Final answer:
The Counter-Reformation was the first general attempt to examine the church's basic doctrines and goals since the Roman Empire, initiated by the Catholic Church in response to the Protestant Reformation. It aimed to address corruption and defend doctrines rejected by Protestants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first general attempt to examine the church's basic doctrines and goals since the days of the Roman Empire was the Counter-Reformation, also known as the Catholic Reformation or the Catholic Revival. It was initiated by the Catholic Church in response to the Protestant Reformation and took place during the 16th and 17th centuries. The Counter-Reformation aimed to address issues of corruption within the Church and defend the doctrines rejected by the Protestants.
The Counter-Reformation consisted of four major elements: ecclesiastical or structural reconfigurations, new religious orders like the Jesuits, spiritual movements, and political reform. It was marked by the Council of Trent (1545-1563) and ended with the close of the Thirty Years' War (1648).