THE RECORD
What changed
After Luther's Ninety-Five Theses, print accelerated debate as Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist and Catholic reforms diverged.
EVIDENCE
What remains
Theses, pamphlets, vernacular Bibles, council documents and civic records connect theology with social change.
WHY IT MATTERS
Why it matters
It reshaped belief, literacy, state power and education while contributing to war and persecution.
OPEN QUESTION
Where interpretation begins
One event in 1517 cannot explain Europe-wide change; reform built on medieval movements and political conditions.