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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fa%C3%A7ade_du_Palais_des_Papes.jpgThe first major split in the Church after the break with the Orthodoz church in 1054 occured when there were several popes at once, each excommunicating the other. IT demonstrated a division in the Church.
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John Wycliffe's translation of the bible into venacular English was a precursor to Luther's translation of the bible into German. Wycliffe's bible came out more than 100 years before Luther's and was produced for the same reason, to insure that people could develop their own personal relationship with God.
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Jan Hus also criticized the church and wanted to create a church that rejected everything in the Roman Catholic Church that was not biblically founded. Although he was given assurance that he would not be harmed, he was executed at the Council of Constance. image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jan_Hus_at_the_Stake.jpg
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The printing press allowed for the mass printing of Luther's writings, therefore making the Reformation possible. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gutenberg_press.jpg
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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Siege_of_Constantinople.jpgWith the fall of Constantinople the fear throughout Europe overshadowed everything else. Many argue that the fear of Turks made it impossible for Charles V to enforce his will in German central Europe. image source:
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Like Luther he criticized the debauchery among Church leaders. He did not think that people should concern themselves with the pomp and pagentry of the mass, but rather find virtue in doing good. image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Girolamo.Savonarola.jpg
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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Holbein-erasmus.jpgErasmus wanted to reform the Church as much as Luther, yet not the same way. Erasmus wanted to reform the church from within. image source:
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http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Martin_Luther_by_Lucas_Cranach_der_%C3%84ltere.jpegThis marks the beginning of the Protestant Reformation image source:
