Download The Counter-Reformation

The CounterReformation
Counter-Reformation
• In response to the spread of
Protestantism and many Catholics
dissatisfaction with the state of the
Catholic church, a series of reforms
occurred called the CounterReformation
Catholic Reformers
• Girolamo Savonarola – a Catholic monk
who preached that Catholic churches
should melt down their gold and silver
ornaments to buy bread for the poor.
• Jesuits – a group founded by Ignatius of
Loyola that concentrated on education
and establishing missions and
universities.
Catholic Reformers
• Charles Borromeo – archbishop of
Milan, built a new school for priests
• Francis of Sales – worked to return the
district of Savoy in France to
Catholicism.
The Council of Trent
• In 1545 Pope Paul III convened the Council of Trent
• Over 18 years the Council of Trent made many
changes to the Catholic church
– Regulated the training of priests
– Worked to stop the financial abuses of the church
– Abolished the sale of indulgences
– Renounced Protestants and their belief in selfdiscipline and individual faith
Women in the Church
• Before the 1500’s women in
the church lived in secluded
convents.
• In the 1500’s many nuns began
to help the poor and sick.
• Teresa of Avila – thought the
rules of her convent were too
lax, so she made her own strict
rules.
Persecution
• Starting in 1492 Jews and Muslims in
Spain were forced to convert to
Christianity or leave Spain.
• Across Europe people feared witchcraft
and thousands of “witches” were put to
death between 1580 and 1660.
Religious Wars
• The Italian Wars – a series of wars
involving Spain, France, and the
Italian city states.
• In 1527 the Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V took Rome.
• The Italian Wars are another big
reason why the Renaissance spread
throughout Europe.
Religious Wars
• The Reformation caused peasants in Germany to
demand more freedom and power. This led to a
rebellion known as the Peasants’ War where the
nobles suppressed the uprising.
• Martin Luther was blamed for the uprising since he
started the Reformation, but even Luther was against
the peasants who would “rob and rage and act like
mad dogs”
Religious Wars
• In 1546 Holy Roman Emperor Charles V
began a war against the Lutheran princes of
Germany.
• In 1555 the Peace of Augsburg was signed
that ended the war.
• This agreement allowed each prince in
Germany to choose the religion that his
subjects would practice.
Religious Wars
• In France a minority group of
Protestants called Huguenots
fought against the Catholics.
• The fighting ended when
Huguenot leader Henry of
Navarre became Catholic.
• Henry became King of France
and in 1598 issued the Edict of
Nantes which granted religious
freedom to Protestants.
Effects of the CounterReformation
• A renewed zeal for the Catholic church
which spread to North America.
• The divide between Catholics and
Protestants grew
• Persecution of all religions by leaders in
some places. More religious tolerance
in others.