In the early 1500s there were both economic and religious causes of German peasants revolts along with negative and positive responses to these rebellions. Germany in the early 1500s was fragmented by religion and social class. Revolts among the lower classes became relevant after the Renaissance, the posting of Martin Luther’s 95 theses in 1517, and after the Edict and Diet of Worms in 1521. Since the idea of humanism and the formation of the Protestant branch of religion, the peasants of Germany were dissatisfied with their religious and economic lives which led to revolts. As a result, several world leaders opinionated their different views which consisted of wether the rebellions in Germany were harmful or beneficial to the community. …show more content…
Thomas Muntzer supported the rebellions, he believed countries had finally stopped resisting God’s Will, and he supported the peasants taking down the unethical upper class (Doc 4). As a protestant preacher, Muntzer strived to kindle rebellions because he yearned for a drastic religious reform of the corrupt Catholic church (POV). Being the man that started the Reformation, Martin Luther supported the development of a new religion, but he did not support the violent process the peasants were using to further the reform (Doc 5). Luther was a man of strong faith and he understood that killing nobles, even if it was for God, was unchristian, therefore he didn’t endorse the German peasant revolts even though they were in his name (POV). Caspar Nutzel, similar to Luther, responded to the uprisings by saying that the authorities had been very suppressive, but the peasants did cross a line with their improper conduct (Doc 6). In 1526, the Decree of the Imperial Diet stated that wronged lords and noblemen were allowed to fully regain control of their estates and serfs (Doc 7). This decree was a direct response made by the assembly of imperial councilors and Emperor Charles V; during this time period the council consisted of only nobles and the wealthy, therefore the response toward the rebellions was quite negative because they were the ones being directly affected by the revolts (POV). The population of Germany responded differently to the peasants rebellions based on their viewpoints during that particular time
In the 1400s, the Church and religion were big focus points of daily lives for most people. However, as their influence continued to grow, the seeds of corruption began to sprout. Some people wanted change, including a monk by the name of Martin Luther. Martin Luther was a monk and professor at the University of Wittenberg who lectured on the Bible. However, while reading and preaching from the Bible, he found that faith was the key to salvation and not what the priests were saying.
In German nobleman Christoffel von Lichtenstein’s legal plea for leniency to Count Wilhelm von Henneberg on August 24, 1525, German peasants’ cruelty and estranged behavior is apparent. From Lichtenstein’s perspective and being a nobleman most anything the peasants did came out as evil and rebellious. He goes to say that even though he had grown up with peasants’ parents, and was a very old age, this held nothing with the peasants and that they went on to force him into signing an allegiance to them. In the last year that would experience the terrible rebellions committed by the peasants, most of them in southern Germany, Emperor Charles V and the formal assembly of imperial councilors and officials advising Emperor Charles V came to the
At the year 1524, Martin Luther, a significant figure in the Reformation and the founder of Lutheranism, had just finished hiding in Frederick the Wise’s Saxony castle after the Edict of Worms declared that he was an “outlaw” of the Holy Roman Empire. Luther’s action that led up to this event was the publication of the 95 Theses in 1517, which denounced indulgences and attacked the corruption of the papacy. Luther was able to remain hidden due to the extreme decentralization of the Holy Roman Empire. Emperor Charles V could not devote much of his attention to Luther, as he was controlling Spain, The Holy Roman Empire, and the New World.
“This rebellion has been undertaken to repress the princes and the nobility and has its ultimate source in Lutheran teaching, for the peasants relate the majority of their demands to the Word of God, the Gospel, and brotherly love.” (Doc. 1) This article sourced from the Chancellor of Bavaria shows how the peasant's view of lutheranism has sparked the revolt. Even in document 3 the Peasant Parliament of Swabia says that christ is the emperor, meaning that he controls everything and the actions they are committing is in is name again reveals a source for their outrage against the wealthy. “It is clear that the assertions they made in their Twelve Articles were nothing but lies presented under the name of the Gospel.”
Despite the fact that German Peasant Revolt killed countless people, it strengthened the German authority. Although German Peasant Revolt failed, like Thomas Muntzer stated on his letter to the people of Allstead (Document 7), Germany, France, and Italy gave their full attention to this revolt. There are social, religious, and economic causes that led to this revolt, including, but not limited to humanism, Lutheranism, and inflation, but responses were simple. People either decided that they approve it, disapprove it or it doesn’t matter to them.
These conditions made the German people feel weak, insignificant, and
The peasant revolts in the German states from 1524-1526 were caused primarily by the extended manipulation of many Lutheran ideals, as well as grievances toward their lords and superiors, while the responses of this revolt were solely condemning of those participating. The compassionate doctrines of the recently introduced lutheran doctrines provided much justification for the Peasant revolts of the 1520’s. Documents one and three demonstrate this idea of Lutheranism. Document one is of Leonhard von Eck, the Chancellor of Bavaria as he reports to the Duke of Bavaria.
Luther’s radical new ideas regarding religion excited the peasants of the German states and his ideas stated in documents such as his 95 theses acted as a catalyst for the revolts that erupted in the lower class between the years 1524 and 1526. Peasants believed the cause of these revolts were the mistreatment they received from their lords and ruling princes. Their acts of revolution were largely based on new radical ideas surrounding religion, and some even saw it as God’s will. A third cause cited by the peasants was a need for their release from serfdom.
Social DBQ Beginning in the 16th century, there was a growing unrest among the serfs primarily in modern day Germany. High taxes, joined with the fact that peasants had no opportunity to increase their social standing, let alone the right to do so, gave an atmosphere of disaccord between the noble, and lower class. Internalizing the egalitarian ideologies of Martin Luther, it was easy for the peasants to feel like they had greater place in among society. However, due to semi-feudalistic attitudes of those days, peasants were the lowest social class and needed to stay that way for such a social structure to function. Martin Luther’s teachings that through faith everyone could be equal in God’s eyes gave peasants a false sense of equality,
The peasants’ revolts in the German states occurred after the Reformation had gripped Europe. Religious figures at this time such as Martin Luther, and John Calvin, as well as writings like The Ninety-Five Theses, incited many peasants to look with new ideas about Catholicism and the clergy, which led to a call for reform, and later rebellion, the causes of which were mainly the oppression of lords against the lay people economically and physically, as well as extreme Lutheran teaching. Martin Luther, and those that were accused of the oppression, the nobles, responded by saying those that took part in the rebellion were unchristian, and should submit to proper authority, shaping the conflict and the rebellion.
An important figure during this time period was Thomas Müntzer. He was a priest and theologian who merged religious reform with social revolution. Although the movement was inspired by the ideas of Martin Luther, Müntzer preached equally against the Church and Luther, as he believed that they had humbled themselves to lay authorities. In an open letter to the people of Allstedt in 1525, Müntzer wrote, “How long are you going to resist G-d’s will?” (Document 6)
The Protestant Reformation had a huge impact in all Europe in the sixteen century, but which ones were the factors that lead to it? It is very important to highlight that the European Christianity was falling into a noticeable corruption of its popes and some other high position members. Robbery, and even warriors were among of some factors that took the Cristian Church to a declining path. One of these examples was the Pope Julius II, which one won the nickname “the warrior pope” because he led armies against people. Furthermore, the church was not the only factor promoting this reformation, some other social changes were occurring with the masses in Europe; many of the peasants were being free especially in the western Europe.
Martin Luther, a German professor and monk, made a large impact on society in the fifteen hundreds. His new ideas of Christianity changed the concept of how religion was viewed and practiced in the 16th century. Within his Ninety-five Theses, he questioned the authority of the Roman Catholic Church and brought to light the corruption surrounding the church while stating how Christianity should be practiced in different ways rather than what is being taught. It is important to understand his stances on religion to explain how different groups reacted to his ideas. While some parts of Europe accepted his ideologies into practice, others reject Luther for many different reasons.
The opposition Luther took against the Church soon had an instant impact on peasants. Individuals began to form opinions on both political and religious fields, but they had failed to interpret the beliefs of Luther correctly.
These ideas prompted many Catholics into finally correcting the church themselves and seeking Reformation. Martin Luther became the leading figure of the Reformation because he had openly challenged the authority of the Pope and attacked the practice of indulgences in his “Ninety-Five Theses” letter. Several other prominent Theologians such as John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli seized upon Luther’s beliefs and Reformation swept across 16th century Europe, leading eventually to