Western Civilization I / Unit 15 WC1 1404 short lesson, about 20 seconds
1517: Tetzel, Leo X, and the Ninety-Five Theses
Captions available
The idea
In fifteen seventeen Leo X's indulgence for St. Peter's, hawked by Tetzel, absolved all sins for cash. Luther posted the Ninety-Five Theses at Wittenberg, moderate and in Latin, attacking the sale but not the papal office. Printed in German, they made him famous.
In practice
The first official act of the Reformation, the anchor says.
Where people slip
Print did what a Latin debate could not.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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