Luther's ideas, amplified by the printing press, spread rapidly across the German-speaking lands.

Many German princes and free cities adopted Lutheranism, motivated by both religious conviction and political opportunity.

Embracing Lutheranism allowed rulers to seize control of wealthy Church lands and stop the flow of revenue to Rome.

Luther's translation of the New Testament into German made the Bible accessible to common people for the first time.

The German Peasants' War of 1524-1525 was an uprising partially inspired by reformist ideas, though Luther condemned it.

Lutheran princes formed a defensive military alliance known as the Schmalkaldic League to protect themselves from the Catholic Emperor.

The religious conflict culminated in the Peace of Augsburg in 1555.

This treaty established the principle of 'cuius regio, eius religio' ('whose realm, his religion'), allowing each prince to decide the religion of his own territory.

Lutheranism also became the dominant state religion in the Scandinavian kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

The spread of Lutheranism permanently ended the religious unity of Western Christendom.