchcraft Craze

• Beliefs: Witchcraft seen as a pact with the devil, targeted women, especially prevalent in the Holy Roman Empire.

Art

• Mannerism: Distorted figures and vibrant colors to convey emotion.
• Baroque: Extravagant, detailed, dramatic style, notably used by Peter Paul Rubens.