HIS109Y1 Lecture : The Wars of Religion / The English Civil War
Document Summary
greatest lesson taught by the reformers was that the power of the state can and should be used to control its citizens. machiavelli nothing should come before the needs of the state. after the circumstances of the 16th century the idea of criminal behaviour for reasons of state was a sinful mechanism. the r ights of citizens can be superseded by the rights of the state if wanted by the ruler. after the reformation this idea was everywhere - drove every institution and individual. church realized that it had to fight back, in order to ensure that it would have complete control over those who still followed catholicism, and those who they could attempt to save by organizing a church monarchy. church re-structured and reorganized in order to seem more sympathetic in order to fight against protestantism.
