The Reformation

Desiderius Erasmus publishes "The Education of a Christian Prince" and "The Praise of Folly"

Period: Dec 13, 1504 to Dec 13, 1509

(1504) The Education of a Christian Prince was a book that combined idealistic and practical suggestions for the formation of a ruler's character
(1509) The Praise of Folly was a plea for the simple and spontaneous Christian faith of children; and, most important, a critical edition to the New Testament.

Ecumenical Council summoned by Pope Julius II

Period: Dec 13, 1512 to Dec 13, 1517

This group of bishops and theologians presented strove earnestly to reform the church. They recommended higher standards for education of the clergy and instruction of the common people.

Archbishop Albert hired John Tetzel to sell indulgences to fund the reconstruction of St. Peter's Basilica

Dec 12, 1515

"As soon as coin in coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs"-- one of Tetzel's slogans that brought phenomenal success. Men and women could buy indulgences not only for themselves but also for deceased parents, realtives, or friends now.

Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses

Oct 31, 1517

Martin Luther poster the 95 Theses on the doors of the Casle Church in Wittenburg, Germany. The theses protested against clerical absuses, specifically the sale of indulgences. This event was the catalyst for the Protestant Reformation

The Diet of Worms

Jan 28, 1521

Emperor Charles V summoned Martin Luther to renounce/ reaffirm his views at the Diet of Worms in Worms, Germany. After refusing to recant, Charles V issued the Edict of Worms in which Luther was declared an outlaw and heretic. Pope Leo X excommunicates him

Luther gets kidnapped by Fredrick the Wise

May 12, 1521

Fredrick the Wise, elector of Saxony, organized a "kidnapping" to protect Luther's life and keep him safe at Wartburg castle. By supporting Luther, Fredrick was able to cut off the influence of the Pope and gain more power for himself.

Martin Luther published a translation of The New Testament

Dec 12, 1522

When Luther translated the Bible from ancient Greek into German, he made the Bible accessible to all people, which was what he wanted. This led to the acceptance of his dialect of German as the standard version of German. Thanks to the printing press, the Bible was widely diseeminated.

German peasant revolt

Period: Dec 12, 1524 to Dec 12, 1525

Peasants in the German states lived in poverty and were burdoned by heavy taxes and obligations to the landowners. They sought to abolish serfdom and the manorial system. The peasants hoped for Luther's support, but he was a conservative on social and economic issues who supported the princes in their surpression of the revolt.

The Act in Restraint of Appeals

Sep 13, 1533

King Henry VIII used Parliament to legalize the Reformation in England.This Act declared the king to be the supreme sovereign in England and forbade judicial appeals to the papacy, thus establishing the Crown as the highest legal authority in the land.

English Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy

Nov 12, 1534

Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy which declared King Henry VIII, rather than the pope, head of the English Church. There were a number of reasons for this Act, primarily the need for Henry to obtain an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon because she had not produced a son and heir

John Calvin published "The Institutes of the Christian Religion"

Dec 12, 1536

This book was written as an introductory textbook on the Protestant faith that covered a wide range of topics. It emphasized Calvin's belief in predestination, or salvation by election. According to this doctrine, at the beginning of creation, the all-powerful and all-knowing God had planned the whole universe to the end of time and pre-determined those who would be saved and those who would not. Individuals destined for salvation were known as "the elect"

Ignatius Loyala formed the Society of Jesuits

Sep 13, 1540

A group of men, including Loyola, gathered together and secured papal approval of the new Society of Jesus, whose members were called Jesuits. They believed that the Reformation was a pastoral problem, its causes not realted to doctrinal issues but people's spiritual condition.

Pope Paul III established the Inquisition

Dec 13, 1542

The Roman Inquisition was a committee of six cardinals in the Papal states with judicial authority over all Catholics and the power to arrest, imprison, and execute. They vigorously attacked heresy and published the "Index of Prohibited Books", a catalogue of forbidden reading.

Council of Trent

Period: Dec 13, 1545 to Dec 4, 1563

Pope Paul III called a council that met intermittenly, not only to reform the church but also to secure reconciliation with the Protestants. The council dealt with both doctrinal and disciplinary matters; it reaffirmed the seven sacraments and the traditional Catholic teaching on transubstantiation. For four centuries, the legislation of Trent served as the basis for Roman Catholic faith, organization, and practice.

The Peace of Augsburg

Sep 25, 1555

This treaty between Charles V and the Schmalkaldic League, an alliance of German princes, ended the religious struggle between the two groups. It allowed the Holy Roman Empire's states' princes to select either Lutheranism or Catholicism within the domains they controlled.