Transcript WE Reformation

Western Europe
The Reformation
What was the Reformation?
• Religious revolution that split the
Christian church
• Movement to change church
practices
When and Where did it begin?
 It began in 1517 AD
 Western Europe – began in Germany
Why did it happen?
• Some people were not happy with the
Roman Catholic Church – protested
against its beliefs
• Protested events at an assembly that
ended the church’s (Catholic church)
tolerance for their beliefs
 Became know as Protestants
Who were the important people of
the Reformation?
• Martin Luther
• German monk
• Did not like the selling of indulgences and spoke
out against it
– Indulgence = buying paper that represents forgiveness
from God
• Luther wrote his 95 theses, or statements of belief, in
refute to the sale of indulgences
• He nailed them to the doors of the Wittenburg Church
• Copies were printed and passed out throughout Europe
• Martin Luther was excommunicated (kicked out) of
the Church and went into hiding
• Excommunicated because he protested against the Catholic
Church – also, because he wrote the 95 Theses.
• He translated the Bible from Latin into German
 Latin was primarily only used by priests. So translating the
Bible in German allowed the common person to read it.
 People began to challenge the practices of the Catholic
Church
• Luther created his own church = The Lutheran Church
• Henry VIII
• English King
• Formed the Church of
England in 1531
 Pope refused to give
him a divorce from his
first wife Catherine
How did the Reformation impact
Europe?
• There were many new churches
• Renewed interest in education, especially
reading
• Increase in king’s power = Decrease in the
pope’s power