World History Chapter 10.3 Vocab- The Protestant Reformation!

Martin Luther

(1483-1546) was a German monk and theologian who was the catalyst of the Protestant Reformation. Trained to become a lawyer, he changed his path, joined a strict order of Roman Catholic monks, and studied theology. Seeking to reform abuses within the Church, Luther challenged Church teachings with his 95 Theses. This led to his excommunication and the development of Lutheranism, the first of several Protestant sects.

Charles V

(1500-1558) was the Holy Roman emperor during the time of Martin Luther's reformation efforts. His immense empire included large areas of Europe. A staunch Catholic, he rejected Luther's doctrines. The Protestant upheaval, along with political pressures, led Charles to voluntarily give up his throne. He divided the empire between his son and his older brother. Charles entered a Catholic monastery where he remained until his death.

John Calvin

(1509-1564) was a French theologian and lawyer. Influenced by the humanist philosophy of Erasmus, Calvin became involved with he Protestant movement while a student at the University of Paris. He later moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where he set up a theocracy and wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion. Calvin's interpretation of Christian doctrine is called Calvinism.

Wittenberg

A city in northern Germany, where Luther drew up his 95 Theses.

Diet

Assembly or legislature.

Predestination

Calvinist belief that God long ago determined who would gain salvation.

Geneva

Swiss city-state that became a Calvinist theocracy in the 1500s; today a major city in Switzerland.

theocracy

Government run by religious leaders.

Indulgence

In the Roman Catholic Church, pardon for sins committed during a person's lifetime.