Luther and the German Reformation, c1515-55 | Edexcel A-Level History (9HI0)

Luther and the German Reformation, c1515-55

160 questions
16 subtopics
Paper 2: the depth study, one option of sixteen
Paper 2

A Paper 2 depth study of the German Reformation from the eve of the Ninety-Five Theses to the Peace of Augsburg, covering the Empire and its Church, the development of Luther's beliefs and his break with Rome, his attitude to radicalism and to the Peasants' War, and the political struggle between Charles V, the princes and the papacy..

It covers the Holy Roman Empire, the state of the German economy, the German Catholic Church, the papacy and Germany, the influences on Luther’s views, the Ninety-Five Theses 1517, the shaping of Luther’s beliefs, luther’s excommunication 1520, the Diet of Worms and its aftermath, luther’s attitude to religious and political radicalism, lutheran beliefs and their influence, luther’s declining influence, 1530–46, the failure of Lutheran-Catholic negotiations, the role of the German princes, charles V and Lutheranism and the papacy and Lutheranism.

Sample questions from Luther and the German Reformation, c1515-55

Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.

The Holy Roman Empire

What assembly of princes and cities advised and negotiated with the Emperor?

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The Imperial Diet (Reichstag).
The German Catholic Church

What was the condition of the parish clergy?

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Often poorly educated and poorly paid, many non-resident or holding several benefices, and widely criticised for concubinage and for charging fees.
The influences on Luther’s views

How did Luther's monastic experience shape his theology?

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His scrupulous confession and inability to feel forgiven convinced him that human effort could never satisfy God's righteousness, driving him towards justification by faith.
The shaping of Luther’s beliefs

What happened at the meeting with Cajetan in 1518?

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The papal legate demanded recantation at Augsburg; Luther refused, arguing from scripture, and fled the city fearing arrest.
The Diet of Worms and its aftermath

What major work did Luther complete while hidden at the Wartburg?

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His German translation of the New Testament (1522).
Lutheran beliefs and their influence

At which 1529 meeting did Luther and Zwingli fail to agree over the Eucharist?

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The Marburg Colloquy.
The failure of Lutheran-Catholic negotiations

What was the Protestation of 1529?

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The formal protest of six princes and fourteen cities against the revocation, from which the term Protestant derives.
Charles V and Lutheranism

What 1555 settlement finally recognised Lutheranism within the Empire?

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The Peace of Augsburg.

The 16 subtopics

One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.

Subtopic	What it covers	Questions
The Holy Roman Empire	Recall questions on the powers of the Emperor and the princes, the seven electors, the Diet and the Reichsregiment, the free cities, and why fragmentation mattered.	10
The state of the German economy	Recall questions on the wealth of the trading cities, the Fuggers, the trade routes, the pressure on the peasantry, and the density of the printing network.	10
The German Catholic Church	Recall questions on the secular power of bishops, the condition of the parish clergy, anticlericalism, the strength of popular piety, and the Gravamina.	10
The papacy and Germany	Recall questions on the corruption of the papal court, annates and other exactions, why the 1517 indulgence was sold, and Tetzel's preaching.	10
The influences on Luther’s views	Recall questions on his monastic experience, the influence of Augustine and of humanism, Staupitz, and his objections to scholastic theology.	10
The Ninety-Five Theses 1517	Recall questions on their form and argument, the claim about the pope and purgatory, how they circulated, the door story, and what Luther intended.	10
The shaping of Luther’s beliefs	Recall questions on the letter to Albert of Mainz, Rome's early response, the meeting with Cajetan, the Leipzig Debate, and the appeal to scripture alone.	10
Luther’s excommunication 1520	Recall questions on the tower experience and justification by faith, the three treatises of 1520, the priesthood of all believers, and the burning of the bull.	10
The Diet of Worms and its aftermath	Recall questions on why Luther was heard at all, what he said, Charles V's response, the Edict of Worms, and why it was never enforced.	10
Luther’s attitude to religious and political radicalism	Recall questions on Carlstadt and the Zwickau prophets, the Twelve Articles, Luther's tracts on the Peasants' War, and what the defeat of 1525 changed.	10
Lutheran beliefs and their influence	Recall questions on justification, the German Mass, the Real Presence, the Bible translation, the hymns, and the spread of Lutheranism to Scandinavia.	10
Luther’s declining influence, 1530–46	Recall questions on Melanchthon and the Loci Communes, the Augsburg Confession, the Wittenberg Concord, the Hesse bigamy, and Luther's later polemic.	10
The failure of Lutheran-Catholic negotiations	Recall questions on the Diets of Speyer and the Protestation, the Confutation, the Regensburg talks of 1541, and why agreement proved impossible.	10
The role of the German princes	Recall questions on Frederick the Wise's protection, the conversion of Albrecht of Hohenzollern, the Schmalkaldic League, and why princes adopted the new faith.	10
Charles V and Lutheranism	Recall questions on his competing commitments in Spain, France and against the Ottomans, the limited help from Catholic princes, and the victory at Muhlberg.	10
The papacy and Lutheranism	Recall questions on the failure to respond early, the sack of Rome, Paul III's reforms, the Consilium of 1537, and why Trent came too late.	10

Luther and the German Reformation, c1515-55 is 160 of the 6,832 questions in the guide.Get the guide, £9

How the guide is worked

Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.

Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.

Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.