Study Guide to the Religious wars following the Reformation
What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding:
Ninetyish Years of Religious Warfare
Text: Western Civilization, pp. 402-410; 446-454
Please answer the following questions in complete sentences. Think of these questions as essay prompts. You should write your answer as if you were writing the introductory paragraph to the question (but don't write the whole essay).
1. How did politics shape the religious positions of the French leaders during the last half of the sixteenth century? What led to the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre, and what did it achieve?
During the mid 1500s Calvinism was spreading through France. By the late 1500s about 10 percent of the population of France had converted to Calvinism. The Valois monarchs continued to be staunch Catholics and because of support from the Vatican, they showed no sign of wavering. However after Henry II was killed his wife Catherine de’ Medici took over the government. Catherine was a more moderate Catholic and was willing to make compromises with the French Calvinists or Huguenots. The radical Catholics, led by the Guise family, refused to let that happen. In 1562 the Duke of Guise massacred a peaceful congregation of Huguenots. This plunged France into a civil war. In 1572 the fighting was apparently over after a marriage was arranged between the daughter of Catherine de’Medici and Henry of Navarre, the leader of the Huguenots. During the wedding however the Catholics massacred many of the Huguenot leadership, hoping to reinstate Catholicism. The massacre which is now called St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre. During that day and the three that followed 3,000 Huguenots were killed including some leaders.
2. How did Spain gain a position of dominance in the sixteenth century? Spain grew to a position of dominance because of its almost Catholic fanaticism, centralized government and government-regulated army. When most of the other countries in Europe were being torn apart, most of Spain
Ninetyish Years of Religious Warfare
Text: Western Civilization, pp. 402-410; 446-454
Please answer the following questions in complete sentences. Think of these questions as essay prompts. You should write your answer as if you were writing the introductory paragraph to the question (but don't write the whole essay).
1. How did politics shape the religious positions of the French leaders during the last half of the sixteenth century? What led to the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre, and what did it achieve?
During the mid 1500s Calvinism was spreading through France. By the late 1500s about 10 percent of the population of France had converted to Calvinism. The Valois monarchs continued to be staunch Catholics and because of support from the Vatican, they showed no sign of wavering. However after Henry II was killed his wife Catherine de’ Medici took over the government. Catherine was a more moderate Catholic and was willing to make compromises with the French Calvinists or Huguenots. The radical Catholics, led by the Guise family, refused to let that happen. In 1562 the Duke of Guise massacred a peaceful congregation of Huguenots. This plunged France into a civil war. In 1572 the fighting was apparently over after a marriage was arranged between the daughter of Catherine de’Medici and Henry of Navarre, the leader of the Huguenots. During the wedding however the Catholics massacred many of the Huguenot leadership, hoping to reinstate Catholicism. The massacre which is now called St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre. During that day and the three that followed 3,000 Huguenots were killed including some leaders.
2. How did Spain gain a position of dominance in the sixteenth century? Spain grew to a position of dominance because of its almost Catholic fanaticism, centralized government and government-regulated army. When most of the other countries in Europe were being torn apart, most of Spain