Final answer:
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century religious movement initiated by Martin Luther's posting of the 95 Theses, leading to a divide between Catholics and Protestants in Europe, significant changes in religious art, and various wars of religion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Protestant Reformation was a transformative religious movement in the 16th century that brought about a major theological separation between Roman Catholics and Protestants. It began with Martin Luther, a German monk, who posted his 95 Theses on the church door in 1517. These theses criticized various practices of the Catholic Church, such as the sale of indulgences. The movement facilitated a geographical religious divide in Europe, with northern regions turning Protestant and southern ones remaining predominantly Catholic. The Reformation also resulted in changes in religious art, emphasizing the individual's personal relationship with God.
Luther's critique aimed to address perceived corruption within the church and advocate for a shift in ecclesiastical power from the church hierarchy to the individual believer. This shift underlined the main doctrinal differences between Protestant and Catholic beliefs, including the Protestant emphasis on scriptures as the sole authority for faith and practice and the priesthood of all believers.
The spread of Protestantism across Europe led to a series of religious wars and political realignments. The Catholic Church responded with the Counter-Reformation, which sought to reform the church and reaffirm Catholic doctrine. The Protestant Reformation had far-reaching impacts, influencing not just religious life but social, economic, and political structures as well, including the development of the Atlantic World and responses from powers such as Spain.