The Lutheran Reformation was a religious movement in the 16th century that aimed to reform the practices and beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. It began in 1517 when Martin Luther, a German monk, published his famous 95 Theses, criticizing the Church's sale of indulgences and other practices he viewed as corrupt. Luther's ideas emphasized salvation through faith alone and the authority of the Bible. The movement led to the establishment of Lutheranism, a major branch of Protestant Christianity. It sparked widespread religious and political changes across Europe, resulting in the formation of various Protestant denominations and significant conflicts, including the Thirty Years' War. The Reformation ultimately reshaped the religious landscape of the continent.