AQA A-level History · 2C

The Reformation in Europe, c1500–1564 (A-level only)

50 exam-style questions with answers for 2C The Reformation in Europe, c1500–1564 (A-level only) in AQA A-level History (spec 7042). Practise with flashcards, a topic quiz, a random quiz across the course, 5 crosswords, or read every question and answer below. Not official AQA material.

All 50 questions and answers

Question 1 · Spec 2C, Part one
State two criticisms of the Church c1500. [2 marks]
Answer:
Any two from: simony (1); pluralism and absenteeism (1); clerical ignorance (1); immorality of popes such as Alexander VI (1); sale of indulgences (1).
Question 2 · Spec 2C, Part one
Define the term ‘indulgence’. [1 mark]
Answer:
A remission of punishment in purgatory for sins, which could be obtained through payment.
Question 3 · Spec 2C, Part one
Who was Erasmus? [1 mark]
Answer:
A Dutch humanist scholar who criticised Church abuses and published a Greek New Testament (1516).
Question 4 · Spec 2C, Part one
Define the term ‘humanism’. [1 mark]
Answer:
A movement returning to classical and biblical sources in their original languages.
Question 5 · Spec 2C, Part one
Who was Johann Tetzel? [1 mark]
Answer:
A Dominican friar who sold indulgences to fund St Peter’s in Rome.
Question 6 · Spec 2C, Part one
When did Luther publish the 95 Theses? [1 mark]
Answer:
31 October 1517.
Question 7 · Spec 2C, Part one
State two of Luther’s key beliefs. [2 marks]
Answer:
Any two from: justification by faith alone (1); scripture alone as authority (1); the priesthood of all believers (1).
Question 8 · Spec 2C, Part one
What was the Leipzig Disputation (1519)? [1 mark]
Answer:
A debate with Johann Eck in which Luther questioned papal and council authority.
Question 9 · Spec 2C, Part one
Name two of Luther’s 1520 treatises. [2 marks]
Answer:
Any two from: To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation (1); The Babylonian Captivity of the Church (1); On the Freedom of a Christian (1).
Question 10 · Spec 2C, Part one
How did printing help the Reformation? [1 mark]
Answer:
Luther’s pamphlets spread quickly and cheaply across Germany.
Question 11 · Spec 2C, Part one
What happened at the Diet of Worms (1521)? [2 marks]
Answer:
Luther refused to recant before Charles V (1); the Edict of Worms declared him an outlaw (1).
Question 12 · Spec 2C, Part one
Who protected Luther after Worms? [1 mark]
Answer:
Frederick the Wise of Saxony, who hid him at the Wartburg.
Question 13 · Spec 2C, Part one
Who were the Zwickau prophets? [1 mark]
Answer:
Radical preachers who claimed direct revelation from God and came to Wittenberg in 1521.
Question 14 · Spec 2C, Part one
What was the Peasants’ War (1524–1525)? [2 marks]
Answer:
A large peasant rising in Germany demanding economic and religious change (1); Luther condemned it and it was crushed (1).
Question 15 · Spec 2C, Part one
Who was Zwingli? [1 mark]
Answer:
The Swiss reformer in Zurich, killed at the Second Kappel War in 1531.
Question 16 · Spec 2C, Part one
What was the Marburg Colloquy (1529)? [1 mark]
Answer:
A meeting where Luther and Zwingli failed to agree on the Eucharist.
Question 17 · Spec 2C, Part one
What was the Augsburg Confession (1530)? [1 mark]
Answer:
The statement of Lutheran beliefs drafted by Melanchthon.
Question 18 · Spec 2C, Part one
What was the Schmalkaldic League? [1 mark]
Answer:
A defensive alliance of Lutheran princes formed in 1531.
Question 19 · Spec 2C, Part one
What was the role of the Church courts c1500? [1 mark]
Answer:
They dealt with clergy, marriage, wills and moral offences.
Question 20 · Spec 2C, Part one
What was the Lateran Council (1512–1517)? [1 mark]
Answer:
A council called to reform the Church, which achieved little.
Question 21 · Spec 2C, Part one
Who were the Imperial Knights? [1 mark]
Answer:
Minor nobles who supported Luther and rebelled in 1522–1523.
Question 22 · Spec 2C, Part one
Who was Philip Melanchthon? [1 mark]
Answer:
Luther’s colleague who systematised Lutheran theology.
Question 23 · Spec 2C, Part one
What was the Diet of Speyer (1529)? [1 mark]
Answer:
It reversed toleration of Lutherans, leading princes to issue the ‘Protestation’, origin of the term Protestant.
Question 24 · Spec 2C, Part two
Who were the Anabaptists? [1 mark]
Answer:
Radicals who rejected infant baptism and often wanted separation from the state.
Question 25 · Spec 2C, Part two
What was the Münster Rebellion (1534–1535)? [1 mark]
Answer:
Anabaptists seized Münster and set up a radical kingdom, crushed in 1535.
Question 26 · Spec 2C, Part two
What was the Diet of Regensburg (1541)? [1 mark]
Answer:
Talks to reconcile Catholics and Protestants, which failed.
Question 27 · Spec 2C, Part two
When was Calvin’s Institutes first published? [1 mark]
Answer:
1536.
Question 28 · Spec 2C, Part two
State two features of Calvin’s Geneva. [2 marks]
Answer:
Any two from: the Consistory supervised morals (1); the Ecclesiastical Ordinances (1541) (1); four orders of ministry (1); strict discipline (1).
Question 29 · Spec 2C, Part two
Define the term ‘predestination’. [1 mark]
Answer:
The belief that God has already decided who will be saved.
Question 30 · Spec 2C, Part two
Who was Servetus? [1 mark]
Answer:
A theologian executed in Geneva in 1553 for denying the Trinity.
Question 31 · Spec 2C, Part two
Name two countries where Calvinism spread by 1564. [2 marks]
Answer:
Any two from: France (Huguenots) (1); Scotland (1); the Netherlands (1); parts of Germany (1); Poland (1).
Question 32 · Spec 2C, Part two
What was the Schmalkaldic War (1546–1547)? [1 mark]
Answer:
Charles V defeated the Lutheran princes at Mühlberg.
Question 33 · Spec 2C, Part two
What did the Peace of Augsburg (1555) agree? [1 mark]
Answer:
Cuius regio, eius religio: each prince could choose Lutheranism or Catholicism for his state.
Question 34 · Spec 2C, Part two
When did Charles V abdicate? [1 mark]
Answer:
1555–1556.
Question 35 · Spec 2C, Part two
Who was Paul III? [1 mark]
Answer:
The pope who began Catholic reform, approved the Jesuits and called the Council of Trent.
Question 36 · Spec 2C, Part two
What was the Consilium de emendanda ecclesia (1537)? [1 mark]
Answer:
A papal report admitting Church abuses and proposing reforms.
Question 37 · Spec 2C, Part two
When was the Roman Inquisition set up? [1 mark]
Answer:
1542.
Question 38 · Spec 2C, Part two
What was the Index? [1 mark]
Answer:
The list of banned books, first issued by Paul IV in 1559.
Question 39 · Spec 2C, Part two
Who founded the Jesuits? [1 mark]
Answer:
Ignatius Loyola, approved in 1540.
Question 40 · Spec 2C, Part two
State two roles of the Jesuits. [2 marks]
Answer:
Any two from: education (1); missionary work (1); combating Protestantism (1); obedience to the Pope (1).
Question 41 · Spec 2C, Part two
When did the Council of Trent meet? [1 mark]
Answer:
In three sessions between 1545 and 1563.
Question 42 · Spec 2C, Part two
State two decisions of the Council of Trent. [2 marks]
Answer:
Any two from: affirmed the seven sacraments (1); scripture and tradition both authoritative (1); seminaries to train priests (1); bishops to reside in their dioceses (1).
Question 43 · Spec 2C, Part two
Name one new religious order of the Catholic Reformation besides the Jesuits. [1 mark]
Answer:
Any one from: the Capuchins (1); the Ursulines (1); the Theatines (1).
Question 44 · Spec 2C, Part two
What was the Interim of Augsburg (1548)? [1 mark]
Answer:
Charles V’s temporary settlement after Mühlberg, unpopular with Protestants.
Question 45 · Spec 2C, Part two
What was the Princes’ Revolt (1552)? [1 mark]
Answer:
Protestant princes rebelled with French help, forcing Charles to compromise.
Question 46 · Spec 2C, Part two
Who was Paul IV? [1 mark]
Answer:
The strict pope (1555–1559) who issued the Index and enforced harsh discipline.
Question 47 · Spec 2C, Part two
Who was Theodore Beza? [1 mark]
Answer:
Calvin’s successor in Geneva.
Question 48 · Spec 2C, Part two
Who was John Knox? [1 mark]
Answer:
The leader of the Calvinist Reformation in Scotland.
Question 49 · Spec 2C, Part two
Why could Charles V not enforce the Edict of Worms? [1 mark]
Answer:
Charles V was distracted by war with France and the Turks, so he could not enforce it.
Question 50 · Spec 2C, Part two
What was the role of the Ottoman threat in the Reformation? [1 mark]
Answer:
Charles V needed Lutheran princes’ help against the Turks, so he compromised.

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The Reformation in Europe, c1500–1564 (A-level only)

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