Religious change
Religious Change (1400-1700)
The Protestant Reformation (16th Century)
- Originated by Martin Luther, who protested against the perceived excesses of the Catholic Church with his “95 Theses” in 1517.
- John Calvin became a prominent leader, with Geneva becoming the centre of the reformation movement which was typified by a hard work ethic, modesty, and strict moral conduct.
- The Anglican Church was established by Henry VIII due to Pope Clement VII’s refusal to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
- The Counter-Reformation was the Catholic Church’s response, echoing reforms and establishing new religious orders such as the Jesuits.
Execution of the Reformation
- Spread of Luther’s ideas was accelerated by the Printing Press, enabling a quicker dissemination of information to a wider audience.
- Translations of the Bible into vernacular languages broke the monopoly of the Latin-speaking clerics.
- The establishment of Protestant Churches led to a decentralisation of religious power.
- Religious changes led to large scale conflict between Protestant and Catholic states.
Religious Wars (16th and 17th Century)
- Initiated conflicts such as the French Wars of Religion and the Thirty Years War in the Holy Roman Empire, causing widespread devastation and loss of life.
- These wars revolved around the struggle for power between Catholic and Protestant states, with both religious and secular motives intertwined.
- Peace of Augsburg (1555) and Treaty of Westphalia (1648) eventually established a principle of Christian state religious tolerance.
Impact on Society
- Triggered significant social and economic change. Areas adopting Protestantism saw an increase in literacy rates as reading the Bible was encouraged.
- Redistribution of wealth and land as properties held by the Catholic Church were acquired by the state or sold to private individuals.
- Instructed the emergence of a more questioning, independent thinking society, contributing to the rise of individualism characteristic of the modern era.