The Causes Of The Reformation

Question 1

The influence of the Renaissance:

Answer 1

• People began to question the power and the teachings of the Catholic Church.
• Humanism was important during the Renaissance. They said that people should read the Bible themselves and not just accept what they’re told by the bishops and priests.
• The invention if the printing press meant that people could now read the writings of humanists. As a result, their ideas spread quickly.

Question 2

The wealth of the Church:

Answer 2

• The church was the most powerful and wealthy organisation in Europe.
• People resented or disliked the wealth of the bishops and land owned by monasteries.
• Everyone in the community paid a tithe to the church. This made people very unhappy.

Question 3

The abuses within the Church (Church positions):

Answer 3

• As a result of bad leadership, a number of serious abuses developed in the Church.
• Some if the abuses includes simony, nepotism, pluralism and absenteeism.

Question 4

The power of the kings:

Answer 4

The Reformation gave the Kings a chance to push forward with their efforts to weaken the church and get some power back