Passage: Historians of the Reformation have traditionally focused on the theological innovations of figures like Luther and Calvin, viewing the movement as a fundamental struggle over religious truth. This internalist approach emphasizes the power of ideas—such as justification by faith alone—to transform society. However, revisionist scholars starting in the late twentieth century have argued for a more socio-political interpretation. They suggest that the Reformation’s success depended less on theology than on the strategic interests of German princes and urban elites. These rulers, they argue, utilized the religious upheaval to seize church lands and assert their autonomy from the Holy Roman Emperor. Furthermore, some historians now focus on the communal Reformation, examining how ordinary people used Protestant ideas to challenge local hierarchies and demand social justice. This perspective suggests that the Reformation was not a singular event directed from above, but a multifaceted process that was constantly shaped by the diverse motivations of its participants.