In European religious history, which of the following best summarises an important result of the Protestant Reformation that began in the sixteenth century?

Introduction / Context:
The Protestant Reformation was a major religious movement in sixteenth century Europe led by figures such as Martin Luther, John Calvin and others. It challenged certain teachings and practices of the Roman Catholic Church and led to the creation of new Protestant denominations. The consequences of this movement were both religious and social. This question asks you to identify which statement best summarises an important result of the Reformation, focusing on reforms in the Catholic Church and new divisions in European society.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are dealing with the Protestant Reformation in Europe.
• Option A mentions reforms within the Catholic Church.
• Option B mentions new divisions within European society.
• Option C combines both A and B.
• Option D mentions greater cooperation between Catholics and non Catholics.

Concept / Approach:
The Reformation did not just create new Protestant churches; it also forced the Catholic Church to respond with its own internal reforms, known as the Counter Reformation. At the same time, it produced deep religious conflicts, wars and lasting divisions between Catholics and Protestants in many countries. Therefore, a correct summary should reflect both internal reform and growing division, rather than suggesting that the movement simply promoted harmony. The approach is to examine whether each statement describes a real historical consequence and to see if the combined option more accurately captures the overall impact.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider option A. The Catholic Church did launch a reform movement, including the Council of Trent, new religious orders like the Jesuits and efforts to improve discipline and education. So A is true.Step 2: Consider option B. The Reformation clearly created new divisions between Catholics and Protestants, leading to religious wars, persecution and separate churches across Europe. So B is also true.Step 3: Option C states that both A and B are correct, combining the idea of Catholic reform and new divisions.Step 4: Option D suggests that the Reformation led to greater cooperation between Catholics and non Catholics. This does not match historical reality because the immediate result was conflict and tension rather than cooperation.Step 5: Since both A and B are accurate, and D is not, the best summary is given by option C, which includes both correct effects.

Verification / Alternative check:
History textbooks on early modern Europe explain that the Protestant Reformation led to a series of religious wars, such as the German Peasants War, the French Wars of Religion and the Thirty Years War. These conflicts show that society became more divided along confessional lines. At the same time, the Catholic Church responded with reforms often grouped under the term Counter Reformation, which improved clerical training, clarified doctrine and aimed to address abuses. There is little evidence that the immediate effect of the Reformation was greater cooperation across confessional lines. Instead, coexistence and tolerance developed slowly over centuries. This double check confirms that both reform within the Catholic Church and increased division in society were major outcomes.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A alone is incomplete because it recognises Catholic reform but ignores the deep and long lasting divisions that emerged. Option B alone is also incomplete because it describes division but fails to mention how the Catholic Church changed in response to criticism. Option D is simply incorrect because cooperation was not the main characteristic of the period immediately after the Reformation. Instead, tensions and conflicts dominated many regions. Only option C captures both major consequences in a balanced way.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes remember only one side of the story, either focusing on the rise of Protestant churches or only on Catholic reforms, and therefore choose A or B individually. Another pitfall is to project modern ideas about interfaith dialogue back into the sixteenth century, leading to the mistaken belief that the Reformation improved cooperation. For exam questions like this, it is important to think of the Reformation as a complex process that both renewed parts of the Catholic Church and divided European society along religious lines.

Final Answer:
A major result of the Protestant Reformation is that it prompted reforms within the Catholic Church and created new divisions within European society, so the best choice is the combined option Both A and B.