8th grade history

1. THE RENAISSANCE
& THE
REFORMATION
Unit 7

2. Precursors of the Reformation: God’s orchestrating
a major spiritual awakening
◦ The popes moved to Avignon; sent mental & religious shock waves because Rome had been the
center of Western Christianity for more than 1,000 years.
◦ The French kings had influence over the popes—thought the popes only answered to God???
◦ People began disputing things—both inside and outside the church that had been previously been
accepted.
◦ European kings disputed their obedience to the pope
◦ English king used an independently minded preacher (John Wycliffe) to help justify his political
decision to ignore the pope
◦ As peoples eyes and ears were more open—God revealing of the truth of scripture that had long laid
dormant became more evident to the people thanks to GOD through:

3. Martin Luther
◦ “as if I had been born again and entered through open gates into paradise itself ”
when the Holy Spirit opened his eyes to understand the reality of God’s grace and
mercy
◦ Burdened and works weary German monk, professor
◦ Convinced that sins were forgiven based on what Jesus did on the cross,
and that Christians were to live by faith through Him.
◦ Argued against the selling of indulgences, pilgrimages, or any other works
based efforts for obtaining eternal life in heaven
◦ Wrote the 95 Theses and posted it to the Wittenberg cathedral door
sparking a major “fire” among Christians in 1517

4. And…
• The printing press
• Budding growth of political independence among
nations
• Germans distaste for having to pay money that an
Italian pope used to rebuild St. Peter’s Cathedral in
Rome

5. John Calvin

7. Key Concept:
The Renaissance
1500
Start of the High Renaissance
1527
End of the Renaissance, according to historians; due to Holy
Roman Emperor’s troops sacking Rome
• Renaissance means “rebirth
• Italian renaissance & the Northern European renaissance