Martin Luther: The Monk Who Sparked the Reformation and Empowered the Masses

In the early 16th century, Martin Luther, a German monk and theologian, initiated the Protestant Reformation by challenging the Catholic Church's practices. His Ninety-Five Theses, reportedly nailed to the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenberg in 1517, criticized the sale of indulgences and questioned papal authority. Luther's translation of the Bible into German made the scriptures accessible to the general populace, empowering individuals to interpret religious texts independently. These actions not only redefined Christianity but also significantly altered Europe's cultural and religious landscape.