Reformation: GCSE History Definition

What is the Reformation?

In GCSE History, the Reformation was when Christianity split into two sects: Catholicism and Protestantism. 

It began in 1517 when a monk called Martin Luther wrote down a list of criticisms of the Catholic Church and nailed them to a church door in Wittenberg, Germany. Luther set up his own church and the Catholic Church called any Christians who joined Luther’s church a Protestant. 

A brilliant way to remember the connection between Protestants and Catholics is to break down the word ‘Protestant’. The root of the word is ‘protest’. The Protestants ‘protested’ against the Catholic Church.

While both religions believed in God, there were some key differences between the beliefs of Catholics and Protestants in the 16th century. You can explore more about the differences between Protestants and Catholics using our resources.

Some exam boards will focus on the English Reformation. This was when England turned against the Catholic Church. This decision was made by Henry VIII in 1532. Henry wanted a son. His wife, Catherine of Aragon, was too old to have any more children. Anne Boleyn promised to give Henry a son and heir to the English throne. The Catholic Church forbids divorce unless the Pope grants it. When the Pope refused to give Henry a divorce from Catherine, ‘the break from Rome’ saw Henry create the independent Church of England. He announced himself as Head of the Church and granted himself a divorce

Reformation Revision Resources to Ace Your Exams

Explore our revision notes for Edexcel GCSE and AQA GCSE to see where the Reformation fits into the revision notes for those specifications

Explore Our GCSE History Revision Resources