Humanism: philosophical point of view in which human beings have control over
their lives; it places critical thinking and reason over religion
Classical Learning: the methods and ideas used by the ancient Greeks and
Romans to study the world
The Praise of Folly: a satirical book by Erasmus in which he criticises superstitions in Europe and the Church
Saint: a title the pope gave to a deceased person who had lived a very devout life
Pilgrimage: a journey to a holy place
Relics: the remains of saints or objects that a saint has touched.
Diet: a parliament-like meeting between the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire
Indulgences: letters signed by the pope or a bishop in which all your sins were forgiven
Excommunicate: the power of the pope to exclude someone from the Catholic Church (so (s)he can't go to heaven)
Reformers: people who wanted to reform the Catholic Church, like Luther and Calvin
Reformation: the split between the Catholic and the Protestant church
Protestants: all followers of reformers
Lutherans: protestants who prefer the ideas of Martin Luther over those of other reformers
Counter-reformation: Catholic reaction to the reformation, meant to protect their church and reform all Protestants
Inquisition: the systematic persecution of Protestants in Europe
Heretics: people who have a different view on their religion than the official view