The Protestant Reformation, led by reformers like Martin Luther, transformed European society by challenging the authority of the Catholic Church. It promoted the idea that faith and scripture were central to religious life, reducing dependence on clergy. This movement encouraged education so people could read religious texts themselves. It also weakened centralized religious power, allowing rulers to gain independence from church control. Over time, the Reformation contributed to religious diversity, social debate, and political change, shaping modern Europe’s cultural and intellectual development.