Causes of the Reformation

Causes of the Reformation

1. Long Term causes

   • New ways of thinking
     • External Influence
       • Crusades
       • Voyages, European exploration of America
     • Doubt of church
       • Revival of ancient Greek and Roman spirit
         • Printing Press: SPread ideas without intervention by Church
   • Church
     • Declining influence of the church
       • plague: church couldn't explain the cause
       • rebellion of peasants against masters
       • declining of the Pope's power
         • taxation (King Philip IV)
         • Pope "held captive" in France for 70 years
         • Separate Popes for French/Italian Church
     • exploitation of people's believes in order to make money
       • People denounce Pope as Christ's representative
       • John Wycliffe (English priest and professor)
         • Lollards Movement
           • John Huss spreads movement in Bohemia
             • Executed by Holy Roman Emperor
               • Hussite Wars

2. Short Term causes

   • Martin Luther
     • Reformer with large group of openly supportive followers
     • Questioning of selling of indulgences
       • ordered by Pope Leo X for construction cost of St. Peter's chrch
     • openly criticized and defied church and emperor
       • 95 Theses on the church of wittenberg
       • refused to take back anything in front of the imperial council