The Reformation
The Reformation was a 16th-century religious and political movement that aimed to reform the Catholic Church in Western Europe. It began as an attempt to reconcile differences between the Catholic and Protestant faiths, but quickly turned into a full-scale revolt against the Church. The Reformation ultimately resulted in the formation of new Christian denominations, such as the Lutheran and Reformed churches.
The Reformation had its roots in the discontent of late medieval Europe. Many Christians were unhappy with the corruption and extravagance of the Church, and the sale of indulgences was a particular bone of contention. Indulgences were pieces of paper that allowed people to reduce their time in purgatory, and were sold by the Church for a fee. Some people, including the German theologian Martin Luther, saw this as a form of simony (the buying and selling of Church offices).
Luther's protests against the Church began in 1517, when he posted his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. In these theses, Luther condemned the sale of indulgences and argued that the Bible, not the Pope, was the supreme authority in matters of faith. Luther's ideas quickly gained popularity, and by 1520 he had been excommunicated from the Catholic Church.
The Reformation spread throughout Europe, sparking renewed interest in the Bible and leading to the formation of new Christian denominations. In England, the Reformation began in 1534, when King Henry VIII broke away from the Church in order to marry his mistress, Anne Boleyn. The English Reformation resulted in the formation of the Church of England, which remains the official state church to this day.
The Reformation had a profound impact on European society. It led to increased literacy, as people turned to the Bible for guidance, and sparked a renewed interest in education. It also brought about major changes in the political landscape, as monarchs used the Reformation to increase their power at the expense of the Church. In the end, the Reformation produced a more tolerant society, in which different Christian denominations were allowed to coexist.