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218 LUTHER&THEPROTESTANTREFORMATION
C R AS H C O UR S E | W O R LD HISTO RY

VOCABULARY
The Reformation – the split from the Roman Catholic Church, forming the Protestant tradition
95 Theses – Martin Luther’s most famous work, nailed to the door of the Wittenberg Chapel on October 31,
1517, igniting the Protestant Reformation
indulgences – the idea that past saints had acquired extra merits stored in a treasury at the Vatican,
accessible by the Pope and dispensable by the Church. These “credits” could be used to reduce one’s stay in
Purgatory.
papal infallibility – the doctrine that the Pope does not make mistakes when speaking ex cathedra (literally
“from the chair,” as a holy representative for the Catholic Church)
priesthood of all believers – Luther’s belief that Christians do not need a priest as a “middleman” to access
God’s grace; because of the death of Christ, they can freely access him on their own

1.Complete the timeline as you watch the video.

1505 1517 1521 1525

2.Before the Reformation, most Christians in Europe belonged to which “denomination”?

3. List three ways in which the Catholic Church controlled everyday life.
1)
2)
3)

In his early years, what did Martin Luther obsess over regarding his relationship
THOUGHT to God? Where was he sent for that reason, and what was his epiphany?
BUBBLE

4. Who was Johann Tetzel? What problem did Luther have with him?

FU N F A C T
Martin Luther was also a hymnwriter; he wanted all people in the church to
actively participate in worship. His most famous hymn is “A Mighty Fortress
Is Our God”—sometimes called the battle hymn of the Reformation.

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218 LUTHER & THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION
C R AS H C O U R S E | W OR LD HISTO RY

FU N F A C T
Tetzel had a catchy jingle to lure people into purchasing indulgences:
“Every time a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.”

5. Luther’s 95 Theses was primarily addressing

which abuse of the Catholic Church?

Works of piety and love are infinitely better St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Profits from
than indulgences. indulgences went toward the construction of this
—MARTIN LUTHER, IN A 1517 LETTER TO A CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP palatial church, commissioned by ostentatious,
art-loving popes from the Renaissance Era.

6. What did Luther argue about priests?

7. What was the purpose of the Diet of Worms (“dee-uht of

FU N F A C T
vohrms”)? On what condition did Luther state he would recant? After the Diet of Worms, a
local prince protected Luther
by making him a knight.

8.According to John Green, what invention made Luther’s ideas spread so rapidly
throughout Europe?

9. What was the significance of Luther’s German translation of the New Testament?

What church practice do Anabaptists reject? (Extra credit if you know why!)
OPEN
LETTER

10.What is the significance of Grand Master Albert’s adoption of Lutheranism?

11.How was the Reformation also a political movement?