The reformation period was one of the most significant
             events in modern european history because it was the
             spark that would eventually smother the fiery
             dominance of religious leaders in politics and would
             incite a modern world where the most advanced
             societies now embrace a division of church and state
             and a tolerance to freedom of worship. Through the
             acts of revolting peasants and the minds of a new set
             of leaders such as Martin Luther, Queen Elizabeth and
             Popes Paul III & IV, an enormous change in thought and
             practice would be born. Much of what we experience
             today in the most modern societies in our religious
             and political freedoms is a result of this most
             significant time in history. Indeed, if the events did
             not take place, what we now consider modern society
             may have looked completely different.
             Martin Luther, although only a monk, is credited
             with starting the Reformation by challenging the
             affairs of the church. Luther had been appalled by
             the selling of indulgences and engendered the 95
             thesis, upsetting Johann Tetzel by posting it on the
             door of the castle church in Wittenberg. Word spread
             quickly about Luther's revolutionary ideas which
             instigated people to question church authority. This
             lack of confidence in the ways of the church led to a
             new autonomy in pedestrian thinking and helped to
             create a downfall in absolute power in the Catholic
             Church. Without this epiphany by the people of
             Europe, brought upon by Luther, the Church may have
             continued to monopolize European thought and politics.
            
             Queen Elizabeth, Henry Vlll's third child to rule
             England, shaped religious thinking and it's
             relationship to political power like no woman had done
             before. By promoting concessions that would lead to a
             uniting of Protestantism and Catholicism under one
             Church she created religious peace and reduced the
             power of a single dominating religious-political
             influence. This com...