Assignment Guide: Unit II

The Reformation & Wars of Religion

Period 1: c. 1450 to c. 1648

Major Themes:

1)The Reformation (Economic-Social, Political)

2)Women in the Reformation Era (Economic, Social, Political)

3)Printing-Press and the Reformation Era (Social, Political)

4)Continuing Weakening of the Church (Economic-Social, Political)

5)Continuing Development of Nation-States--Politiques (Political)

6)Wars of Religion (Political)

7)Monarchy v. Nobility (Political)

8)Protestant Resistance Theory (Political, Cultural Intellectual)

9)Mannerism/Baroque Art (Cultural-Intellectual)

Key Concepts:

1)Printing Press promoted dissemination of new ideas

2)New Monarchs and their attempt to determine religion of their subjects

3)Luther, Calvin, etc., criticism of Catholic Church abuses

4)Religious reforms led to the challenging of state authority

5)Conflicts among religious groups (more on that later)

6)Religious pluralism

7)Women in the Reformation Era

Thurs 09/29

1)Overview of Unit II

2)Begin discussion (“Martin Luther and the German Reformation”)

3)Return and discuss Unit I Objective Test

Fri 09/30 & Mon 10/03 (First 6 DQs are due on Friday, 09/30, and the remaining 6DQs are due on Monday, 10/03. DQs for these two days will be collected on October 3rd, but prepared for class discussion and participation points on each day).

1)Read: Kagan, pg. 352-361 (up to The Reformation Elsewhere), 366-368(up to The English Reformation to 1533);

2)Read: Crash Course: Pages 47 – 51, up to “Calvinism”

3)Discussion: “Martin Luther and the German Reformation”

--Discussion Questions

1. Identify the main political and social conflicts that existed in Western Europe on the

eve of the Reformation.

2. What were some of the criticisms against the Catholic Church?

3. Why wasn’t the Church able to suppress dissent as it had earlier?

  1. What role did the printing press play in the Reformation?
  2. Why did the Reformation begin in Germany?
  3. What were Luther’s two main criticisms of the Catholic Church?
  4. What were the major areas of the Habsburg Empire of Charles V? How did his election as emperor aid the Reformation?
  5. What was revolutionary about Luther’s position on authority in religious matters?
  6. Why were German princes so willing to support Luther?
  7. How did the religious revolt of Luther influence other aspects of society?
  8. Doc. pg. 362: What do the protests of the peasants reveal about their lives?
  9. To what areas did Lutheranism spread? Why? What were the political and social effects of the Peace of Augsburg (1555)?

4)Film Clip: “Luther” (if time)

Tues 10/04

1)Read: Kagan, pg. 361-366, 368-370 (up to Catholic Reform and Counter- Reformation)

2)Read: Crash Course, pages 51 - 58

3)Discussion: “The Reformation Elsewhere: Zwingli, Calvin, and Henry VIII”

--Discussion Questions

  1. What were the basic similarities and differences between the ideas of Luther and Zwingli? What affect did these differences have on the Protestant movement?
  2. What was “radical” about Anabaptism and other Protestant minorities?
  3. How did Luther and Calvin differ in their ideas about the role of religion in society?
  4. Explain the special course of reformation in England. What changes occurred under Henry VIII? Edward VI? Mary I?

Wed 10/05

1)Read:“The Importance of the Printing Press in the Reformation” handout (on teacher website)

2)Finish discussion (“The Reformation Elsewhere: Zwingli, Calvin, and Henry VIII”)

3)Group Exercise – Answer the following questions based on “Printing Press” handout:

  1. What were the literacy rates in Germany on the eve of the Reformation?
  2. How did illiterate Germans learn the text of Luther’s writings?
  3. Describe the size and significance of the printing press in Germany in spreading Luther’s writings.
  4. Analyze the types of printed writings in Germany and analyze the significance of the numbers presented in the article.
  5. What impact did Luther’s writings have on the German language?
  6. Based on the information in the conclusion paragraph of this article, what were some of the problems associated with the printing press in Germany AND ultimately how did the printing press “change the West”?

4)Film Clip: From “Mankind: the Story of All of Us” – Gutenberg’s Printing Press

Thurs 10/06

1)Read: Kagan, pg. 370-374 (up to Social Significance of the Reformation)

2)Read: Crash Course – pages 59-63 up to “The Wars of King Philip II of Spain”

3)Discussion: “The Counter-Reformation”

--Discussion Questions

  1. Why were the terms “Catholic Reformation” and “Counter-Reformation” both justified?
  2. What were the goals of Ignatius Loyola and the Jesuits (Society of Jesus)?
  3. What changes in the Catholic Church resulted from the Council of Trent? What was not changed?
  4. What was the role and impact of the Church in Spanish America?
  5. Doc. pg. 346: Is Las Casas romanticizing the American natives? What is his attitude toward their culture?

Fri 10/07 & Mon 10/10

1)Read: “What was the Reformation?”handout (on teacher website) and answer the three questions at the end of the document

2)Read:“Women in the Reformation Era” handout (on teacher website)

--Discussion Questions:

1. What was the shared view of Luther and Calvin on their ideas of women?

2. What were the differences/similarities on marriage between Protestant Reformers

and the Catholic Church?

3. What were the most dramatic institutional and political changes women faced as a

result of the reformation?

4. In what way(s) were traditional female occupations affected by the Reformation?

5. How did society/government react to female preachers?

6. What did women whose husbands fought in religious wars face as consequences?

7. Describe the inherent issues/dynamicsinvolved when a wife and husband had

different religious beliefs.

3)Read: Kagan, pg. 374-378 (up to Family Life in Early Modern Europe)

--Discussion Questions

  1. How did the relationship of religion to society change from the 15th century to the 16th century?
  2. Discuss the relationship between the Reformation and education.
  3. How did the Protestant view of women and their function differ from the traditional attitudes of the Middle Ages

1)Group Exercise: Women in the Reformation Era:

1.What were the repercussions for nuns in Protestant regions?

2.How did women cope with having a husband of a different faith?

3.Education for women?

4.Female occupations directly affected by changes in religious practices?

5.Women’s responses to the Protestant Reformation?

2)Follow-up Discussion

Tues 10/11

1) Read: Kagan, pg. 388-391 (up to The French Wars of Religion)

2)Read:“The Council of Trent” Primary source handout(on teacher website)

3) Baroque Art: Group Exercise

4)Discussion: “Renewed Religious Struggle and Baroque Art”

--Discussion Questions from Kagan

1. How did the nature of religious wars change by the middle of the 16th century?

2. What was different about the organization of Calvinism and Roman Catholicism? 3. What political groups did each appeal to and why?

--Discussion Questions from “Council of Trent” handout

4. What is the purpose of art according to this session of Council of Trent?

5. What are the Church’s stipulations as to what is appropriate art?

6. What does the Church argue to be inappropriate art?

Wed 10/12

1)Read: Kagan, pg. 391-395; (up to Imperial Spain and the Reign of Philip II)

2)Read:Crash Course, pages 63 - 67 up to “The Thirty Years’ War 1618-1648”

3)Discussion: “The French Wars of Religion”

--Discussion Questions

1.Identify the prominent factions in the struggle for power in France.

2.Why did Calvinism appeal to the nobility in France?

3.How was Catherine de Medicis a politique? How was Henry of Navarre (Henry IV) a politique?

4.How did Protestant Resistance Theory change after the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre?

5.Doc. pg.396: Which articles of the Edict of Nantes do you believe would be the most difficult for the French people to follow? Explain your answer.

Thurs 10/13

1) Read: Kagan, pg. 395-404 (up to The Thirty Years’ War

2) Discussion: “Philip II, the Revolt in the Netherlands, & Elizabeth I”

--Discussion Questions

  1. Why was Philip II of Spain NOT considered a politique?
  2. In what specific ways does the Escorial Palace (pg. 429) serve as a symbol for the reign of Philip II?
  3. State some of the reasons why Philip was unable to subdue the rebellion in the Netherlands.
  4. Doc. pg. 400: Why did Philip II perceive William of Orange as such a threat? Why was it important that Spain gain control over the Netherlands?
  5. Contrast the policies toward religion of Mary I and Elizabeth I. Which would you consider to be a politique? Why?
  6. Identify the various religious groups in England during Elizabeth’s reign. How did she deal with each one?
  7. What was the significance of the defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588) to Spain? To England?

5)Extra Credit IDs due Friday, 10/14

Fri 10/14

1)Read: Kagan, pg. 404-413

2)Read: Crash Course, pages 67 - 71

3)Extra Credit IDs due today!!

4)Discussion: “The Thirty Years’ War”

--Discussion Questions

  1. Describe the conditions (political and religious) that led to the Thirty Years’ War.
  2. What was the distribution of religious groups throughout Europe in about 1600 (see map on pg. 440)?
  3. What were the four stages of the Thirty Years’ War? Identify the participants and describe the results of each stage.
  4. How was the Thirty Years’ War different from earlier “religious” wars? Why do some historians call it the first “modern war”?
  5. According to the Treaty of Westphalia, which countries were “winners”? Which were “losers”?

Mon 10/17

Read/Review: Crash Course, pages 47-71

1)Review for Unit II

Tues 10/18

1)Unit II SAQ and LEQ Exams

Wed 10/19

2)Unit II Objective Exam

3)Non Ex/Cr IDs due