Why are there so many Christian denominations today? The answer can be traced back to the Protestant Reformation.

How and why did this new form of Christianity (Protestantism) spread throughout Europe? Where was Protestantism the most popular and why? What were the similarities and differences of the different types (denominations) of Protestantism that developed?

How did the Catholic Church respond to the rapid spread of Protestantism? How effective do you think this response was?

Why is the period between 1560 and 1650 in Europe considered an age of crisis? How was religion a factor in this time of turmoil?

What was absolutism? What were the main characteristics of the absolute monarchs that emerged in France, Prussia, Austria, and Russia?

How and why did England avoid the path of absolutism?

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