A real difference in historical interpretation occurs during the 1970s as we see historians look out outward. They shift from looking at the central government to local cities and a greater emphasis is placed on the role of the people. Specifically in the writings of Steven G. Ellis and W. Stanford Reid, you see a focus on the impact of English Reform on the British Isles and the different strands of reform that develop. While a different strand of reformed thought was developing in Scotland, the evidence points to the fact that the populace was heavily involved in encouraging reform in the cities. For instance, Edinburgh had often been viewed as the political capital of the Scottish government and a town dominated by merchants with no possibility of strong Protestant strands. Through trading in France and the Netherlands, these burgh merchants had been exposed to reform ideas. Through this and the influence of John Knox, Reid argues that Edinburgh became a powerful seat of popular Scottish Reform in the period from 1555-1572. In the formative years of 1555-1560, the people were involved in Protestant acts, such as the burning of icons, attacking a royal procession on St. Giles Day, and refusing to take part in mass. The arrival of John Knox from Geneva not only angered the Queen Regent, Mary of Guise, but also guaranteed a foundation of popular reform in Edinburgh.
This reform was further accelerated under Knox’s appointment as minister of the St. Giles kirk. Knox was obviously well-liked based on the amount of money he was paid and was more than willing to take on Queen Mary Stuart who had returned from France, something that the merchant council really favored. When Knox was kicked out of the city by a Marian army, ...
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The Elizabethan Deliverance - Arthur Bryant Reformation and Revolution 1558-1660 - Robert Ashton Elizabeth and her Parliaments - J.E. Neales Elizabeth and her Reign - Richard Salter Elizabeth I and religion 1558-1603 - Susan Doran Tudor England - John Guy Elizabeth I - David Starkey
In The Voices of Morebath: Reformation and Rebellion in an English Village, renowned scholar Eamonn Duffy investigates the English Reformation. Duffy pears through the eyes of the priest of a small, remote village in Southwestern England. Using Sir Christopher Trichay’s records of the parish, Duffy illustrates an image of Reformation opposite of what is predominantly assumed. Duffy argues the transformation that took place between 1530 and 1570, through the transition of four monarchs, was much more gradual that many interpret. Even though state mandate religious change affected the community of Morebath, the change did not ensue the violence that is often construed with the Reformation. Sir Christopher Trichay’s leadership and his portrayal of community life, the development and removal of St. Sidwell, and the participation in the church through stores develop Duffy’s argument of appeasement rather than violence during the English Reformation.
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In conclusion, the Reformation brought about a wave of political devolution counteracting the surge of political centralization sweeping through post-Medieval Europe. The new religious sects which formed in the first half of the sixteenth century continued to separate themselves from the doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church, effecting not only the spiritual lives of the laity, but the social institutions of Europe for years to come. The war these religions will create will be a major part of European history in the years to come, with the conflict between Catholics, Lutherans, Calvinist, and other protestants defining the political landscape of Western Europe well into the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century is one of the most complex movements in European history since the fall of the Roman Empire. The Reformation truly ends the Middle Ages and begins a new era in the history of Western Civilization. The Reformation ended the religious unity of Europe and ushered in 150 years of religious warfare. By the time the conflicts had ended, the political and social geography in the west had fundamentally changed. The Reformation would have been revolutionary enough of itself, but it coincided in time with the opening of the Western Hemisphere to the Europeans and the development of firearms as effective field weapons. It coincided, too, with the spread of Renaissance ideals from Italy and the first stirrings of the Scientific Revolution. Taken together, these developments transformed Europe.
Wolffe, J. 1997. Religion in Victorian Britain. Manchester: Manchester University Press in association with the Open University
Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I may have been the English Reformation’s greatest benefactors, all because of self interest. Henry VIII was not originally Protestant, but after the pope denied him of his divorce, Henry VIII took things into his own hands. Due to the power kings had in the Middle Ages, Henry VIII was able to control Parliament and force it to do whatever he wanted. So in 1534, Henry VIII forced Parliament to pass a law he made known as the Act of Supremacy. The Act of Supremacy stated that the king ought to be the head of the Church of England. This law gave the king complete power over the Church of England, instead of the pope. However, the type of church and state relationship did not change. Rather all the Act of Supremacy did was take power from the pope and give it to the king. Surprisingly, the Catholics did not retaliate against this strong change. The pope had always been the head of the church, but now the king had taken his position. This serves as an example of nationalism. The Catholics did not think about how removing the pope could harm their religion in any way. However, instead the people blindly followed Henry VIII because he was the leader of the nation and they assumed he was right. Also, by imposing other laws that punished Protestants, Henry VIII did not give the people much of a choice. Fortunately, for Henry VII, nationalis...
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Different interpretations led to disagreements among the religious people. Near the 16th century, the protestant movement emerged in reaction to medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices. Protestantism influenced social, economic, political, and cultural life in any area that it gained a foothold (Nelson, E. C.).
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