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6.6: Martin Luther’s 95 Theses

  • Page ID
    359630

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    A historical artifact displaying Martin Luther's 95 Theses, printed text arranged in columns, dated 1517 CE.

    Artist: Martin Luther (textual artifact)
    Medium: Ink on paper
    Art Historical Time Period: German Renaissance (1517)

    Martin Luther’s 95 Theses were a list of propositions for debate that criticized the Catholic Church’s practices, particularly the sale of indulgences. Luther nailed his theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church in 1517, sparking the Protestant Reformation.

    The 95 Theses are important because they challenged the authority of the Catholic Church and led to significant religious, political, and social changes in Europe. Luther's actions encouraged people to question established doctrines and seek religious reforms. His stand is a moral act of conscience and resistance against what he saw as corruption, contributing to a movement that reshaped Western Christianity.

    Vocabulary

    • Protestant Reformation A 16th-century movement for religious reform.
    • Theses Statements for debate or argument.

    Student Authors

    • Ana Fuentes ’22 and Oscar Jimenez ’26

    References and Image Attribution

    • Bainton, R. H. (1950). Here I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther. Abingdon Press.
    • Lindberg, C. (2010). The European Reformations. Wiley-Blackwell.
    • Image: “Ninety-Five Theses WDL7497” via Wikimedia Commons by Ferdinand Pauwels (photographic reproduction), under Public Domain. Modified from original.

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    This page titled 6.6: Martin Luther’s 95 Theses was last modified on Thu, 21 May 2026 01:42:29 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by .