Martin Luther & 95 Theses
The city and country where Martin Luther famously nailed his list of complaints to the church door.
What is Wittenberg, Germany?
This secular technological invention allowed the 95 Theses to be copied and spread across Europe in just weeks.
What is the Printing Press?
The term used to describe the Catholic Church’s effort to fight back against the Reformation and reform itself.
What is the Counter Reformation?
The specific, personal reason King Henry VIII wanted to break away from the Catholic Church and the Pope's authority.
What is he wanted a divorce/annulment to get a male heir?
This major cultural element permanently fractured in Western Europe, dividing nations into rival Catholic and Protestant factions.
What is religion?
The primary religious/monastic occupation of Martin Luther before he started the Reformation.
What is a monk (or Catholic priest)?
Because the public wanted to read the Bible themselves, it had to be translated from Latin into these local, everyday languages.
What is the vernacular? (Accept specific examples like German or English).
The name of the major meeting where Catholic leaders gathered for years to redefine Church doctrines and address corruption.
What is the Council of Trent?
This law, passed by England's government, made the king the supreme head of the new Church of England.
What is the Act of Supremacy?
This adjective describes non-religious, worldly thoughts and political powers, such as the power held by kings instead of the Pope.
What is secular?
The controversial pieces of paper sold by the Catholic Church that promised to forgive a person's sins in exchange for money.
What are Indulgences?
This group of poor laborers in Germany revolted against their landlords in 1524, inspired by Luther’s ideas about spiritual equality.
Who are the peasants? (The Peasants' War).
This aggressive Church court was used to put religious "heretics" on trial and punish those who converted to Protestantism.
What is the Inquisition?
The name of the new Protestant church that Henry VIII established as the official state religion of England.
What is the Anglican Church? (Or Church of England).
This type of dramatic historical event permanently changes the world, leaving a lasting global impact on future generations.
What is a turning point?
According to the 95 Theses, Luther argued that this text, not the Pope, was the ultimate authority on Christian faith.
What is the Bible (or Scripture)?
These secular political rulers in Germany eagerly protected Luther because they wanted to stop paying taxes to the Pope in Rome and also be the ultimate authority in their land.
Who are the German Kings and/or Queens (Royalty)?
The name of the religious order founded by Ignatius of Loyola to act as "soldiers for the Pope" and spread Catholicism globally.
Who are the Jesuits? (Society of Jesus).
Henry VIII demonstrated secular greed by shutting down these Catholic institutions across England and stealing their land and wealth.
What are monasteries? (Or convents/Catholic churches).
Contrast the appearance of a traditional Catholic church with a new Protestant church during this era.
What is Catholic churches were highly decorated/grand (statues, gold), while Protestant churches were plain/simple?
The specific year Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door, marking the official start of the Protestant Reformation.
What is 1517?
The name given to the broad group of Christians who "protested" the Catholic Church and broke away to form their own churches.
Who are Protestants?
At the Diet of Worms, the Catholic Church took this official action against Martin Luther, completely cutting him off from the Church.
What is excommunication? (Make him an outlaw).
The name of Henry VIII’s first wife, whom the Pope refused to let him divorce, sparking the English Reformation.
Who is Catherine of Aragon?
Explain how the Reformation fundamentally shifted government power away from the Pope and toward European monarchs.
What is it took away the Pope's political control over laws and taxes, making kings the absolute rulers of their own countries?