Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation. This movement challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and led to the establishment of new Christian denominations, such as Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anglicanism.
The Reformation began in 1517 when Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. These theses criticized the Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences, which were certificates that purported to reduce time in purgatory.
Luther's ideas spread rapidly, and he was eventually excommunicated from the Catholic Church. However, he continued to preach and write, and his followers established new churches and institutions throughout Europe.
The Protestant Reformation had a profound impact on the course of European history. It led to religious wars, political upheaval, and the rise of new nations. It also helped to spark the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution.
