16th Century Protestantism

16th-century Protestantism emerged during the Reformation, a religious movement challenging the authority and practices of the Catholic Church. Led by figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin, it emphasized scripture as the ultimate authority, justification by faith alone, and reform of church practices. This movement led to the creation of new Christian denominations, such as Lutheranism and Calvinism, and promoted ideas like individual Bible reading and personal conscience. It significantly changed European religion, politics, and society, ultimately leading to religious diversity and conflicts that shaped modern Christianity.