History glossary
Protestantism
branches of Christianity that emerged from the Reformation and rejected papal authority.
- Category
- Religious movement
- Region
- Europe and global Christianity
What it means
Protestantism includes many Christian traditions that grew from the Reformation, including Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and later evangelical movements. Protestants disagreed with Catholic authority and emphasized scripture, preaching, and different ideas about salvation and church practice.
Related terms
Stories using this term
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From legal discrimination to genocide, the Holocaust traces twelve years of escalating persecution that killed six million Jews and millions of others across Nazi-occupied Europe.
The Elizabethan Age
Elizabeth I’s reign brought stability, cultural flourishing, exploration, and victory over the Spanish Armada.
The English Civil War
Civil war between king and Parliament led to regicide, a republic, and lasting constitutional change.
The English Reformation
Henry VIII’s break with Rome reshaped religion, politics, and identity through decades of upheaval.
The Tudor Dynasty
The Tudors strengthened royal power, drove religious change, and shaped early modern England.
The Rise of Adolf Hitler
From the ashes of World War I to the Night of the Long Knives, this story traces the political rise of Adolf Hitler and the collapse of the Weimar Republic.
The Qing Dynasty
From Manchu conquest to republican revolution, the Qing dynasty built China's largest empire, oversaw centuries of prosperity, and then struggled to survive foreign intervention, rebellion, and the collapse of imperial legitimacy.
The British Empire
Britain built the largest empire in history through sea power, trade, slavery, industrial wealth, conquest, and rule, before decolonisation reshaped the modern world.
