Humanism and Reformation: A Deep Dive into 15th-16th Century Europe

Humanism and the Reformation: Key Movements in Europe

Humanism was a philosophical and cultural movement that spread in 15th and 16th-century Europe. It marked a shift from:

• The medieval theocentric viewpoint, where all activities revolved around God.
• The anthropocentric viewpoint, where human intelligence was the key to understanding and interpreting the universe.

Humanists emphasized:

• The use of reason and experience.
• A deep curiosity about the world.
• Inspiration from the cultural inheritance of antiquity.

Most medieval texts were written in Latin.

Key Figures of Humanism

• Erasmus of Rotterdam: A Dutch humanist who admired ancient Greece and Rome. One of his most famous works was *The Praise of Folly*.
• Thomas More: Born in London, he was executed by Henry VIII for refusing to accept the break with the Catholic Church. He wrote *Utopia*.
• Nicolas Copernicus: An astronomer who presented the heliocentric theory, proposing that the Sun, not the Earth, was the center of the universe.
• Andreas Vesalius: A doctor who published *The Structure of the Human Body*.
• Miguel Servet: Discovered the pulmonary circulation of the blood.
• Leonardo da Vinci: A prominent scientist who made significant contributions to hydraulic and aerodynamic mechanics. Some of his inventions include propellers, windmills, the flying machine, the tank, and the warship.

(The Treaty of Tordesillas established a line of division between Castilian and Portuguese territories along a meridian.)

The Reformation

The Reformation was a religious movement in the 16th century that grew out of widespread criticism of the Catholic Church. Key factors included:

• The higher clergy, often from noble families, lived a life of luxury.
• The Pope issued indulgences.
• Printing led to more copies of the Bible being in circulation.

Key Figures and Movements of the Reformation

Martin Luther criticized the Pope and clerical corruption. His key beliefs included:

• People are saved by their faith.
• Christians can reach God directly through prayer.
• The only true sacraments are Baptism and Eucharist.
• The cult of the Virgin and saints should be suppressed.

• In Germany, many noblemen saw an opportunity to rebel against the domination of Charles V.
• In Geneva, John Calvin founded Calvinism, based on the idea of predestination.
• In England, Henry VIII broke with Rome when the Pope refused to grant him a divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

The Counter-Reformation

The Counter-Reformation was a reform movement within the Catholic Church. Key aspects included:

1. The Council of Trent adopted a series of resolutions:
   • It confirmed the authority of the Pope.
   • It reformed some practices, prohibited the sale of indulgences, and established seminaries, the catechism, and the creation of schools.
2. Religious Orders: The Society of Jesus was founded by Ignatius of Loyola, and the Carmelites were reformed under Saint Teresa of Ávila.