DESCRIPTION
Between 1520 and 1540, a religious revolution began in Europe which led to the break with the Catholic Church.
Discusses the causes, events, and results of the Protestant Reformation, including political and social
background, Martin Luther and his 95 Theses, the practice of selling indulgences, the Diet of Worms, and the
growth of the Reformation in Europe, England, and within the Church itself.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
Subject Area: World History
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Standard: Understands how European society experienced political, economic, and cultural
transformations at an age of global intercommunication between 1450 and 1750
§ Benchmark: Understands origins of the Reformation and Catholic Reformation (e.g., why many
Europeans were unhappy with the late medieval Catholic Church, and how the beliefs and ideas of
leading Protestant reformers reflected this discontent; what the Catholic Reformation sought to
achieve, and the effect of religious reforms and divisions on Europeans; the patterns of religious
affiliation in Europe in the early 17th century and factors that led some populations to embrace the
Protestant Reformation while others rejected it) (See Instructional Goals #1, #2, #3, and #4)
INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS
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To discuss events in the 14th and 15th centuries that led to the Protestant Reformation.
To become familiar with Martin Luther, John Calvin and others involved in the Reformation.
To explore the impact of the Reformation on the total of Western Europe.
To examine the response of the Roman Catholic Church to the Protestant Reformation.
VOCABULARY
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Protestant Reformation
Diet of Worms
Roman Catholic
religion
indulgences
Council of Trent
banished
Ninety-Five Theses
denomination
papal/papacy
corruption
monk
infallibility
absolved
predestination
monasteries
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BEFORE SHOWING
1. Preview the video to determine unfamiliar vocabulary and language concepts.
2. Introduce the setting for the Protestant Reformation.
a. many wars, a famine, and the Black Plague
b. The Roman Catholic Church was becoming corrupt and the people were dissatisfied
3. Explain that the video will discuss the different denominations that came from the split from the Roman
Catholic Church. Identify them.
4. Describe and emphasize the influence that the Catholic Church had in this time period.
5. Clarify that this video will deal with religion as historical fact without theological bias.
DURING SHOWING
1. View the video more than once, with one showing uninterrupted.
2. Pause at the screen “Events Leading up to Reformation 1300-1500.” Review and discuss the order of
events.
3. Pause at the screen “Martin Luther.” Review important events. Refer to the timeline (see
INSTRUCTIONAL GRAPHICS.)
4. Pause at the screen “Indulgences.” Review the term for clarification.
5. Pause at the screen “The Growth of the Reformation Movement.”
a. Review Martin Luther’s life and his impact on the Reformation.
b. Remind viewers that as a result of Martin Luther’s defiance, the Reformation swept through Europe,
starting in Switzerland and Germany.
6. Pause at the screen “The Protestant Reformation in England.”
a. Review events; refer to the timeline. (See INSTRUCTIONAL GRAPHICS.)
b. Distinguish between the Reformation in England and in Ge rmany and Switzerland.
7. Pause at the screen “The Catholic Reformation.”
a. Review the movements in England, Germany and Switzerland.
b. Explain the difference between the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Reformation.
AFTER SHOWING
Discussion Items and Questions
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What could happen to people who criticized the Roman Catholic Church?
Explain the word heresy. Why is that an important concept when discussing the Protestant Reformation?
Discuss the notion of infallibility of the Pope.
Indulgences were very popular in the Roman Catholic Church at this time.
a. At first people obtained indulgences through what method?
b. How did the practice of indulgences change?
5. Briefly summarize what led Martin Luther to post his Ninety-Five Theses.
6. What other things about the Roman Catholic Church did Martin Luther criticize?
7. The Diet of Worms was an important event in the Protestant Reformation.
a. Explain its purpose.
b. Describe the outcome of the deliberations.
c. Describe what happened to Luther after the Diet.
(1) What significant event took place?
(2) Why it was significant?
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8. A result of the Diet of Worms was the Edict of Worms.
a. What is an edict?
b. What was the majority of the population’s reaction to this proclamation?
9. What role did personal economic gain, especially on the part of local nobles, play in the spread of
Lutheranism in Germany?
10. How did Lutheranism differ from the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church? (See INSTRUCTIONAL
GRAPHICS.)
11. As Lutheranism spread across Germany, what transpired politically?
a. within the nobility?
b. within the peasantry?
12. Compare and contrast the 5th-century separation of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the 16th-century
Protestant Reformation.
13. What characterized the Reformation in England?
14. How was the Reformation in England different than what transpired in Switzerland and Germany?
15. The Council of Trent was a very important 18-year meeting.
a. Why was it held?
b. What were the outcomes?
16. Distinguish between the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Reformation.
Applications and Activities
1. Research Martin Luther and John Calvin’s lives. Determine their other significant contributions to the
Enlightenment of Europe.
2. Role-play the Diet of Worms or the Council of Trent.
a. Research the main events of the Diet, and the arguments for both sides. (See RELATED
RESOURCES.)
b. Prepare scripts for participants that include all of the main points of the meeting.
c. Represent the following: Martin Luther, a mediator, those against Luther, and a small group of
supporters.
3. Research the impact that Calvinism had on the English settling of North America.
a. What events, such as the Salem witch trials, could be a direct reflection of Calvin’s teachings?
b. How has Calvinism shaped American society?
4. Hypothesize what impact, if any, the decrees of the Council of Trent could have had on present-day
events, such as the Catholic/Protestant upheaval in Northern Ireland.
5. Compare and contrast the different theologies presented in this video. (See INSTRUCTIONAL
GRAPHICS.)
6. Use the timeline (see INSTRUCTIONAL GRAPHICS) to include other world events at the time of the
Protestant Reformation.
7. How did the birth of the concept of “Freedom of Religion” impact the issues that surrounded the
Protestant Reformation?
8. People often resort to violence in the name of religion.
a. Discuss how and why this happens.
b. Discuss specific events where this has happened, including the Crusades, Bosnia, and Northern
Ireland.
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INSTRUCTIONAL GRAPHICS
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PROTESTANT REFORMATION TIMELINE
ONE MOVEMENT; MANY BELIEFS
RELATED RESOURCES
Captioned Media Program
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Christianity: The Way of Goodness and Mercy #8057
Faith and Belief: Five Major World Religions #8078
Roman Catholic Church, The: The Vatican and Italy #8179
Western Europe: Our Legacy #3317
World Wide Web
The following Web sites complement the contents of this guide; they were selected by professionals who have
experience in teaching deaf and hard of hearing students. Every effort was made to select accurate, educationally
relevant, and “kid-safe” sites. However, teachers should preview them before use. The U.S. Department of
Education, the National Association of the Deaf, and the Captioned Media Program do not endorse the sites and
are not responsible for their content.
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TIMELINE OF THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION http://www.umr.org/HTtimlin.htm
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A short timeline of the Reformation. Good for reference.
REFORMATION AND COUNTER REFORMATION
http://www.omnibusol.com/medieval.html#struggle
Many links to textual information regarding different aspects of the Reformation. Includes a copy of
Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses.
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INTERNET MODERN HISTORY SOURCEBOOK: REFORMATION EUROPE
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook02.html
Information and letters written by various people involved in the Reformation. Links to other
Reformation text, including the Council of Trent.
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