Unit 3- The Reformation and Age of Religious Wars
An earthly kingdom cannot exist without inequality of persons. Some must be free, some serfs, some rulers, some subjects.~ Martin Luther
The three great elements of modern civilization, Gun powder, Printing, and the Protestant religion. Thomas Carlye
After reading the Reformation section you should understand:
The social and religious origins of the Reformation.
Martin Luther’s role in the German Reformation.
The course of the Reformation in Switzerland, France, and England.
The Catholic Counter-Reformation’s achievements.
The social impact of the Reformation in western and central Europe
In the long term we can hope that religion will change the nature of man and reduce conflict. But history is not encouraging in this respect. The bloodiest wars in history have been religious wars. Richard Nixon
After reading the Age of Religious Wars section you should understand:
The French wars of religion between Catholics and Calvinists.
Spanish struggle against Dutch independence in the Netherlands.
The struggle between Catholic Spain and Protestant England.
The course of the Thirty Years’ War and the devastation of central Europe.
Textbook Reading Sections
Reformation p. 76-99
Primary Readings – The Reformation
A Saint at Peace in the Grasp of Temptation (image) p 79
Can Anyone Understand the Word of God? p. 83
Erasmus- On the Freedom of the Will
Martin Luther, The Bondage of the Will
Secondary Readings
Pictures, Preachers and Songs p. 85
Outside Primary Readings
Zwingli Lists the Errors of the Roman Church
Ignatius of Loyola Rules for Thinking With The Church
Useful Reformation Links
Textbook Reading Sections
Age of Religious Wars p. 105-13
Primary – Age of Religious Wars
The Great Debate over Religious Tolerance p 117
Calvin Versus Castellio On Religious Tolerance
Outside Primary Readings
Theodore Beza Defends the Right to Resist Tyranny
An Unknown Contemporary Describes Queen Elizabeth
Useful Age of Religious Wars Links
Potential FRQ Reformation Questions
"Luther was both a revolutionary and a conservative." Evaluate this statement with respect to Luther's responses to the political and social questions of his day.
What were the responses of the Catholic authorities of the 16th century to the challenges posed by the Lutheran Reformation?
Compare and contrast the attitudes of Martin Luther and John Calvin toward political authority and social order.
"The Protestant Reformation was primarily an economic event." By describing and determining the relative importance of the economic, political, and religious causes of the Protestant Reformation, defend or refute this statement.
Describe and analyze the ways in which 16th century Roman Catholics defended their faith against the Protestant Reformation.
Compare and contrast the Lutheran Reformation and the Catholic Reformation of the 16th century regarding the reform of both religious doctrines and religious practices.
"The Reformation was a rejection of the secular spirit of the Italian Renaissance." Defend or refute this statement using specific examples from 16th-century Europe.
Discuss the political and social consequences of the Protestant Reformation in the first half of the 16th century.
To what extent did political authorities influence the course of the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century? “
Potential FRQ Age of Religious Wars Questions
Discuss the relationship between politics and religion by examining the wars of religion. Choose TWO specific examples from the following: Dutch Revolt, French Wars of Religion, English Civil War, Thirty Years War
Evaluate the relative importance of the religious rivalries and dynastic ambitions that shaped the course of the Thirty Years War.
Use the Huguenot conflict in France and the Dutch revolt to illustrate the ways in which the "Religious Wars" were much more political than they were religious.
In 1519 Charles of Hapsburg became Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Discuss and analyze the political, social, and religious problems he faced over the course of his imperial reign (1519-1556).