Part 7/9:
As Protestantism spread, it fractured into various factions, each emphasizing different aspects of theology and church governance. While Lutherans maintained some Catholic traditions, extreme reformers like the Anabaptists went as far as rejecting elements of the Eucharist altogether. The Reformation's influence spiraled outward, altering the religious landscape in places such as Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and eventually England.
Throughout the ensuing centuries, tensions and conflicts emerged, most prominently culminating in the Thirty Years' War. This devastating conflict not only reshaped borders in Europe but also instigated a quest for religious tolerance and balance.