Renaissance &

Reformation

Essential Question
How did humanism affect society? Humanist
scholars studied the Greeks and Romans to
increase their knowledge of many different topics.
They were curious about everything, including
plants and animals, human anatomy and
medicine, and the stars and the planets. Their
study of mathematics helped them in many
subjects.

Renaissance Humanism
Humanists studied the Greeks and Romans, and
the development of the printing press helped
spread ideas.
Humanism: a new way of understanding the
world developed in medieval Europe. It was
based on the values of the ancient Greeks and
Romans. Humanists believed that the individual
and human society were important. They did not
turn away from religious faith, but they wanted a
balance between faith and reason.

The Renaissance Spreads

Renaissance ideas and art spread from Italy to
northern Europe and later to England in the late
1400s.
The printing press helped humanist ideas to
spread, as did people who traveled.

The Printing Press

Spreads Ideas
The printing press was a key to the spread of
humanist ideas throughout Europe.
In the early 1450s, Johannes Gutenberg
developed a printing press that used movable
metal type.
Because of this invention, it was possible to print
many books much more quickly.
With more books available, more people learned
how to read.

Gutenberg Bible
Printed in the 1450s, this was the first European
book produced on the new press. Soon books
flooded Europe. About 40,000 books were
published by 1500.

Who Was William Shakespeare?

In England, the Renaissance took place in writing
and theater more than in art. The Renaissance
began in England in the later 1500s, during the
rule of Elizabeth I.

Theater was popular in England in the 1500s.

Admission was only one or two cents so even the
poor could attend.

 The greatest English writer of that era was William

Shakespeare. He wrote tragedies, comedies, and
historical plays.
Some of his great tragedies include Hamlet,
Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet.
In each tragedy, the characters flaws cause their
downfall.
Among his most famous comedies are A
Midsummer Nights Dream, Twelfth Night, and
Much Ado About Nothing.

A Divided Church
Martin Luthers actions led to incredible
changes in Europe. Before he voiced his
beliefs, the countries of Europe had their
differences, but they were bound together by
a common church.

For centuries, Catholicism had been the main

religion of western Europe.

 Within a few years, Luther had many

followers. They broke away from Catholicism
to find their own Christian churches.

His protests were the start of a great religious

and historical movement known as the
Protestant Reformation.

John Calvin
From Germany, Luthers ideas spread rapidly.

John Calvin, a French priest, also broke away from the

Catholic Church.

Like Luther, Calvin rejected the idea that good works

would ensure an individuals salvation.

He believed that God had already chosen those who

would be saved. (Predestination)

Henry VIII
He also jumped on the bandwagon
and left the Catholic Church.

He had a dispute with Pope

Clement VII over his marriage. The pope had
refused Henrys request for a divorce.

This little scuffle created the Church of England.

What does this mean for the

Americas?
lsees@rosellecatholic.org

How do the Renaissance and Protestant

Reformation lead to early exploration?
Describe the connection between the eras.

Consequences of
Henrys change
Henry did not immediately get the male heir
he sought. But as we know, eventually, he
was able to have that son he wanted.
After Henrys death in 1547, each of his three
children ruled England in turn.
They created religious turmoil.
Henrys son, Edward, became king when he
was just 9 years old.

 Too young to rule alone, Edward VI was guided by

adult advisers. These men were devout
Protestants and they introduced their beliefs into
the Church of England.
Edward was constantly in ill health and reigned
for just six years. Mary, daughter of Catherine of
Aragon, took the throne in 1553.
She was a devout Catholic and returned the
Church of England to the pope. She met
resistance from the people and ended up
executing Protestants. AKA Bloody Mary.

 When Mary died in 1558, Elizabeth, Anne

Boleyns daughter, inherited the throne.

Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth was determined to return her kingdom to
Protestantism. In 1559, Parliament followed
Elizabeths wishes and set up the Church of England,
or Anglican Church, with Elizabeth as its head.
She established it as moderately Catholic and
moderately Protestant. Priests were able to marry,
and sermons were in English, not Latin. This pleased
Protestants.
She also kept some of the trappings of the Catholic
church such as rich robes and services were familiar
to Catholics.