The pope and the traditional, organized Church no longer after 1500 enjoyed the same power as they had during the Middle Ages. In a short but well written and well organized essay, list the major events, which after 1500 deprived the pope and the traditional, organized Church of its power, and the areas in which they occurred and then explain how these events damaged the pope's and the traditional, organized church's ability to influence political and temporal affairs. As always, some sense of time would be deeply appreciated. In addition, you should not think that the question is confined to the successful Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. Even in countries that remained loyal to Rome, the pope and the traditional organized church saw their power curtailed.

What powers of the Church, so effective during the Middle Ages, were now worthless after 1500 to force others, whether Protestant or Catholic, to do its will? How did Protestants think they could save their souls?

What were the areas that became Protestant and no longer listened to the traditional, organized Church after 1500? Why were its leaders able to ignore the traditional, organized Church?

Why was the Peace of Westphalia the final proof that the traditional, organized Church no longer could force its will on the nation states, which now made up western Europe?