27. The Impact of the Reformation on Europe

The Reformation provoked a strong defensive response from the Catholic Church, usually referred to as the Counter-Reformation, comprising the Council of Trent, the establishment of the Society of Jesus, and expansion of the Inquisition. Together these were highly effective in meeting the challenge of the posed by the Reformation, which nevertheless had a profound impact on European culture, reshaping a vision of European society in ways that continue to be important to the present day.