Unit: Renewal in Europe
Lesson Title:
The Protestant Reformation
(See textbook pages 328-333)
At the beginning of the Renaissance, almost all people in
western Europe were Roman Catholic. This would
change greatly in the later Renaissance.
A movement called the “Protestant Reformation” led to
the start of many new Christian churches that broke
away from the Catholic Church.
Do you think the ideas of the Renaissance
helped bring about this change? Which ones?
By the early 1500s Renaissance ideas (like Humanism
and science) had caused many Europeans to view their
lives with a more critical eye.
?
Some people began to complain about problems in
the Catholic Church. They called on church leaders to
end corruption and focus better on faith and religion.
Can you think of ways the Catholic Church
could have become corrupt?
Reformers arose who wanted to change and
improve the Catholic Church.
The reformers criticized the behavior of priests, bishops
and popes, and Church practices.
In class reading activity
Read “The Catholic Church Faces Challengers”
on pages 328-329.
Answer these questions:
1. List 4 major criticisms people had of the Catholic
Church and/or its leaders.
2. Why did some people criticize the selling of
indulgences?
3. Who was Erasmus and why do you think he was
important for Church reform?
One of the most important reformers was a priest
named Martin Luther.
In 1571, Luther nailed a list of complaints about the
Catholic Church to the door of a church in
Wittenberg, Germany.
Luther’s lists of complaints is called the
Ninety-five Theses.
The newly invented printing press spread copies of
the Ninety-five Theses throughout Germany.
The Ninety-five Theses criticized the Catholic
Church and many of its practices. They also
outlined Luther’s own religious beliefs.
One of his beliefs was that people didn’t need to do
charity work or give money to the Church to get to
heaven. They needed to believe in God and live by
the Bible for their souls to be saved.
How do you think Church leaders reacted to this?
Art Analysis
Examine the handout of the woodcut by Matthias
Gerung depicting the sale of indulgences. Answer
these questions:
1. List 4 characters portrayed in the bottom portion of
the woodcut. Why do you think Gerung included
all of these figures?
2. What is happening in the top scene? How does it
contrast with the bottom? Why does Gerung make
this contrast?
3. Why do you think Gerung would have used art to
express his opinion of the Catholic Church?
In class reading activity #2
Read “A Break from the Church” and
“Luther’s Teachings” on pages 330-331.
Answer these questions:
1. How did the pope handle Luther’s actions against the
Church?
2. How did the Holy Roman Emperor react?
3. What was the outcome of the argument between
Luther and the Catholic Church?
4. How was Luther’s teaching different from that of the
Catholic Church?
The work of Erasmus and actions by Martin Luther
encouraged religious reformers in other places in Europe.
William Tyndale
John Calvin
Henry VIII
In class reading activity #3
Read “Other Reformers” pages 332-333.
Copy and complete this table:
William
Tyndale
His country
What he
argued or did
What
happened to
him
John Calvin
Henry VIII
The problems with the Catholic Church and its
response to reformers resulted in the creation of
several Christian churches in Europe in the 1500s.
Right Side Notebook Activity
Martin Luther started out by trying to improve the
Catholic Church. His actions and writings changed
Christianity forever—and also had great impact on life
in Europe.
Write and illustrate an acrostic poem about Martin Luther
that describes who he was and his impact. (see 330-331)
L …….
U …….
T …….
H ……
E …….
R …….