Significance



MIND MAP


Without the events that took place during the Reformation many of the outcomes wouldn't have happened. Before the Reformation Western Europe was being ruled entirely by the Holy Roman Empire, but when Martin Luther began to question the Church, others started to do the same. The result of these doubts within the Catholic Church happened to create the new Protestant religion.

Today there are about 590 million Protestants that can be found all over the globe and nearly 27% of Christians are Protestants. (Religious Beliefs) The Protestant religion emerged from the Reformation and is based on five solar beliefs. Those are; "by grace alone, by faith alone, by Scripture alone, by Christ alone, and Glory to God alone." (Religious Beliefs) It was made to show how authorities in the Catholic Church has distorted the message of God to the people. Over time many more religions began to branch off from Protestants and created new sects which include Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglican, Episcopal, Baptist and Calvinists.



10. http://lifeintheloop.wordpress.com/2011/03/28/john-calvin-on-the-arts-and-sciences/

John Calvin

Calvanism was established in France and Switzerland by a man named John Calvin. Him, along with a couple other reformists helped to spread and adapt the new religion as their own. John Calvin, Huldrych Zwingli, Thomas Cranmer and John Knox are among some of the more memorable reformers who helped spread the Protestant religion. (The Spread of Calvanism )

Unfortunatly, with the creation of new religions that opposed the power of the Roman Empire, more consequences emerged as Catholics tried to regain their lost power. The Wars of Religion, which happened between 1555-1648, began on account of the creation of the Protestant religion. Lots of violence and savagery broke out between the Protestants and Catholics. In France, Protestants were viewed as "Huguenots" and Catholics wanted to exterminate the majority of Protestants. In the Netherlands, these battles even lead to the seperation of countries (North and South). But the most important outcome of these wars was that the princes were finally able to choose the religion of their state. Many people were beginning to grow national identities and belong more to their country then to their religion. None of these advancements would have been possible if Martin Luther wouldn't have triggered the Reformation by opposing the Church.

11. http://worldhistoryatyhs.wikispaces.com/Reformation

Map demonstrating the spread of religions



12. http://www.archelaos.com/popes/image.aspx?id=169

Council of Trent



Lastly, the Counter Reformation was a direct result of the Reformation. In result of the new Protestant religion and the Reformation, the Catholic Church had lost lots of power and followers. To salvage what they had, they came up with ways to reform within the Church to minimize the publics view on their corruption. They began the Council of Trent which re-affirmed Catholic teachings, brought bishops back into the cities and made sure that priests had the proper training and were well supervised.

Jesuits were sent out across Europe, Asia and Americas to win over new converts. The survival of Catholicism in areas such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Belgium and Germany had much to do with the Jesuits. They were efficient in propoganda and made it known to various religions that they offered free tuition in highly regarded schools. It was open to all people which brought in converts as well.

The prohibited books were a list of books made prohibited by the Catholic Church enforcing conformity. This brought about the idea of review, revision and censorship in the publishing world. Lastly, the Roman Inquisition was a part of the Counter Reformation. It worked together with the prohitibed books to help  repress and rid the people of heresy. Many people were tortured, murdered and killed because of this inquisition in mainly Austria and Italy.

Many of these advancements and also disadvantages (loss of lives) after the Reformation wouldn't have begun without Martin Luther and the reformists ideas. If the Reformation didn't occur, none of the good that had come from not being under Roman rule would have happened.