Final answer:
The Council of Trent took steps to combat Protestantism by affirming the necessity of faith and good works for salvation, upholding tradition and scripture as authority, and initiating internal Church reforms, which moderately preserved Catholic dominance but did not undo Protestantism's spread.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Council of Trent took three significant steps to counter the growth of Protestantism in Europe. First, it affirmed that salvation required both faith and good works, opposing the Protestant doctrine of justification by faith alone. Second, to increase the authority of the Church, it upheld both tradition and scripture as sources of religious authority, while reinforcing Catholic doctrines such as transubstantiation and the importance of all seven sacraments.
Lastly, the Council implemented internal reforms like banning the sale of indulgences, prohibiting nepotism, and improving clergy education. These steps were somewhat effective in curbing the spread of Protestantism, preserving elements of Catholic dominance, but could not wholly reverse Protestantism's increasing appeal. Nevertheless, they solidified the Church's doctrines and practices, striving for a reformed and more disciplined Church to resist the Protestant challenge.
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