MS: 13YO From Reformation to Revolution: Exploring Europe’s Transformative Eras

Cultural Studies 13 with Mr. Shehu

In the past few weeks, Cultural Studies students have been deeply engaged in studying the Reformation and its major impacts on European society. They explored the reasons for dissatisfaction within the medieval Catholic Church and how issues such as corruption, indulgences, and leadership concerns led to demands for reform. Students examined Martin Luther’s role in challenging church practices, breaking away from the Church, and inspiring other reformers to create new denominations. They also outlined the steps taken by the Roman Catholic Church during the Counter‑Reformation and evaluated how effective these changes were. They concluded the unit with a mock trial by putting an early reformer, Jan Hus, on trial. As the class transitioned to the Scientific Revolution, students learned about the intellectual roots of scientific thinking in ancient Greece, the Muslim world, and Renaissance Europe. They analyzed how discoveries in astronomy, physics, and global exploration fueled rapid advancements in knowledge. They concluded the unit by presenting the results of their findings by answering the question, “Which part of the revolution was the most revolutionary?” Currently, they are working on reasons why Europeans started exploration and its effects.