Final answer:
The Reformation changed Christianity by leading many to leave the Catholic Church and start or join Protestant churches, placing emphasis on personal faith, and creating a split between Northern European Protestantism and Southern European Catholicism.
Step-by-step explanation:
How the Reformation Changed Christianity
The Reformation significantly altered the landscape of Christianity in several ways. With the challenges posed by Martin Luther to the Catholic Church's practices—such as the sale of indulgences—a significant shift occurred. Many individuals left the Catholic Church and founded or joined new Christian denominations, which emerged as the Protestant churches. This shift allowed for a greater range of religious expression and prioritized personal faith over the Church's traditions and intermediaries such as priests. The Protestant Reformation reduced the Catholic Church's dominion over religious life and created a Northern European predominance of Protestantism, contrasting with the Southern European adherence to Catholicism. Moreover, the Reformation brought about radical changes in the religious art world, with some Protestant followers encouraging iconoclasm—avoiding religious images considered idolatrous—while others retained a limited range of religious imagery.
Ultimately, the Protestant Reformation led to the development of new Christian practices and doctrines distinct from those of the Catholic Church, greater emphasis on the individual's personal relationship with God, and significant shifts in religious, cultural, and political landscapes across Europe.