How can the Reformation and the Age of Discovery be seen as extensions of the Renaissance?

Indulgences

1400 BCE

An Indulgence was a certificate that essentially meant to have ones sins absolved. It was rumored that an individual would not have to spend as much time in purgatory and would proceed directly to heaven if possible. This started off as a nice gesture but in the end was only used for financial gain.

Context of the Reformation

1400

About one person in seventy five was part of the church. They supervised births, marriages, contracts, wills and deaths. Their law was the law of god himself, following the bible through thick and thin. Without their rituals for 'spiritual salvation', their soul was 'doomed to hell'. In conclusion, the church were activists for life itself and ensured their believers were taken care of the way god saw fit.

The Holy Roman Empire

1400

Germany was simply a region, not a country at this point if time and most people in various parts of Europe spoke different dialects of German. Charlemagne's grandsons eventually divided it to three different parts. Evidently the Holy Roman Empire kept it's religious beliefs for the most part which can be seen further into the future within the reformation and the Age of Discovery

The Renaissance

Period: 1400 to 1600

The Renaissance was a period of rebirth, where innovation in culture, art and learning all took place within the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries. A lot of artists were produced who are still extremely well known today: Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, etc. I would say the reformation and the Age of Discovery built on the Renaissance itself through the spread of culture and traditions throughout the world.

European Exploration

1410

Europe itself was actually not all that powerful when you compare it to their western counterparts. China was probably more powerful than all of Europe put together. Regardless, European power expansion started in the fifteenth century.

Lutheranism

1509

Lutheranism essentially derives from Martin Luther's perception of faith within an individual. This faith had to be deep down within someone in order for it to be heartfelt. However this concept was purely revolutionary. Luther confronted the "blatant abuse" that the church was doing (indulgences) and eventually came out with the 95 theses after constant back and forth between himself and the church. This led to people believing in Luther himself and his beliefs, resulting in Lutheranism.

The Effects of the Reformation

1517

Because of the reformation, Christianity itself was divided into a multitude of different belief systems and areas. These are as follows: The Catholic church, The Eastern Orthodox Church and The Protestant churches. Each were mainly divided by area not by belief, the exception is the Protestant church which was mainly focused on Lutheranism, Calvinism etc.

Religious Wars

1524

Numerous Religious Wars broke out as Protestantism was now the social normality of religion within the 16th century. Catholics at this point had given up on winning over the Protestants with propaganda and evangelism. People at this point who believed in a religious rival were seen as political rebels and were often exiled or outlasted in society. In turn, there was no physical war between two or more religious parties, but they were often looked down upon to each other.

The End of the Italian Renaissance

1533

A lot of rivaling empires were rising, such as the Ottoman Turks, Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire. Eventually, the French king seized control of Milan, catching a lot of the northern states in the crossfire. This started the Italian wars that evidently ended the Renaissance (Italian renaissance).

The Thirty Years War

1618

The 30 years war was the most devastating religious conflict that ever happened in the middle ages. It reduced population in the German lands of between 20-40%. Horrific acts of violence, extreme suffering and an incredible loss of life throughout the time period.