The Reformation
Aligned to C3.D2.His.10 — C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
What this lesson teaches
The Protestant Reformation was a 1500s movement that split Western Christianity. Reformers criticized practices of the Catholic Church, and with the help of the printing press their ideas spread quickly, creating new Protestant churches and triggering decades of religious conflict across Europe.
Worked example
In 1517 the German monk Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses challenging the sale of indulgences, an act often marked as the start of the Reformation.
Practice questions
- Who is credited with starting the Reformation, and in what year?
- Explain how the printing press helped Reformation ideas spread across Europe.
- Analyze how the Reformation reshaped both religion and political power in Europe.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
La Reforma
La Reforma protestante fue un movimiento del siglo XVI que dividió al cristianismo occidental. Los reformadores criticaron ciertas prácticas de la Iglesia católica y, con ayuda de la imprenta, sus ideas se difundieron con rapidez, creando nuevas iglesias protestantes y desatando décadas de conflicto religioso en Europa.
Ejemplo: En 1517 el monje alemán Martín Lutero publicó sus Noventa y cinco tesis contra la venta de indulgencias, acto señalado a menudo como el inicio de la Reforma.
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