Final answer:
The 95 Theses were posted by Martin Luther in 1517 on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. This act questioned the Catholic Church's practices, particularly the sale of indulgences, and ignited the Protestant Reformation. Luther was excommunicated in 1521, but his ideas continued to influence Christianity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 95 Theses, a critical milestone in the history of Christianity, was posted by Martin Luther in 1517. Specifically, this pivotal document was affixed to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. By disputing the efficacy of indulgences and challenging the authority of the pope, Luther sparked a significant religious movement known as the Protestant Reformation.
Luther's 95 Theses were initially intended to incite a discussion within the church for reform, focusing on the doctrine of justification by faith and criticizing the sale of indulgences. This act of nailing his theses to the church door was symbolic of his desire to confront church practices publicly. Despite his initial intention to reform the Catholic Church from within, the fallout from his actions led to the creation of a new branch of Christianity, igniting centuries of religious and political transformation across Europe.
After refusing to recant his position, Luther was excommunicated from the Church in 1521. His teachings, however, continued to garner support and spread, leading to the establishment of Lutheran denominations and influencing the trajectory of Christian theology and European politics well beyond his excommunication.