Northern Humanism – the philosophers involved I this humanists movement dealt with the knowledge of the classics. By returning to antiquity they consulted the sources of early Christianity and discovered the original simplicity which had been distorted over the years

Erasmus – [Desiderius Erasmus, Christian Humanist] Humanist philosopher who was responsible for the reform program of Christian Humanism. He wrote The Praise of Folly in which he discussed the deterioration of the church in a humorous criticism.

Thomas More – [Italian Humanists] He was responsible for writing Utopia in which he discusses the idealistic life and institutions of his Utopia. He envisioned a society where power and fame would be eliminated and cooperation among people would be present. Communal ownership was a main aspect of this society.

Martin Luther – began the Protestant Reformation. The sale of indulgences and other abuses in the church prompted him to speak out with his Ninety Five Theses which listed all these abuses. He was also responsible for starting Lutheranism; a new religion.

Diet of Worms – Luther was ordered to appear here before Reichstag of the Holy Roman Empire and Charles V to recant his doctrines. Instead Luther held on to his beliefs and was excommunicated for them.

Lutheranism – The reformed church of Martin Luther. This new reformed religion spread rapidly through Europe with the help of the printing press and its great appeal. This religion held the belief of faith being most important for salvation and consubstantiation.

Pope Leo X – Pope at the time of Luther who made a business of selling indulgences and church offices. He fueled Luther into action with such corruption.

Printing Press – a new process of printing which had movable metal type. Johannes Gutenberg completed this new process. Helped to rapidly spread ideas throughout Europe.

Petrarch – father of Humanism. He condemned the Middle Ages for being dark and criticized its philosophy. He said philosophy "should be the art of living" rather then being solely concerned with logic.

Ninety five Theses – Martin Luther’s list of the corruptions in the church which had to be reformed for its survival. Included in this list was the dishonest sale of indulgences.

John Wycliff – criticized Catholic Church for its corruption. Believed that the clergy had no claims to temporal authority and they should be stripped of it and their property. He has be said to have had a very strong influence on the Reformation.

John Hus – called for clerical reform in Bohemia. He believed that the excessive power of the papacy should be eliminated if reform was to be possible. He was burned at the stake as a heretic in 1415.

Modern Devotion – movement which called for a tranquil spirituality. Members of this movement stressed a person’s inner spirit and direct communion with God. In turn this movement added to the decreasing prestige of the church.

Oration on the Dignity of Man – written by Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, it discussed the human person’s potential. He believed god was responsible for this unlimited potential. He saw humanism as "as the science of the Divine."

Lollards – a group which came out of the theology of john Wycliff. This group of people wanted the corruption of the church and its clergy to be eliminated. They believed that the religious should not have such strong authority.

Inquisition – a holy office which in 1542 concentrated on the doctrines of the catholic Church and made sure to root out all errors in it. This office received much power when Cardinal Caraffa was made Pope Paul IV.

Index of Prohibited Books – list of books, created by Pope Paul IV, which Catholics were forbidden to read. All Protestant writings, including Luther’s Ninety Five Theses and Erasmus’s writings, were on the list.

 Council of Trent – council, which included all ranks of the clergy, that met to put the religious differences caused by the Protestant Reformation to rest. This council met from 1545 to 1563 in three major sessions.

Pope Alexander VI – a member of the Borgia family who became pope and practised nepotism in the church; adding to the corruption in the church. He brought scandal to the church through encouraging his son to make territorial states in the papal states.

The Oratory of Divine Love – (Italy) informal group of clergy and laymen who called for reform through spiritual development and cats of charity.

Jesuits (Society of Jesus) – new religious order that became very involved in the Catholic Reformation. Their beliefs included strict obedience to the papacy, hierarchical society, education to achieve goals, and to engage in "conflict for God."

Pope Paul III – pope who recognized that reform was needed. He held both a commission to study the failing conditions of the church and a colloquy to compromise with the Protestants on doctrinal issues.

Thirty Year’s War – often called "last of the religious wars," was an outbreak between Catholics and Calvinists. The war took place mostly in Germany but soon involved all of Europe.