World map

Key European Religous Events 1400-1948

By seibold
  • Great Schism started  1378-1417
    Jan 1, 1378

    Great Schism started 1378-1417

    A dispute in the Catholic Church regarding succession which divided the Church. In 1378 the papal court was based in Rome and an Italian was elected pope ( Pope Urban VI). The cardinals in the French group refused to accept him, declared his election void, and named Clement VII as pope. Clement withdrew to Avignon, while Urban remained in Rome.
  • John Wycliffe  Challenges Catholic Church(1328-1384)
    Jan 1, 1384

    John Wycliffe Challenges Catholic Church(1328-1384)

    Questioned the wordly wealth of the Catholic Church, the miracle of transubstantiation, the teaching of penance and the selling of indulgences.
  • John Hus  challenges Catholic Church (1369-1415)
    Jan 1, 1390

    John Hus challenges Catholic Church (1369-1415)

    Bohemian Hus was the rector of the University of Prague and he argued that it was the authority of the bible that mattered, not the institutional church.
  • Council of Constance
    Jan 1, 1415

    Council of Constance

    Pope Martin V declared Hus a heretic and had Hus was burned at stake, even though promised safe passage.
  • Gutenberg prints the Bible
    Jan 1, 1452

    Gutenberg prints the Bible

    Before Gutenberg, every book produced in Europe had to be copied by hand.
  • Start of  Spanish Inquisition (1478-1834)
    Jan 1, 1478

    Start of Spanish Inquisition (1478-1834)

    By 1492 Jews were killed or expelled from Spain.
  • Concordat of Bologna
    Jan 1, 1516

    Concordat of Bologna

    Agreement between Pope Leo X and King Francis I where the King gained power to appoint Bishops in France. This helped to keep France Catholic
  • Martin Luther posts 95 Theses
    Oct 30, 1517

    Martin Luther posts 95 Theses

    Luther posts 95 theses on door at church in Wittenberg. Argues faith alone leads to salvation, not good works. Acknowleges 2 holy sacraments versus 7.
  • Zwingli leads Reformation in Switzerland
    Jan 1, 1519

    Zwingli leads Reformation in Switzerland

    Petitioned for the right of clergy to marry in all Protestant lands.
  • Luther publishes 3 of his most important works
    Jan 1, 1520

    Luther publishes 3 of his most important works

    1) "Address to the Christian Nobility" --argued secular govt had a right to reform the Church
    2) "On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church"--attacked the teachings of the Church, such as sacraments

    3) "Liberty of a Christian Man" --said that grace is the sole gift, therefore, one is saved by faith alone.
  • Diet of Worms
    May 25, 1521

    Diet of Worms

    A meeting of German nobility where Charles V bans Martin Luther because of his religious beliefs.
  • Diet of Speyer
    Jan 1, 1529

    Diet of Speyer

    Charles V tried to reduce tension. He declared
    Edit of Worms to be implemented as each Prince saw fit.
    Church lands seized by reforming Princes were to remain in hand of the Princes and need not be returned to the Church
  • Augsburg Confession
    Jun 25, 1530

    Augsburg Confession

    Statement of beliefs and doctrines of the Lutherans,
  • Anabaptists take over City of Munster
    Jan 1, 1534

    Anabaptists take over City of Munster

    Anabaptists were a sect that believed baptism only worked when done by audults who are fully aware of what they are doing. Eventually, re-baptism declared a capital offense.
  • Act of Supremacy Passed in England
    Nov 1, 1534

    Act of Supremacy Passed in England

    King Henry VIII severs Church of England from Rome . Creates Anglican Church so that he can divorce his wife and remarry. Uses Parliament to give him ultimate religious power.
  • John Calvin published "Institutes of the Christian Religion"
    Jan 1, 1536

    John Calvin published "Institutes of the Christian Religion"

    Believes salvation comes only through predestination, but living a totally good life is a sign of being chosen to be saved
  • Society of Jesus formed (Jesuits)
    May 21, 1540

    Society of Jesus formed (Jesuits)

    Ignatius of Loyola founds. Jesuits promote Catholicism.
  • Council of Trent (1545-1563)
    May 21, 1545

    Council of Trent (1545-1563)

    Reforms Bishop and Priest Conduct. Reaffirms Catholic Doctrine, Papal authority and 7 sacraments, Communion, power of indulgences (not sale), power of good works and clergy celibacy.
  • The Schmalkaldic War
    May 22, 1546

    The Schmalkaldic War

    Fought between Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (Catholic)and the Schmalkaldic League(protestant).
  • "Bloody Mary'" begins her reign
    Jan 1, 1553

    "Bloody Mary'" begins her reign

    Tries to revert England to Catholocism
  • Pope Paul  IV orders Jews to live in Ghetto
    May 21, 1555

    Pope Paul IV orders Jews to live in Ghetto

    Jews were forced to live in a walled city and locked in at night.
  • Peace of Augsburg
    Aug 30, 1555

    Peace of Augsburg

    German Princes can now decide on the religion of their own state. Holy Roman Empire now divided between Catholics, Calvinists and Lutherans. Anabaptists not recognized
  • Elizabeth I stars her  rule
    Nov 17, 1558

    Elizabeth I stars her rule

    Enforces Protestantism through Acts of Uniformity but tolerates Catholicism
  • Pope Paul IV establishes INDEX
    May 21, 1559

    Pope Paul IV establishes INDEX

    Part of the Counter Reformation. It included a list of banned books.
  • St Bartholomew's Day Massacre
    Aug 24, 1572

    St Bartholomew's Day Massacre

    The most violent in a series of confrontations between French Catholics and Protestants.
  • Defeat of Spanish Armada

    Defeat of Spanish Armada

    King Phillip used Spanish Armada to try to invade England and Force back to Catholic Church
  • Edict of Nantes

    Edict of Nantes

    Bourbon King Henry IV declares a religious truce; official religion is Catholocism but Protestants are granted freedom.Huguenots allowed to practice faith.
  • Protestant Union Formed

    Protestant Union Formed

    Alliance of German Protestant leaders for purpose of defending the lands, and rights of each i member.
  • Truce in Netherlands declared

    Truce in Netherlands declared

  • Catholic League Formed

    Catholic League Formed

    Created as a response to the Protestant Union
  • Start of 30 Year War

    Start of 30 Year War

    The Thirty Years' War, 1618-1648, involved most of the major religious conflicts between Protestants and Catholics.
  • Edict of Restitution

    Edict of Restitution

    Attempt to restore the religious and territorial settlement after the Peace of Augsburg (1555). The "Ecclesiastical Reservation" forbade the s convertion of Cathlic land to some form of Protestant land after 1555.
  • Peace of Westphalia

    Peace of Westphalia

    These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648)
  • Britain passes Test Acts

    Britain passes Test Acts

    A religious test for public office. Intended to keep Catholics out.
  • Louis XIV of France revolked Edict of Nantes

    Louis XIV of France revolked Edict of Nantes

    Wanted to get rid of Calvinism in France
  • Toleration Acts in England

    Toleration Acts in England

    Act of Parliament granting freedom of worship to nonconformists
  • Act of Settlement

    Act of Settlement

    Prevented the English Catholic line from occupying the throne.
  • Peter the Great abolished the patriarchate i

    Peter the Great abolished the patriarchate i

    Peter the Great abolished dhe patriarchate in Orthodox churches. Also, established governmental organization called the Holy Synod which was staffed by secular officials, to administer and control the church.
  • Concordat of 1801

    Concordat of 1801

    Agreement between Napoleon Bonaparte and Pope Pius VII that reestablished the Roman Catholic Church in France.
  • Janissaries massacred Christians in Serbia

    Janissaries massacred Christians in Serbia

    Suspecting that the sultan wanted to curb their political power, the Janissaries revolted and massacred Christians in Serbia.
  • France named protector of the Holy Sepulcre

    France named protector of the Holy Sepulcre

    Set in motion Crimean War.
  • Doctrine of Papal Infallability

    Doctrine of Papal Infallability

    On matters of faith, Pope Pius stated that he could not make a mistake.
  • Anti-Semitism-Dreyfus Affair

    Anti-Semitism-Dreyfus Affair

    The Dreyfus case was the first case of modern anti-Semitism. A Jewish officer in the French Army, Captain Alfred Dreyfus, was wrongfully accused of spying on behalf of Germany. He was convicted and sent to prison. The real spy was eventually found.
  • Zionist Movement starts

    Zionist Movement starts

    Theodor Herzl publishes "The Jewish State"
  • Pogroms- intensify in Russia

    Pogroms- intensify in Russia

    Violent attacks against Jews.
  • Armenian Genocide

    Armenian Genocide

    Ottoman government killed its civilian Armenian population
  • Balfour Declaration

    Balfour Declaration

    Balfour declared his support for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in the area known as Palestine.
  • Soviet Union Nationalizes church property

    Soviet Union Nationalizes church property

    Lenin was suspicious of the church and atheism became mandatory for members of the ruling Russian Communist Party.
  • Turkey becomes secular

    Turkey becomes secular

    This was part of Ataturk’ s reforms
  • Compulsory Aryanization of all Jewish businesses.

    Compulsory Aryanization of all Jewish businesses.

    One more step for Hitler in stipping Jews of rights
  • Kristallnacht-The Night of Broken Glass

    Kristallnacht-The Night of Broken Glass

    A massive, coordinated attack on Jews .
  • Wannsee Conference

    Wannsee Conference

    SS coordinated the Final Solution in which the Nazis would attempt to exterminate the entire Jewish population of Europe, an estimated 11 million persons.
  • VE Day-End of WWII in Europe

    VE Day-End of WWII in Europe

    Unconditional German surrender
  • The State of Israel declared independence

    The State of Israel declared independence

    War immediately broke out with Arab neighbors.