Chpater 16 Protestant Reformation 1 
The Protestant Reformation
AP WOR L D H I ST ORY
CHAPTER 16 NOTES
RELIGION & SCIENCE (1450-1750)
The Protestant Reformation
Started in 1517 by a
German priest named
Martin Luther
Issued a document called the 95 Theses
Nailed it to a church door in
Wittenberg, Germany
Outlined his issues with the
Catholic Church
The Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther was critical
of the following abuses conducted by the Catholic
Church:
The selling of indulgences
Pope Leo X (above) sold church positions and indulgences to raise money to rebuild
St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome
Selling church positions
Selling indulgences = certificates issued by the church that reduced or canceled punishment for a person’s sins people would buy them to ensure going to Heaven
Luxurious life of the popes
Corruption and immorality of some clergy
Martin Luther’s Beliefs
Salvation = came through
faith alone; God’s grace is freely and directly granted to believers Source of religious authority
= the Bible (as interpreted by the individual), not the
Pope or church leaders
These ideas = created a massive rift between Catholic and Protestant Christianity
Spread of Protestantism
Reformation thinking spread quickly
within and beyond Germany thanks to the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg
Luther’s 95 Theses, many pamphlets, and his German translation of the New Testament were soon widely available
As the movement spread to the rest of Europe, it splintered, creating a variety of different Protestant churches
Ex: Lutheran, Calvinist, Anglican, Quaker,
Anabaptist, Puritan, etc.
Spread of Protestantism
Calvinism
Established by John
Calvin in Switzerland
Preached predestination
= God determines the fate of every person
The Anabaptists
Denied the authority
of local governments
Refused to hold office, bear arms, or swear oaths Many lived separate
from society viewed it as sinful
Baptized adult members only
An Anabaptist Immersion
AP WOR L D H I ST ORY
CHAPTER 16 NOTES
RELIGION & SCIENCE (1450-1750)
The Protestant Reformation
Started in 1517 by a
German priest named
Martin Luther
Issued a document called the 95 Theses
Nailed it to a church door in
Wittenberg, Germany
Outlined his issues with the
Catholic Church
The Protestant Reformation
Martin Luther was critical
of the following abuses conducted by the Catholic
Church:
The selling of indulgences
Pope Leo X (above) sold church positions and indulgences to raise money to rebuild
St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome
Selling church positions
Selling indulgences = certificates issued by the church that reduced or canceled punishment for a person’s sins people would buy them to ensure going to Heaven
Luxurious life of the popes
Corruption and immorality of some clergy
Martin Luther’s Beliefs
Salvation = came through
faith alone; God’s grace is freely and directly granted to believers Source of religious authority
= the Bible (as interpreted by the individual), not the
Pope or church leaders
These ideas = created a massive rift between Catholic and Protestant Christianity
Spread of Protestantism
Reformation thinking spread quickly
within and beyond Germany thanks to the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg
Luther’s 95 Theses, many pamphlets, and his German translation of the New Testament were soon widely available
As the movement spread to the rest of Europe, it splintered, creating a variety of different Protestant churches
Ex: Lutheran, Calvinist, Anglican, Quaker,
Anabaptist, Puritan, etc.
Spread of Protestantism
Calvinism
Established by John
Calvin in Switzerland
Preached predestination
= God determines the fate of every person
The Anabaptists
Denied the authority
of local governments
Refused to hold office, bear arms, or swear oaths Many lived separate
from society viewed it as sinful
Baptized adult members only
An Anabaptist Immersion