Introduction

The Reformation truly ends the Middle Ages and begins a new era in the history of Western Civilization. The Reformation ended the religious unity of Europe and ushered in 150 years of religious warfare. By the time the conflicts had ended, the political and social geography in the west had fundamentally changed.

The Reformation would have been revolutionary enough of itself, but it coincided in time with the opening of the Western Hemisphere to the Europeans and the development of firearms as effective field weapons. It coincided, too, with the spread of Renaissance ideals from Italy and the first stirrings of the Scientific Revolution. Taken together, these developments transformed Europe.

The narrative here concerns only one man: Martin Luther. It shows how and why the Reformation began and what formed the core of the movement's ideas. The Reformation became something far greater than Luther had ever envisioned or intended, but its origins and early development were greatly affected by the character of the man himself.

History of Western Civilization

Dr. E. L. Skip Knox
Boise State University
Last revised: 07 August 2004