Unit 1

Renaissance: The Origins of a Western Worldview

Lesson 3

How did changing leadership in the Catholic Church affect worldview?

During the Renaissance, a struggle for power occurred between the pope and the kings.

The Church had much power and had become corrupt. It had become extremely rich by taxing and tithing, and scholars began to question its power.

The painting in Figure 4.1 shows a man named Martin Luther in a very rebellious moment. To us, the image does not look rebellious - he is just nailing something on a door, but this act made him famous and caused a revolution in the religious views of the time. This religious revolution continues to be important today.

Watch

Even before Martin Luther, another rebel was against the Catholic Church.

Click the link to watch the video, The Burning of Girolama Savonarola, to learn about the famous and influential Girolama Savonarola. The narrator pretends to be Savonarola talking about his own life.

Please start the video at 1:19 and stop at 5:16.

Martin Luther

Martin Luther was the next person who fought against the Catholic Church.

Click the link to watch the video, Martin Luther - Protestant Reformation, to learn about Martin Luther and the reasons he started his revolution against the Catholic Church.

Stop the video at 2:54.