The Renaissance and Reformation
Aligned to C3.D2.His.1 — C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
What this lesson teaches
The Renaissance was a rebirth of art and learning in Europe (roughly 1350-1600) rooted in humanism, which prized human potential and the study of classical Greek and Roman works. The Reformation began in 1517 when critics challenged the Catholic Church, splitting Western Christianity into Catholic and Protestant branches.
Worked example
In 1517 the German monk Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to a church door in Wittenberg, attacking the sale of indulgences and launching the Protestant Reformation.
Practice questions
- Define humanism in one sentence.
- Explain why the printing press helped spread Reformation ideas quickly.
- Analyze how the Renaissance emphasis on questioning authority may have made the Reformation possible.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
El Renacimiento y la Reforma
El Renacimiento fue un renacer del arte y del saber en Europa (aproximadamente 1350-1600) basado en el humanismo, que valoraba el potencial humano y el estudio de las obras clásicas griegas y romanas. La Reforma comenzó en 1517, cuando algunos críticos desafiaron a la Iglesia católica y dividieron al cristianismo occidental en las ramas católica y protestante.
Ejemplo: En 1517, el monje alemán Martín Lutero clavó sus Noventa y Cinco Tesis en la puerta de una iglesia en Wittenberg, atacando la venta de indulgencias e iniciando la Reforma protestante.
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