lso bringing the Counter-reformation to a theological halt. (Scarisbrick, pg 80-113)ConclusionIn spite of religious controversies, the Reformation is a period of economic revolution, as mercantilism and commercial capitalism gains strength. Science and mathematics come to influence nearly every facet of life. Shakespeare's dramas hold public attention as do Molieres, and in the arts northern realism vies with the southern baroque for attention. In politics the Dutch and the English retain constitutional representative governments, holding fast to their civil liberties; France and Spain in spite of internal dissonances are primarily guided by the strong hands of rulers such as Philip II (1527-1598) and Henry IV (1553-1610). Twentieth century Europe bears the imprint of Reformation: Scandinavia, England Scotland, Switzerland, the north and east of Germany, and parts of Eastern Europe have largely remained Protestant. (Tyacke, pg 1-5)In my opinion, the Reformation was one of the greatest things that ever happened to both Europe and the rest of the world. The ideas of the Reformation were the foundation of expression of free speech and democracy. The Reformation showed the world that their lives did not have to be run by a religious leader or Monarchist and that a persons life did not have to be centered on religion or the afterlife. If it were not for the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, the world we live in now would be a much different place. The Protestant Reformation was a major building block of history, and some would say our country....
