(Originais Teachy 2023) - Question Very Hard of History

The political and social conditions at the beginning of the Early Modern Age in Europe provided fertile ground for the emergence and expansion of Protestant movements, particularly the Reformation led by Martin Luther. European society was undergoing major transformations, including the growth of a monetary economy, the rise of the bourgeoisie, and a growing dissatisfaction with the clergy and the Catholic Church, which was seen as corrupt and distant from the spiritual needs of the population. Additionally, the invention of the printing press allowed for the rapid and widespread dissemination of reformist ideas. Luther's 95 theses, originally aimed at debating indulgences, ended up becoming a larger symbol of criticism of papal authority and Church practices. Politically, many princes and rulers saw in the Reformation an opportunity to weaken papal power and consolidate their own authority over the Church in their territories, a process known as 'Cesaropapism'. This led to the protection and promotion of Lutheranism and other reformist currents by local rulers, who often adopted the new faith as the official religion of their domains. The Reformation was not a homogeneous movement, and the multiplicity of currents that emerged from it reflects different interpretations of the Scriptures and variations in criticisms and reform proposals. Calvin, for example, developed a Reformed theology that strongly influenced Switzerland and Scotland, while in England, the Reformation led to the creation of the Anglican Church, which retained many elements of Catholic liturgy. These divergences and competition between the different Protestant churches and the Catholic Church characterized the religious landscape of post-Reformation Europe and contributed to the formation of distinct confessional identities.