The document discusses the 'religious reformation' initiated by Martin Luther, which challenged the authority of the Catholic Church due to its corruption and greed. This movement led to significant religious and political changes in Europe, including the rise of Protestantism, nationalistic sentiments, and the eventual Counter-Reformation by the Catholic Church. The conflicts resulting from this reformation caused divisions within Christianity and inspired further social and linguistic progress across Europe.

1. Dr.AGHALYA.,M.A.,M.Ed.,M.PHIL.,Ph.D.,
Head & Asst.Professor
Department of History
Bon Secours College for Women
Thanjavur

2.  The questioning of the authority of the catholic church and
the Pope with the rise of modernity is called as ‘Religious
Reformation’.
 Pope started leading a life of luxury and churches became
greedy and exploited people.
 Martin Luther of Germany started a huge people’s
movement against Pope and catholic church.
 This movement not only created division in the
Christianity, it also forced the chatholic church to
contemplate and start ‘counter reformation’ movement.

3.  1. Many members of the Christian clergy and the Popes
instead of leading a chaste life, indulged in materialistic
pleasures.
 Many of them committed immoral acts. The Popes, instead
of reforming the religion, showed interest in politics.
 Italy’s Bocacchio, Holland’s Erasmus and England’s John
Wycliffe condemned these acts.
 2. All the clergy were not scholars. They stayed away from
the study of Bible. They also became part of the misdeeds
of the church.

4.  3. Clashes during the Middle Ages between the
Emperors and the Pope, wounded the pride and self
respect of the Emperors.
 They supported reformation movement.
 4. Nationalism grew in strength.
 They did not like the intervention of Roman Catholic
church or the Pope in the internal issues of countries.

5.  5. Scientific approach and curiosity inspired by
Renaissance made Europeans to contemplate
application of these approaches to religious problems
also.
 6. The church opposed the translation of the Bible
which was originally in Latin to other languages.
 By translating Bible to people’s language, reformation
movement reached the people.

6.  Martin Luther is the founder of religious reformation
movement.
 He was born in Isabel as the son of Hans and
Margreat.
 He took into monkhood and started studying Bible at
Augustus church.
 Later, he became the professor of Thelogy at
Witsenberg University.

7.  As he was curious to see the church and the Pope at
Rome, he visited Rome.
 He became unhappy with the luxurious and immoral
life of Pope and Rome.
 There were a lot of differences between the teachings
of Christianity and the actual behaviour of Pope.
 The religious movement started by Martin Luther was
called as ‘Religious Reformation Movement’.

8.  Martin Luther rejected the preachings of Catholic Church.
 In 1517 he opposed the ‘Sale of Paradon Letters’ by the
church.
 Catholic church had opined that ‘‘the God has empowered
them to lessen the punishment of the sinners.
 This power is the result of good deeds done by Jesus Christ
and the clergy.’’
 In order to achieve this Paradon, the sinner was expected to
engage in good deeds.

9.  But in many occassions they would simply pay the church
and get the ‘Letter of Paradon’ instead of doing good deeds.
 Martin Luther opposed the sale of these letters of Paradon
strongly.
 The followers of Martin Luther were called as ‘Protestants’.
More than half of the Germans became Protestants.
 The religious reformation movement created internal
disturbances in Europe and distrubed the religious
environment.

10.  Many Europeans lost their lives for their religious faith.
Many were imprisoned or their property was confincated.
 Roman Catholics harrassed Protestants wherever they were
in majority.
 Similarly, wherever Protestants got support from the
government, harassed the Catholic followers.
 The famous Thirty years war is the war between protestants
and Catholic.

11.  1. As a result of the religious reformation, the solidarity
of Christian religion received a severe blow.
 Christianity was divided into three sects: Catholic
church, Orthodox church and Protestant church.
 2. Many of the European kings got liberated from the
hold of the Church and the Pope.
 3. Religious reformation led to rise of nationalism.
 .

12.  4. The confiscated wealth of the Church was utilized for the
economic development.
 5. Patriotic feelings became strong and the kings of Europe
developed religious tolerance. Martin Luther

 6. Due to this movement, the literary field saw progress.
Local languages influenced the European minds.
 7. The Catholic church itself underwent reformation and
this came to be known as Counter Reformation.

13.  JAI HIND