AP European History: Protestant Reformation and Wars of Religion

Importance of Unit Two

• Crucial for excelling in the class and achieving high scores on exams
• Focus on Protestant Reformation and subsequent Wars of Religion

Historical Background

• 1054 Schism:
  • Split into Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches
  • Roman Catholic Church dominated Western Europe
• By the 1500s:
  • Catholic Church entangled in politics and corruption
• Key corruptions:
  • Simony: Buying/selling of church offices
  • Nepotism: Appointing family/friends to church offices
  • Indulgences: Buying salvation, sparked by need for funds (e.g. St. Peter’s Basilica)

Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation

• Luther's key beliefs:
  • Salvation by grace through faith (not by good works)
  • Scriptures as sole authority for Christians
  • Priesthood of all believers
• 95 Theses (October 31, 1517):
  • Criticized church corruption
  • Spread rapidly via the printing press
• Luther's trial and excommunication
  • Refusal to recant at the Diet of Worms
  • Protected by Prince Frederick III
• Impact:
  • Weakened power of the Pope
  • Supported by German princes for political gains

Other Key Reformers

• John Calvin:
  • Doctrine of predestination and the elect
  • Calvin's Geneva: Theocracy, strict rules
• Anabaptists:
  • Adult baptism only
  • Pacifism and separation of church/state

Religious Conflicts and Wars

• France:
  • French Wars of Religion
  • St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre
  • Edict of Nantes (1598) by Henry IV
• Holy Roman Empire:
  • 30 Years’ War (1618-1648)
  • Peace of Augsburg (1555) allowed rulers to choose religion for their states
  • Four phases of the war
  • Ended with the Peace of Westphalia (1648)

Catholic Reformation (Counter-Reformation)

• Response to Protestant Reformation:
  • Council of Trent: Reaffirmation of Catholic doctrines
  • Reforms: Suppressed simony, forbade sale of indulgences
  • New religious orders: Jesuits, Carmelite order

Social and Cultural Context

• Social Hierarchy:
  • Changes with rise of merchant class
  • Patriarchal society
• Gender roles and debates:
  • Debate over women’s education (Querelle des Femmes)
  • Protestant and Catholic views on women's roles

Witchcraft and Folk Beliefs

• Witchcraft craze (16th-17th centuries)
  • Executions largely of women
  • Scapegoating during social upheaval

Art and Architecture

• Mannerism:
  • Distorted figures, vibrant colors (e.g., Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment)
• Baroque:
  • Ornate, detailed style (e.g., Peter Paul Rubens)
  • Originated with Catholic Reformation to inspire faith
  • Critique of Protestant art styles

Additional Resources

• For more comprehensive guides and resources, consider exploring additional review packets and materials for deeper understanding.