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Yr 11 SOR
THE REFORMATION – SUMMARY
Consequences of the Reformation
The Reformation had significant and far-reaching effects:
 Three groups of Christians: Christianity was already divided between the Orthodox
East and the Catholic West, much before the 16th century. During the Reformation, in
the 16th century, the Catholic West further split up into two groups; one that remained
Catholic and the other that took the new name of Protestant. The areas to which Catholic
Christianity remained confined included Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, the Southern
Netherlands, the forest cantons of Switzerland, southern Germany, Ireland, Poland,
Lithuania, Czechoslovakia, most of Hungary, northern Yugoslavia, South America,
Central America, Mexico, most of the West Indies, Quebec and the Philippine Islands.
However, Protestant Christianity mainly spread in northern and central Germany,
Scandinavia, Finland, Esthonia, Latvia, the Northern Netherlands, most of Switzerland,
Scotland, England, the United States, most of Canada, South Africa and Australia.
There were certain basic similarities between the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox
countries. They were inspired by Jesus as their founder, they magnified the Bible and
upheld Christian morals and virtues.
However, there were several theological differences. Protestants and those of the
Orthodox Church did not agree with the Catholics over the Pope’s claims and rejected his
authority and government. Protestants made important changes with regard to the
sacraments, rejecting the concepts of purgatory, invocation of saints and veneration of
relics. The Protestants asserted that final authority rested in the Bible, while the
Catholics and the Orthodox claimed that it lay in the living institution of the Church.
 An immediate and unfortunate effect of the Reformation was intolerance, which
expressed itself in persecution and religious wars. Instead of generating the true spirit of
Christ, that is, the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, the Reformation made
thousands suffer on account of their religion. The subjects of the Spanish, Portuguese
and Italian monarchs, were forced to remain Catholic, or to suffer death or imprisonment
at the hands of the Inquisition. King Philip II of Spain, and ’Bloody’ Mary in England
persecuted the Protestants. Similarly, the Protestant princes of Germany punished their
Catholic subjects.
 Civil war broke out in Switzerland under Zwingli. In Germany, Lutheranism resulted
in civil strife until the Treaty of Augsburg restored peace in 1555. In France too, civil
war broke out between the Huguenots who were Calvinists, and those who preferred
Catholicism followed by the French monarchs. Many of the Huguenots had to leave
France after suffering badly. The Edict of Nantes issued by King Henry IV in 1598
restored peace in France. These civil wars were a hindrance to security, material
prosperity and cultural advancement.
 As a result of the Reformation, revolts and wars broke out, causing loss of life,
property, prestige and power.
a. War between Spain and the Netherlands: A large number of Dutch people who
had become Calvinists rose in opposition to Philip II, the ruler of the Netherlands.
A terrible war took place and Holland was finally recognized as an independent
state only in 1648, fifty years after Philip’s death.
b. The Anglo-Spanish War: During the rule of Elizabeth, Protestantism was reestablished in England. Philip II then sent a vast fleet of warships, the Armada in
order to carry out his will forcibly. However the valor of the English seamen as
well as the violent storms, succeeded in repulsing and destroying the Armada.
c. In 1618, a war broke out in Germany between the Catholics and the Protestants,
which lasted for thirty years. Hence it is known as the Thirty Years War. This
soon spread like a great fire, into an international war being not only religious, but
also political and economic. The various treaties of 1648 that brought the war to
an end are called the Peace of Westphalia. It placed Calvinists on an equal footing
with Lutherans and Catholics. Further all Church property would continue to be in
the possession of those who owned it in 1624.
 Owing to the Reformation, the hands of the rulers were strengthened against the
Church. Thus it was a boon to rulers. In the name of the Reformation, Henry VIII
deprived the Pope of any powers over the English church. The German princes were
happy to be free from the control of the Pope. The kings of Europe could now build their
countries according to the pattern of their choice. The spirit of nationalism was given a
fresh impetus by the Reformation.
 New ideas arose in the economic field where there were healthy changes. People were
free from medieval ideas and the tyranny of the Orthodox Church. Thus, they could
pursue certain economic activities such as money lending, which was criticized in the
past. Owing to the Reformation old ideas were discarded and the moneylender was given
a status in society.
 By annihilating the economic power of the medieval Church, the Reformation paved
the way for the rise of capitalism.
 Though the Reformation was religious in nature, it had far-reaching effects in all fields.
Thus it helped in the shaping of the modern world, along with other movements.
Dates & Events
1415 - John Huss was burnt at the stake in Constance
1517 - Martin Luther openly questions the sale of Indulgences
The Reformation begins in Europe.
1520 - Martin Luther is excommunicated by Pope Leo X.
1520-1521 - Martin Luther appears before the Church Council at Worms but refuses to
take back anything that he has said.
1524 - Ulrich Zwingli banned the Catholic Mass in Zurich.
1525 - The peasant’s revolt was suppressed with great cruelty.
1529 - Luther’s followers are named as the Protestants.
1531 - Zwingli is killed in the Civil War.
1534 - Parliament passes the ’Act of Supremacy’ declaring the king as the head of the
Church of England.
Ignatius Loyola founds the Society of Jesus or Jesuits.
1536-1541 - The Frenchman, John Calvin spreads his teachings.
1545 - Meeting of the first council of Trent to try and reform the Roman Catholic
Church.
1545-1563 - The Council of Trent was in session.
1555 - Religious peace of Augsburg which agrees to Lutheranism as the legal form of
Christianity.
1598 - The Edict of Nantes issued by King Henry IV restored peace in France
1618 - War broke out between the Catholics and the Protestants which lasted for thirty
years.
Points To Remember
Meaning
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Reformation was a revolt against the authority of the church, represented by the
Pope. The activists that opposed Roman Catholicism were called ‘Protestants.’
Importance of the Reformation
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The church enjoyed an overall supremacy, controlling political institutions,
economic activities, literary and artistic developments.
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Blind faith in the church was questioned and this heralded the modern times.
Causes of the Reformation
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The Spirit of inquiry was brought down from the Renaissance movement was
strengthened with geographical discoveries that brought in a secular outlook.
The French King Philip IV established the right to tax church property and forced
the Pope to live in France instead of Rome. Hence the authority of the Pope was
greatly reduced.
The clergy faced stiff opposition from the people as some of them were involved
in immoral activities. John Wye declared that the Pope did not represent Christ
but in fact was anti-Christ.
The Pope’s interference in non-religious matters was highly resented and this
made the Pope unpopular not only among monarchs but also among the people.
As the Clergy became more materialistic, church property and rare relics were
sold off.
Martin Luther questioned the sale of indulgences in 1517 by the agents of Pope X.
He was excommunicated but could not be punished as he enjoyed the support of
the people, the priests and the monks.
Spread of Protestantism
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In Germany the north turned Protestant while the south remained Catholic.
Lutheranism was adopted in Scandinavia.
Switzerland became partially Protestant influenced by the Reformed Church of
Zwingli.
The French Protestants were Calvinists and were called Hugeunots.
Through the Act of Supremacy, King Henry VIII of England made the King of
England the head of the Church instead of the Pope.
The Anglican Church was established during the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
The Counter Reformation
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Ignatius Loyola founded the Society of Jesus and its followers were known as
Jesuits. Their contribution earned back substantial respect for the Catholic
Church.
The Pope tried to retain Catholicism in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Austria
by entering into various treaties.
Consequences of the Reformation
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The Catholic Church, first split into the Orthodox Church, suffered another split:
Protestantism.
Religious persecution was an undesirable effect of the Reformation.
Civil wars broke out in Switzerland, France and Germany.
Kings gained supremacy at the expense of Popes.
New trades like money lending were no longer frowned upon by the clergy.
As the economic authority of the church decreased, it paved the way for
capitalism.