2. Modern Age in Europe
Renaissance = “rebirth.”
Writers/artists worked to recover
ancient Greek and Roman culture.
Focus on humanism and secularism.
“[In Renaissance Italy] man became
a spiritual individual, and
recognized himself as such.”
3. Growth of Italian States
Economic & political developments.
Italy = commercial bridge between West
and Asia $$$$$.
Venice, Genoa,
Pisa, Milan, and
Florence
flourished.
4. Growth of Italian States
Cities advanced ship building and
navigation.
Citizens developed specialized skills:
bookkeeping, generating letters of credit,
merchant markets.
Florence = banking centre.
Italy was made up of city-states,
dominated by merchant class and old
5. Growth of Italian States
Each city-state claimed supreme religious
authority, challenging papacy.
New states started as republics, where political
authority resided theoretically with the people.
In reality, power was in the hands of landowners
and nobles in the cities.
By Renaissance, city-states were ruled by
despots (people with great power) or oligarchies
(merchants where power rested in a small number
of people).
6. Growth of Italian States
15th century, Florence was leading city.
1434, the Medici, rich banking family led
by Cosimo de Medici became the
dominant family.
His grandson, Lorenzo
“The Magnificent”
(1449-1492), furthered
oligarchical control.
7. Growth of Italian States
In 1472, the merchant Benedetto Dei wrote
to a Venetian about Florence:
Florence is more beautiful and five hundred
forty years older than your Venice…Our
beautiful Florence contains within the city in
this present year two hundred seventy shops
belonging to the wool merchants guild, from
whence their wares are sent to
Rome…Naples and Sicily,
Constantinople…and the whole of Turkey…
8. Growth of Italian States
The number of banks amounts to
thirty-three; the shops of the cabinet-
makers…to eighty-four…There are
forty-four goldsmiths’ and jewellers’
shops…Go through all the cities of
the world, nowhere will you ever be
able to find artists…equal to those
we now have in Florence.
9. Niccolo Machiavelli
1494, France invaded Italy.
Various city-states found it difficult
to counter the invasion and keep
their autonomy.
Machiavelli, a Florentine civil
servant, humanist, and scholar, saw
Italy being dominated by outsiders
and his own city-state in jeopardy.
10. Niccolo Machiavelli
One of the most
significant political
thinkers of
Renaissance.
Wrote, The Prince (1532)
- How a Prince can hold and
maintain power
Defence of Despotism
(rule by tyranny).
11. Niccolo Machiavelli
Essentially, a study of the modern
state.
Machiavelli’s primary insight, was
to realize that the new Renaissance
state existed as a thing-in-itself,
sovereign and powerful, not beholden
to any other entity, secular or
spiritual.
12. Niccolo Machiavelli
Rejected the restrictions of honour
and religion.
Rulers should only be concerned
with power and should only be bound
by rules that make him/her
successful.
Rulers must be skilled in the art of
war.
13. Niccolo Machiavelli
Men are evil.
It is better to be stingy then
liberal.
It is better to be feared then loved.
Keep your word only when it is too
your advantage.
Known for the saying “ the end
14. Christian Humanism
Northern European movement.
Reformers wished to apply reason and
scholarship to secular and ancient texts.
Asked the question: how can we best
understand traditional biblical texts and
how can one use reason rather than
dogma (set of beliefs authorized by the
church) to illuminate religious belief?
15. Christian Humanism
Thomas More (1478-1535), English.
Trained lawyer, brought Renaissance
north.
Beheaded by Henry VIII for treason
after refusing to acknowledge the king
as the head of the English church.
Became a martyr and made a saint by
the Catholic Church.
16. Christian Humanism
More’s Utopia (1516), is a protest against
the politics and society of his time.
Challenged laws and structure of politics.
Claimed that kings were not interested in
governing well, but expanding their power,
more concerned with authority than being a
good ruler.
Attacked excessive punishment, i.e.,
hanging for stealing.
18. Christian Humanism
Utopia means “no place.”
Utopia is a discussion of a society that does
not exist - imaginary perfect place.
Purpose: to reform existing society.
More borrowed idea of utopian thinking
from Plato’s Republic.
More believed in a co-operative society.
Reform must be social and state and moral
19. Christian Humanism
More attacked private property,
“Thus I am wholly convinced that unless
private property is entirely done away with,
there can be no fair and just distribution of
goods, nor can mankind be happily
governed. As long as private property
remains, by far the largest and the best part
of mankind will be oppressed by a heavy and
inescapable burden of cares and anxieties.”
20. Christian Humanism
In More’s society, people work
and eat communally, share
everything, have abundance and
lead regulated lives.
Believed people must live by
example of early Christianity, not
conforming to the needs of power.
21. Christian Humanism
Most famous intellectual of the
time was Dutch humanist,
Desiderius Erasmus.
Educated in a monastery and
combined the traditions of
excellence in classical studies
with deep Christian piety.
22. 22
In his Praise
of Folly
(1509), he
used satire to
expose the
follies in
Church and
society.
23. Christian Humanism
Philosophers who “announce
that they are wise, and that the
rest of men are only passing
shadows” are attacked, especially
those who do not try to use their
knowledge to better society
(similar to Plato’s The Republic).
24. Christian Humanism
Education was at the centre of
Erasmus’ program of reform.
Education was a moral act, in
which individuals learned the
classics and the Bible as a means
to living the good life, a life
useful to society and to others.
25. Christian Humanism
Similar virtues to More’s in his
utopia: moderation, toleration, a
love for learning, a belief in
community, responsibility for
one’s acts, personal respect, and
civic virtue.
26. Christian Humanism
To further peoples’ ability to
acquire learning, Erasmus prepared
a Greek edition of the Bible in 1516,
and a Latin translation in 1519.
He desired that the Bible be
translated into vernacular
languages, for all men and women
27. Medieval versus Renaissance
Worldview
Idea of a Divine Plan
Importance and
Hierarchy
Dualism: Spirit vs.
Matter
Allegory
Providence
Teleology
Overriding concept:
Humanism
Importance of philology
(languages)
Importance, return and
restoration of classical
texts, arts, literature and
drama from Greek and
Roman periods
Medieval View Renaissance
28. Protestant Reformation Defined
Reformation, was a spiritual/religious
revolution that aimed to correct the
“problems” of the Catholic Church
and sparked a century and a half of
religious civil war. It resulted in the
establishment of the Protestant
branches of Christianity.
E.g. Lutheranism, Calvinism, etc.
29. Causes of Protestant Reformation
Anti-Clericalism
An appetite for spiritual
experience
Reliance of Church
interpretation ended with return
to original sources
Martin Luther's 95 Theses
30. Martin Luther (1483 – 1546)
Asked the questions:
How do I attain
salvation?
What is my
relationship with God
and my community?
31. Luther was obsessed with the
question of how an individual
might be saved.
Catholicism stressed
salvation through doing good
works – fulfilling sacraments,
Martin Luther
32. Martin Luther
Began to doubt this and studied the
Bible.
Particularly struck by passage by St.
Paul in Romans 1:17:
“For in [the gospel] the
righteousness of God is revealed
through faith for faith; as it is written,
‘The righteous shall live by faith.’”
33. In 1520 he said,
“Good works do not make a good man,
but a good man does good works; evil
works do not make a wicked man, but an
evil man does evil works. Consequently it
is always necessary that the substance or
person himself be good before there can
be any good works, and that good works
follow and proceed from the good
Martin Luther
34. “We do not despise ceremonies and
works…but we despise the false estimate
placed upon works in order that no one
may think they are true righteousness.”
Luther began to break from the formal
teachings of Catholicism.
Stressed reading the Bible, inner peace,
and a personal relationship with God.
Martin Luther
35. He challenged ceremonies,
rituals, and sacraments not found
in the Bible.
The issue of indulgences (release
from the temporal penalty given
by priests, sanctioned by the
Church, who confessed their sins)
Martin Luther
36. Indulgences were sold and
many believers donated money in
return for release of penalties for
sin and for deceased relatives.
1517, to raise funds for
rebuilding St. Peter’s Basilica,
indulgences were sold all over
Martin Luther
37. Luther was appalled by the sale
of indulgences, believing that it
mocked true faith and the right
path to salvation.
He wrote 95 theses against this
practice and posted them on the
door of the Castle Church in
Martin Luther
38. Written in Latin
(language of scholars).
Translated and
distributed widely.
They bluntly attacked
the sale of indulgences
as corrupt.
Martin Luther
39. 27. It is mere human talk to preach
that the soul flies out immediately the
money clinks in the collection-box.
45. Christians should be taught that
he who sees a needy person and
passes by, although he gives money
for pardons, wins for himself not Papal
indulgences but the wrath of God.
Martin Luther
40. 50. Christians should be taught that, if
the Pope knew the exactions of the
preachers of Indulgences, he would rather
have the basilica of St. Peter reduced to
ashes than built with the skin, flesh and
bones of his sheep.
Martin Luther
41. Reformers believed in salvation by
faith alone and the Bible was
emphasized as the word of God and
the ultimate authority, not the pope.
The institution of the Roman
Catholic Church and its clergy were
not superior to individual
Christians.
Martin Luther
42. 1520, pamphlets were distributed and his
break with the Catholic Church was
definite.
He asked German princes to reform the
Church in their areas and limit its power.
Luther challenged the seven sacraments
and claimed only baptism and the
Eucharist were legitimate because they
are found in the Bible.
Martin Luther
43. Supported marriage for the
clergy.
Argued that relationship to
the Deity was a personal
matter and Church was not
necessary for salvation.
Martin Luther
44. Excommunicated in 1521 as a
heretic (someone who believes
contradicting the Church).
By 1529, the new Lutheran
Church was created with the
Bible translated into German.
Martin Luther
45. Spread of Reformation
Peasants of Germany
supported Luther who saw his
cause as supporting their
grievances against nobles who
were increasing taxes.
Luther condemned them – not
a social or political movement!
46. Spread of Reformation
Approximately 100 000 peasants
died in the unsuccessful revolt of
1524 – 1525.
Yet, society did change because
of Lutheran ideas.
Clergy married, schools were
established where Bible was taught
47. Spread of Reformation
Due to the printing press,
spread of the Reformation was
very rapid to Switzerland,
Scandinavia, England and
Scotland.
48. Spread of Reformation
In Switzerland, Ulrich Zwingli
(1484-1531) led reformation
similar to Luther’s.
Attempts were made to unify
Swiss and German Protestants,
but it was impossible due to the
theological differences.
49. Spread of Reformation
Luther argued for both a
spiritual and bodily presence of
Christ’s body and blood at the
ceremony of the Eucharist, but
Zwingli believed the ceremony
to be only symbolic.
Common divisive ideology.
50. Spread of Reformation
Other Protestant
sects/denominations sprang up.
Anabaptists believed in adult baptism,
taken as a result of a conscious choice,
rather than infant baptism.
Often persecuted due to rural lifestyle
and women being permitted to become
ministers.
51. Spread of Reformation
By mid-sixteenth century,
Christian Europe had ceased
to be only Catholic.
Emperor Charles V (1519-
1556) tried to reconcile
Catholics and Protestants but
was unsuccessful.
52. Spread of Reformation
Fighting continued throughout the
German states until the parties, worn out
by war, made peace in 1555 with the Peace
of Augsburg treaty.
“Who rules the territory determines the
religion,” essentially giving each state and
princedom the right to be either Lutheran
or Catholic.
NOT religious freedom: had to adhere to
54. Spread of Reformation
John Calvin (1509-1564) major figure of
second generation of Reformation.
Born in France.
Had personal religious crisis:
“God, by a sudden conversion, subdued and
brought my mind to a teachable frame…I was
immediately inflamed with so intense a desire
to make progress therein, although I did not
leave off other studies, I yet pursued them
with less ardor.”
56. Spread of Reformation
Calvin believed God had called
him to lead the reform of
Christianity.
He left France and moved to
Geneva where he adopted
Protestantism.
Like Luther, Calvin believed in
57. Spread of Reformation
He emphasized the
omnipotence of God and
God’s sovereignty over corrupt
humanity that should be
humble and obedient.
Central idea was
predestination:
58. Spread of Reformation“When we attribute foreknowledge to God, we mean that all
things always were, and perpetually remain, under His eyes, so
that to His knowledge there is nothing future or past, but all
things are present. And they are present in such a way that He
not only conceives them through ideas, as we have before us
those things which our minds remember, but He truly looks
upon them and discerns them as things placed before Him.
And this foreknowledge is extended throughout the universe to
every creature. We call predestination God’s eternal decree, by
which He determined with Himself what He willed to become
of each man. For all are not created in equal condition; rather,
eternal life if foreordained for some, eternal damnation for
others. Therefore, as any man has been created to one or the
other of these ends, we speak of him as predestined to life or to
59. Spread of Reformation
God alone determines who will be
saved.
Everyone is obliged to live a good
life, in obedience of God’s commands.
Calvin expected his followers to
profess their faith openly and
participate in the sacraments of
baptism and communion regularly.
60. Spread of Reformation
Religious dissent was not tolerated in Calvin’s
Geneva.
Spanish humanist Michael Servetus appeared
in Geneva after escaping the Inquisition (a court
established by the Roman Catholic Church to
suppress and punish heresy).
Servetus denied the belief in the Trinity and
early baptism.
He was found to be a danger to society and
burned at the stake.
61. England’s Reformation
King Henry VIII (1509-1547) severed
England’s ties to Roman Catholicism
and formally established national
church.
Personal and political move.
Had been a defender of Roman
Catholicism in early reign and the pope
awarded him title “Defender of the
63. England’s Reformation
1527, wanted to end marriage to
Catherine of Aragon (from Spain)
because there was no male heir.
King Henry VIII requested an
annulment from Pope Clement
VII who delayed.
Henry used Parliament to
64. England’s Reformation
Act of Supremacy of 1534 stated
that the king was the “Protector
and Only Supreme Head of the
church and clergy in England.”
Church of England became
another form of Protestantism.
Henry’s daughter, Elizabeth I,
66. Spread of Reformation
Protestant Reformation changed
Europe.
Now Lutherans, Calvinists,
Anabaptists, and Anglicans.
Luther’s 2 main ideas: salvation
by faith alone and authority from
the scripture alone.
67. Spread of Reformation
Protestantism was also
responsible for significant social
transformations.
Family became more important
unit, emphasis on Bible reading
and prayer at home.
Education became widespread.
68. Spread of Reformation
Latin and Greek were taught, as
well as literature and logic.
Theology was now written and
discussed in everyday language.
Reformation produced a flood of
new literature, and Protestant
reformers made efforts to
69. Spread of Reformation
Reformation also had significant
political and economic implications.
Rulers sought to create churches
that sustained their political
authority.
Protestantism became associated
with demands for religious
tolerance.
71. Counter Reformation
Actions taken by Catholic
Church to counteract the impact
of Protestant Reformation
Includes: Council of Trent,
Roman Inquisition, Index of
Prohibited Books, creation of
religious orders.
72. Counter Reformation
New force dedicated to reform
of the Catholic Church was the
Society of Jesus, Jesuit Order,
founded by Spanish nobleman
Ignatius Loyola (1491 – 1556).
Abandoned military life to
become soldier of God.
73. Counter Reformation
The pope recognized the Jesuits
as a religious order in 1548.
The Order recruited people, all
whom were expected to be
absolutely loyal to its ideals and to
the papacy.
Education was crucial.
75. Counter Reformation
Jesuits regarded themselves as
the army of the Church and were
willing to go anywhere to save
souls and further the religious
cause.
The sent missionaries to parts of
Europe that were Protestant, to
76. Council of Trent (1546 - 1563)
1545, Pope Paul III called a
Church council at Trent in
northern Italy.
The council defined valid belief
as including both scripture and
tradition, and affirmed the
traditional seven sacraments.
77. Council of Trent (1546 - 1563)
Decreed that bishops must
reside in their own dioceses and
that the sale of indulgences be
ended.
Parish clergy were expected to
be more disciplined.
Clerical celibacy was to be
78. Council of Trent (1546 - 1563)
1542, Pope Paul III also
established Sacred
Congregation of the Holy
Office oversaw the Index of
Prohibited Books – heretical
books.
79. When the Dust Settles:
Catholicism vs. Protestantism
Scripture interpreted by
wisdom
Good Works and Faith
7 Sacraments
Stick with Latin
Clergy must be celibate
and chaste
Purgatory is real
Honour Saints
Scripture as you read it
Faith Alone
2 Sacraments - Eucharist,
Baptism
Language of the people
Clergy could marry
Go to Heaven or Hell
Criticized Honouring
Saints
![Modern Age in Europe
Renaissance = “rebirth.”
Writers/artists worked to recover
ancient Greek and Roman culture.
Focus on humanism and secularism.
“[In Renaissance Italy] man became
a spiritual individual, and
recognized himself as such.”](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)