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High school students will analyze the causes and outcomes of the Protestant Revolt and will get an in-depth analysis of the important personalities of the period, coupled with a philosophical explication of their varied ideologies; a Catholic apologetic to Protestant doctrines will also be present throughout the series.
Total classes: 12
Prerequisite: None, although Mr. Campbell recommends his “Catholic Middle Ages” as well as his sort course “Foundations of Christian Historiography,” both of which are great for filling in background information.
Suggested grade level: 11th to 12th grade, but 9th and 10th graders who have good reading skills should be fine as well.
Suggested credit: 1 semester of history.
Description
High school students will analyze the causes and outcomes of the Protestant Revolt and will get an in-depth analysis of the important personalities of the period, coupled with a philosophical explication of their varied ideologies; a Catholic apologetic to Protestant doctrines will also be present throughout the series. We will begin by looking at the precursors to the Revolt, beginning in the aftermath of the Western Schism, and will end with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 at the end of the last of the religious wars. There will also be an emphasis on the importance of the “Counter-Reformation” within the Catholic Church and how it shaped Catholic identity for the succeeding centuries.
Outline
Christianity & Christendom: A brief review of growth of the Christian Church in the Middle Ages and the establishment of “Christendom” as a united, political expression of a Catholic world view.
Origins of the Revolt: A look at several religious and political factors that led to the revolt (the Avignon Papacy, Western Schism, growth of nationalism and the printing press).
Martin Luther & Lutheranism: Biographical sketch of Luther, the historical origin of his ideas and Lutheran theology compared to the Church’s teachings.
Germany on Fire: 1525-1555: A look at how the incendiary writings of Luther led to the Peasant’s Revolt of 1525 and ushered in a generation of warfare in Germany.
Anglicanism: the via media: The origins of the Anglican schism in the divorce proceedings of Henry VIII and the manner in which the old Faith was eradicated in England.
Calvin & Knox: The historical origin and theology of the more “Puritan” elements of Protestantism and their vision of society.
Consolidation of English Protestantism: The anti-Catholic measures of Edward VI and Elizabeth of England and the execution of Mary Queen of Scots.
The True Reformation: A look at the true Reformation, the so-called “Counter Reformation” of the Church and the Council of Trent.
French Wars of Religion: A look at the religious strife in late 16th century France between the Catholics and the Huguenots.
The Spanish-English Wars: The dissolution of Anglo-Spanish relations, culminating in the epic and disastrous defeat of the Spanish in 1588; the origin of the “Black Legend” of Spanish cruelty.
The Thirty Years’ War: The final religious conflict in Europe that raged from 1618 to 1648 and how it changed the political and religious outlook of Europe.
The Stalemate: Survey of the state of the revolt in various countries by 1648 and how the mentality of the revolt took root in the development of the American colonies.
Materials and Homework
Course Materials: Readings are taken from The Rending of Christendom Primary Document Catholic Study Course by Phillip Campbell. Answer Key: You will also need The Rending of Christendom Answer Key (click on book titles to order) if you would like assistance in grading essays. Please note, books are print on demand which means they must first be printed before they are shipped. Shipping can take up to 14 business days.
Homework: Homework consists of readings from the sourcebook, as well as the completion of a series of mini-essay questions and short quizzes weekly. Estimated homework time for the entire week, including watching recorded lectures and reviewing notes, is 3.5 hours per week.
