Page 22 - All About History - Issue 53-17

REFORMATION

How to

CREATE A REFORMATION PAMPHLET

THE PRINTING PRESS WAS THE SECRET OF

PROTESTANTISM’S SUCCESS GERMANY, 1520S

For Martin Luther, printing was “the latest The clerical estate
and greatest gift by which God intends the work
The Reformation transformed the nature
of true religion to be known throughout the of the priesthood, with old ideas about a
world”. By 1524, more than two million copies special clerical caste coming under assault.
of as many as 2,400 individual pamphlets were
being produced in the Holy Roman Empire The Word of God
and, across Europe, there had been a 1,000 per
Translations of the Bible into vernacular
cent rise in pamphlet production since 1518. languages had taken place before, but
Typically between 10 and 16 pages long, these came into its own during the Reformation.
cheap, provocative literary wares helped to
transform Europe’s religious landscape. “Every Pulpit bashing
day,” a disgruntled Catholic complained in 1521, Preaching was the lifeblood of the first
Protestants, with pulpits often replacing
“it rains Luther’s books... nothing else sells.” And d altars as the focal point in churches.
Luther was only the most prolific of the many
Protestant maestros of the pamphlet genre. Firebrand
T YOU
WHAT YOU’LL LL Martin Luther is well described as an
accidental revolutionary, the theology
professor whose private spiritual quest
NEED… … ended up transforming Christendom.
Indulgences
K
D
QUILL AND INK The early Reformers attacked indulgences,
IN
whereby remission from time in purgatory
could be secured through good works or
even financial payments.
BIBLE

TYPE

ONEY
MO N

MAKE A STATEMENT PRINT AND PRINT AGAIN
The salvation of souls is at stake here, so be provocative. It’s a competitive business, so don’t be afraid of milking
01 Your task is to identify the wounds of Christendom and 02 your bestsellers — Luther’s pamphlets go through
tell us how to heal them. Challenge the status quo and, when dozens of editions. Remember, an average press can turn out
t
GUTENBERG y your enemies bark, howl back even louder. And remember that 1,500 sheets a day, and you have to keep up with countless
rivals in places like Wittenberg and Strasbourg. Adding in
a
ahead of pamphleteering, a little advance publicity can’t hurt.
PRINTING PRESS Earning a reputation as a local agitator is excellent strategy. woodcut illustrations is a sure way of gaining an audience.
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