The Spread Of Protestantism In The 16th Century

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In the 16th century, the spread of Protestantism came at the right place and at the right time. For example, personal contact between churchmen, commercial travelers, and students, by public and secret preaching, Protestant ideas penetrated every state and social class in Europe. The printing press played the most important role in the spread of Protestantism. Luther was able to translate the Bible into German so that anyone could interpret their own ideas, not just the ideas of the Catholic Church. Also, the increasing literacy rates from the Renaissance provided even the lowest peasant with the ability to read the Bible. Luther’s new Bible, also included pictures for interpretation. Preaching became another important channel of communication. …show more content…

Some princes simply believed in reform. They married into a new faith or they truly believed what Martin Luther was preaching. The English Reformation came about when Henry VIII wanted to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragόn. They had a daughter Mary but no male heir. Henry wanted to marry Anne Boleyn, who he was in love with. The Catholic church would not allow this divorce because it was against the church law. In order to get his divorce, Henry made the reformist choice to break off from the church and create his own church called the Church of England which he was the leader of. This new church allowed him to divorce Catherine and have children with Anne Boleyn, who still did not produce a male heir. Eventually, this led to the first queens of England, Mary Tudor and Elizabeth I. This specific event in history supports the thought that the Protestant reformation happened at the right place and the right place. If Henry would not have wanted a divorce, who knows if England would have ever separated from the Catholic Church. In conclusion, the Protestant movement spread through Europe at the right place, through all social classes and affected many social, economic, and political systems during the 16th century, the right