The Reformation was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in particular to the authority of the pope, rising from what were perceived to be errors and abuses by the Catholic Church. The Reformation was the start of Protestantism and the split of the Western Church into Protestantism and what is now the Roman Catholic Church. It is also considered to be one of the events that signified the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the early modern period in Europe.

Prior to Martin Luther, there were numerous earlier reform movements. Although the Reformation is usually considered to have started with the publication of the Ninety-five Theses by Martin Luther in 1517, he was not excommunicated by Pope Leo X until January 1521. The Diet of Worms of May 1521 condemned Luther and officially banned citizens of the Holy Roman Empire from defending or propagating his ideas. The spread of Gutenberg’s printing press provided the means for the rapid dissemination of religious materials in the local vernacular.

9 lessons that answer the standards as well as the framing and supporting questions

Lessons are developed using all the sources and readings that are in the social studies course frameworks provided by the Louisiana Department of Education.

What does it include?

1. Detailed lesson plans aligned with the standards and frameworks
2. Activities that include all the materials provided in the frameworks
3. Assessments aligned with the new LDOE field test (Assessment will come in an update)
4. Lesson activity workbook/worksheets
5. Slide deck