William Shakespeare: English Renaissance writer

“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a

fool.”

― William Shakespeare, As You Like It

“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.”

― William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well

“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,

And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”

― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream

“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve

greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.”

― William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

Renaissance Writer Critical Intro.

William Shakespeare – Which is your favorite and why? Also how

does the quote reflect Renaissance thinking?

Protestant Reformation 1517

Renaissance's effect

People began to question their lives and

authority

Catholic Church had been

biggest authority of the

Middle Ages.

I. Conflicts that challenged the

authority of the Church in Rome

A. Merchants challenged the Church’s

opposition to usury (charging interest)

B. German & Eng. nobility disliked Italian

domination of the Church

C. Church’s great political power & wealth

caused conflict

D. Corruption & sale of indulgences

II. Church Dissenters

prior to Martin Luther

A. John Wycliffe – English philosopher

1320 -1384

Led movement of opposition to medieval

Church

Forerunner of the Reformation

B. Jan Huss – Czech priest

1369-1415

Church reformer

Tried & burned for heresy

Martin Luther

nails

“95 Theses” to

church door in

Wittenberg,

Germany - 1517

III. Martin Luther- 1517

German monk

Questioned Churches practices such as: Sale of indulgences by

Johann Tetzel building a church

“ selling forgiveness for sins” Automatic trip to heaven

"As soon as a coin in the coffer

rings / the soul from purgatory

springs."

The Lutheran Tradition

Views: Salvation by faith

alone

Bible = ultimate authority

Bible should be in vernacular

Priests; no special powers

All humans are equal before God

The Lutheran Tradition

Actions: 95 Theses

95 things church is doing wrong

Nailed to church door in Wittenburg, Germany

Birth of Protestant Church

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Martin Luther Erasmus

“How ‘bout that Reformation…”

The Lutheran Tradition

Luther writes down his “95 Theses” (95 things church is doing wrong) and nails them to the church in Wittenberg (Germany)

Martin Luther

“Faith Alone” will save you

All should read the Bible in their own

vernacular (language)

Priests do not have special powers

Simplify the sacraments to baptism and

communion

Religious Education for all.

How will people react?

How will the church react?

Church’s Reaction

Want Martin Luther to recant (take back) what he said @ Diet of Worms

Diet –group/assembly

Worms is a place in Germany

Luther says NO!!!!!!!!!!

Hier stehe ich. Ich kann nicht anders. Gott

helfe mir. Amen." ("Here I stand. I can do

nothing else. God help me. Amen.")

He is excommunicated from church and

forced into hiding for the rest of his life

Results of Luther’s actions?

- Opened people’s eyes to corruption of the

church

-new churches created based on own beliefs– ex

John Calvin-- Calvinism

-Ex. Protestant, Lutheran, Baptists, Puritans,

Methodists, Calvinists, and so on.

IV. John Calvin – Calvinism

A. French lawyer - moved to religious

community in Geneva, Switzerland

B. Main Concept = PREDESTINATION

- God has already decided who is

saved/condemned.

“Faith Alone” saves you

Faith revealed by living a righteous life.

Strong work ethic

John Calvin - Calvinism

C. Actions of Calvinists?

Expansion of the Protestant

movement in Europe

The Calvinist tradition

Actions:

Expansion of the

Protestant movement

Spreads to France,

Germany, Netherlands,

Scandinavia, Scotland

Scottish Presbyterians,

American Baptists,

Puritans, from this branch.

23

Spread of Calvinist Beliefs

24

V. Henry VIII of England

A. Break From Church Wished to divorce Catherine

of Aragon

Pope refused to grant divorce

Henry dismissed the authority of the Pope

Henry VIII of England

B. Act of Supremacy - 1534

The King is head of the national

church in England (Anglican

Church), not the Pope!!

C. Actions:

Divorced

Broke w/Rome

Took lands & wealth of Roman

Catholic Church in England

VI. Queen Elizabeth I

A. Anglican Church Creates formality &

separateness of Anglican Church

Book of Common Prayer -for Anglican services

Queen Elizabeth I

B. Impacts on Reformation

Tolerance for dissenters (Catholics & Protestants)Reduced religious tension

Expansion & colonialismSpread Protestantism

Queen Elizabeth I – Exploration =

Spread of Protestantism

Queen Elizabeth I

C. Victory over Spanish Armada (Navy) (1588)

Catholic Spain attacking Protestant England

Protestantism wins over Catholicism.

VII. Reformation in Germany

A. Religious & State Rivalries Emerge – Thirty Years War

Northern Germany princes –convert to Protestantism

End authority of Pope in their states

Austrian Habsburg family & Holy Roman Empire continue to support RCC Fighting ensues.

Ends with Treaty of Westphalia –Religious choice

34

35

VIII. Reformation in France

A. Edict of Nantes -1598

Catholic monarchy grants Huguenots(French Protestants) religious freedom

Later revoked

Reformation in France

B. Increased centralized power

1. Cardinal Richelieu French Prime Minister

Changed focus of 30 Years War from religious to political.

Reformation in FranceIncreased centralized power

2. Actions

Oppose Habsburg/Spanish aggression/influence

Returned restrictions on Huguenots

Reduced taxation on nobility

Advanced concept of “Absolutism”

Make France most powerful.

IX. Role of Printing Press

A. Growth of literacy

stimulated by Gutenberg

printing press

B. Bible printed in Eng.,

Fr., & Ger.

C. Spread ideas of Ref.

and Ren.

X. The COUNTER-Reformation

Or,

The Catholic

Church

Strikes Back!!

A. 1545 Council of Trent

Determined what was heresy (against

church teachings)

Reaffirmed most church doctrine &

practices

Launched the Inquisition, and the Jesuits

B. The Society of Jesus - Jesuits

Founded to spread Catholic doctrine

around the world

Stop spread of Protestantism

C. The Inquisition Catholic Church’s prosecution of “heretics”

Thousands killed/imprisoned

Galileo – heliocentric theory doesn’t

work for Catholic Church

The

Inquisition

XI. Changing Ideas

A. Growth of:

Secularism

Individualism

Religious tolerance

B. THE REFORMATION

ENDED CHURCH UNITY IN WESTERN

EUROPE