The political map of Germany and the religious schism as factors of resistance to German unity

the 16th century was an era of significant changes in Europe, and Germany is no exception. At that time, the political map of the country was fragmented and fragmented, which was the result of both historical processes and religious conflicts. The purpose of this article is to analyze how the territorial structure of Germany and the religious schism that began with the Reformation hindered the process of unification of the German lands in the XIV-XVI centuries. One of the key factors that influenced the political and social situation in Germany was the Reformation initiated by Martin Luther. In this article, we will look in detail at how the political map of Germany in the 16th century and the religious schism became decisive factors in resisting German unity. The article also raises the question of the formation of the national identity of Germans and its role in resisting unity. Part of the society advocated support for the Reformation, the other for a return to the existing order. All this caused a conflict of interests and ideology, which contributed to an even greater split in society. According to the results of the study, it was concluded that religious and political contradictions slowed down the process of uniting lands into a single state.

The Reformation, Martin Luther, the German lands, Protestantism, religious schism