What movement sought to reform the Catholic Church in the 16th century?

The Protestant Reformation was a significant movement in the 16th century aimed at reforming the Catholic Church. It emerged largely as a response to perceived corruption within the Church and the need for spiritual renewal among Christians. Key figures, such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Huldrych Zwingli, challenged the authority of the Pope and the practices of the Church, calling for changes such as justification by faith alone, the translation of the Bible into vernacular languages, and the rejection of certain sacraments.

The movement led to the formation of various Protestant denominations and had profound effects on religion, culture, and society throughout Europe, contributing to the eventual rise of secularism and new religious interpretations. The Protestant Reformation is characterized by its emphasis on individual faith and scripture as the basis for religious authority, contrasting the Catholic Church's emphasis on tradition and church hierarchy.

The other movements mentioned, like the Enlightenment, focused more on reason and individualism in various aspects of human thought, while the Renaissance was centered on the revival of classical learning and arts rather than direct reform of the Church. The Counter-Reformation was a response to the Protestant Reformation, aiming to address its criticisms and reform the Catholic Church from within, rather than initiating the initial