RT Article
T1 Renaissance humanism and Martin Luther: The birth of nation-states
JF Dialog
VO 64
IS 1
SP 45
OP 52
A1 Şencan, Selin
LA English
YR 2025
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1919763902
AB This article explores the interaction between Renaissance humanism and Martin Luther's Reformation in fostering the emergence of nation-states in Europe. It argues that the emphasis on individualism, critical thinking, and a return to classical ideals during the Renaissance provided a fertile ground for Luther's challenge to the Catholic Church's authority. Luther's Reformation, with its focus on Scripture and a direct relationship between believer and God, further eroded the Church's control and transnational influence. This convergence of intellectual and religious transformations created a space for the development of distinct national identities and the consolidation of power by European monarchs. The article will examine how these movements challenged the existing political and religious order, ultimately contributing to the rise of nation-states as the dominant political entity in Europe.
K1 Renaissance humanism
K1 Reformation
K1 Nation-states
K1 Martin Luther
DO 10.1111/dial.12870