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The Age of Religious Wars (topic overview)
- late 16th-early 17th centuries
- bloody conflict b/w Protestants and Catholics across Europe
- caused by both religious conflicts and bitter dynastic rivalries
- Calvinists vs. Catholic rulers (France, Netherlands, England, Scotland- mid to late 16th century); fought for right to govern territories/practice religion openly
- Lutherans vs. Calvinists vs. Catholics (N. and Central Europe- 30 Years' War)
- English Puritans revolted against Stuart monarchy and Anglican Church by mid-17th century
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Renewed Religious Struggle
- religious conflict usually in central Europe (early to mid 16th century); Lutherans and Zwinglians struggled to secure rights and freedoms
- Calvinists fought for recognition in France, the Netherlands, England, and Scotland (mid to late 16th century)
- Lutheranism became legal religion in H.R.E after Peace of Augsburg (1555); didn't recognize non-Lutheran Protestants (Anabaptists and Calvinists were considered heretics)
- struggle for religious freedom increased in most countries outside H.R.E
- after Council of Trent (1563) Catholics began Counter-Reformation led by Jesuits
- Geneva became refuge for persecuted Protestants and int. school for Protestant resistance
- Calvinism adopted organization that increased regional and local religious authority; board of presbyters (elders) represented individual groups of Calvinists; directly shaped policy
- Counter-Reformation adopted centralized church; hierarchy (pope-->priest); pope and his bishops had the most power
- Calvinism appealed to people who preferred political decentralization; Roman Catholic Church devoted to one head and one law
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Baroque Style
- successor to mannerism
- presented life in grandiose, 3-d display of raw energy
- Peter Paul Rubens, Gianlorenzo Bernini (Catholics)
- demonstrates opposition b/w Calvinism and Catholicism
- Catholic Counter-Reformation preferred baroque style
- Protestant artists were restrained
- Rembrandt van Rijn (Dutch Mennonite)
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Renewed Religious Struggle (cont.)
- intellectuals perceived wisdom of religious pluralism and toleration more quickly than politicians
- skepticism, relativism, and individualism became
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