AP Euro Unit 2 REVIEW (Everything You NEED to Know)

Summary

This video script offers a comprehensive review of Unit 2 in the AP European History curriculum, focusing on the Protestant Reformation and the Wars of Religion. It discusses the causes of the Reformation, including corruption within the Catholic Church, and the pivotal roles of Martin Luther and John Calvin. The script also covers the social and political impacts of the Reformation, the rise of Protestantism, and the Catholic Reformation. It highlights key events like the Peace of Augsburg, the 30 Years' War, and the Peace of Westphalia, emphasizing their significance in shaping modern Europe.

Takeaways

• 🏰 The Protestant Reformation and the Wars of Religion are pivotal to understanding Unit 2 of the AP European History curriculum.
• 📜 The first major split in the Christian church occurred in 1054, resulting in the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
• 💼 By the 1500s, the Catholic Church had become deeply entangled in politics and corruption, including simony, nepotism, and the selling of indulgences.
• 🙏 Martin Luther's 95 Theses, nailed to the Wittenberg church door in 1517, sparked the Protestant Reformation as a call for the Church's reform.
• 📚 The printing press played a crucial role in spreading Luther's ideas and those of other reformers across Europe.
• 🇨🇭 John Calvin's teachings, including the doctrines of predestination and the elect, significantly influenced the development of Protestantism, especially in Switzerland.
• 🔍 The Anabaptists differed from Luther and Calvin on the issue of baptism, believing it should be reserved for adult believers.
• 🗡 The Wars of Religion led to armed conflicts between European states, including the French Wars of Religion and the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire.
• 🕊 The Edict of Nantes in 1598 marked a step towards religious toleration in France, allowing Huguenots to worship without harassment.
• 🌍 The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 ended the Thirty Years' War and is considered a turning point in European history, recognizing the division of Christianity and the decline of the Holy Roman Empire.

Q & A

What was the significance of the year 1054 in the Christian church?

In 1054, the first major split of the Christian church occurred, resulting in the separation of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church.

How did the Roman Catholic Church's involvement in politics and wealth accumulation lead to corruption?

The Roman Catholic Church's entanglement in politics and accumulation of wealth during the 1500s led to corruption through practices like simony (buying and selling of church offices), nepotism (appointing family and friends to church offices), and the selling of indulgences (offering a way to buy salvation or release from purgatory).

What were Martin Luther's main grievances that led to the Protestant Reformation?

Martin Luther's main grievances included the sale of indulgences, the belief that salvation was earned through faith and good works, and the church's hierarchical structure. He believed that salvation was by grace alone through faith, as taught by the Book of Romans in the New Testament.

What was the role of the printing press in spreading Martin Luther's 95 Theses?

The printing press allowed Martin Luther's 95 Theses to be rapidly disseminated throughout the German states of the Holy Roman Empire, sparking widespread discussion and support for his criticisms of the church.

Why did the Diet of Worms trial result in Martin Luther's excommunication?

The Diet of Worms demanded Martin Luther's recantation of his theses and interpretations of the scriptures. Luther refused to recant, leading to his excommunication.

How did the Protestant Reformation lead to armed conflicts in Europe?

The Protestant Reformation's challenge to the Catholic Church's authority and practices led to religious and political conflicts, such as the French Wars of Religion and the Thirty Years' War, which resulted in armed conflicts between European states.

What were the main differences between John Calvin's teachings and those of Martin Luther?

While both Calvin and Luther were Protestant reformers, they disagreed on the doctrine of salvation. Calvin introduced the doctrine of predestination, which stated that God had already decided who would be saved, whereas Luther believed in salvation through faith alone.

How did the Peace of Augsburg (1555) attempt to resolve religious conflicts in the Holy Roman Empire?

The Peace of Augsburg allowed individual rulers within the Holy Roman Empire to decide whether their people would be Lutheran or Catholic, effectively legalizing both faiths within the empire.

What was the significance of the Peace of Westphalia (1648) in terms of European history?

The Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years' War and marked the end of Europe's religious wars. It amended the Peace of Augsburg to include Calvinism, maintained the Holy Roman Emperor's weakness, and hastened the decline of the Holy Roman Empire.

How did the Catholic Reformation respond to the criticisms of the Protestant Reformation?

The Catholic Reformation, also known as the Counter-Reformation, involved the establishment of the Roman Inquisition, an Index of Prohibited Books, and the Council of Trent, which aimed to reform the Catholic Church and reaffirm its doctrines, thus solidifying the division within Christianity.