section_path: Europe/Christians and Christendom/Inquisitions and Reformations
section_name: Inquisitions and Reformations
paragraph_text: Inquisitions and Reformations
  
  The Inquisition in the modern era refers to several institutions within the Catholic Church tasked with prosecuting heretics and others who violated canon law. The first significant manifestation was the Spanish Inquisition (1478–1834). The Inquisition prosecuted crimes such as sorcery, blasphemy, Judaizing, witchcraft, and censorship of printed literature. Its jurisdiction was limited to baptized Catholics, while non-Christians were typically tried by secular courts.
  
  The Reformation and rise of modernity in the early 16th century brought changes to Christendom. The Augustinian friar Martin Luther challenged the Church with his Ninety-five Theses, marking the start of the Reformation. Luther’s movement, supported by the Electorate of Saxony, developed at the University of Wittenberg, where he became a professor.
  
  Luther’s 95 Theses criticized practices like the sale of indulgences and sparked debates, leading to the rise of rival Protestant denominations, such as Lutheranism and the Reformed tradition. In England, the movement became known as the English Reformation, resulting in the formation of Anglicanism.
  
  The Diet of Worms (1521) declared Luther a heretic, but Emperor Charles V was preoccupied with external threats and allowed German princes to decide whether to enforce the Edict of Worms. The religious conflict escalated, leading to the formation of the Schmalkaldic League to defend Protestant interests. This culminated in the Peace of Augsburg (1555), which established the principle of cuius regio, eius religio —allowing rulers to determine the religion of their territories.
  
  Two main Inquisitions remained active in the modern era:
  
  The Counter-Reformation began in 1545 with the Council of Trent in response to the Protestant Reformation. Its goal was to reform internal Church practices while reaffirming the Church’s authority as the true Church of Christ.