Glencoe World History

Chapter 12: Renaissance and Reformation, 1350–1600

Web Activity Lesson Plans

Introduction
Ulrich (Huldrych) Zwingli led the Reformation in Switzerland and had an important role in formulating some of the movement's most influential ideas. In this activity students will become familiar with Zwingli's major contributions to the Reformation.

Lesson Description
Students will go to the Discovery and Reformation Web site to read an article about Zwingli's ideas and his break with Martin Luther. They will then create a poster inviting the citizens of Zurich to an imaginary discussion between Martin Luther and Zwingli about the Reformation.

Instructional Objectives

1. Students will be able to describe Zwingli's ideas about the scriptures.
2. Students will be able to explain the difference in viewpoints between Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. Zwingli was educated in the northern Humanism of Erasmus and others.
2. The city of Zurich adopted Zwingli's reforms and became the first Protestant state outside of Germany. The Protestant revolution spread from Zurich across Switzerland.
3. Zwingli's fundamental belief was that if the Old or New Testament did not say something explicitly and literally, then no Christian should believe or practice it. It was on this basis that he criticized the practice of indulgences and the Catholic fast at Lent.
4. Zwingli parted company with Luther over two issues. Luther was unwilling to give up many Catholic ceremonies or to read Christian scriptures literally. The two also disagreed over the issue of the Eucharist. This was tied to the larger issue of whether Jesus Christ was regarded as both God and human, or strictly as a divine figure.
5. Students' posters will vary but should include a date, time, and place for the discussion and brief outlines of the two debaters' viewpoints.