A monk and professor in Germany who studied and taught salvation. Disagreed with the idea that salvation could be earned through good deeds and faith. Stated that no one man could do enough good deeds to earn salvation. He taught that it could be earned solely through faith.

Promoted the idea that the church should show people how to become a better person. Not just teach them that money will get them forgiven. This was especially popular among the poor

The belief that humans can improve themselves by reading the Bible and making themselves more religious

With the support of German lords and rulers Martin Luther expanded his religion. He set up grounds for the new religions. It expanded and flourished. The lords and nobles motivations where political though.

Luther wrote his problem in a piece that would be known as the Ninety-five Theses. He would describe his complaints but his biggest would be the sale of indulgences and a monk Johann Tetzel who would be a big endorser of them. This made him an enemy of the church

Luther believed that the Church was teaching people the wrong way to gain salvation. He believed no one man could do enough good work in his lifetime and that with faith alone he could earn it by faith alone. .

The church ignored Luther's complaints. So Luther called upon German princes to reform the church and create a new German Church. But this got him excommunicated.

Owned the largest area ever by Roman Empire. Threatened by France for political power and from the turk invasion in Spain. As well as threatened by lord and noble in the Holy Roman Empire. The threat was also Luther and the pressure from the church to handle him.

Charle V made peace in Germany as he could not keep up with all the threats. This would give lords the power to decide the religion for the land they resided in. This is the first time a division of religion was formally accepted in Germany.