Changes

The emergence of Germany as a nation in its own right came later than for most European powers.  The German-speaking areas of Europe had historically been parts of diverse other nations, among them [[Prussia]], [[Austria]], and the [[Holy Roman Empire]], along with numerous smaller principiates.  

The emergence of Germany as a nation in its own right came later than for most European powers.  The German-speaking areas of Europe had historically been parts of diverse other nations, among them [[Prussia]], [[Austria]], and the [[Holy Roman Empire]], along with numerous smaller principiates.  

==The Reformation in Germany===

==The Reformation in Germany==

The disagreement that ignited the Reformation did not seem large at the time.  Pope Leo X was an ambitious and extravagant man from the prominent Italian Medici family, and he became pope at the vigorous young age of 37.  He wanted to rebuild St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican in a lavish style that he thought was appropriate for such a special church.  To do so, he needed to raise a great deal of money.  He invited donations in the names of the deceased, usually a relative of the donor.

The disagreement that ignited the Reformation did not seem large at the time.  Pope Leo X was an ambitious and extravagant man from the prominent Italian Medici family, and he became pope at the vigorous young age of 37.  He wanted to rebuild St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican in a lavish style that he thought was appropriate for such a special church.  To do so, he needed to raise a great deal of money.  He invited donations in the names of the deceased, usually a relative of the donor.