“The religious ideas of Luther did not have a long-lasting impact on Europe.” Discuss.

Candidates will offer a considered and balanced review of the statement. They may agree that Luther had a substantial short-term impact but question his long-term impact. Candidates may deal with issues chronologically or thematically. In terms of establishing Lutheranism as a faith, Luther did not act alone; Lutheranism was reliant on others for its systematization and spread. His dispute with the Church meant that Luther had a religious, political, social and cultural impact on Europe. However, while the early years of his dispute caused a storm, his reforms were moderate and his faith did not spread far beyond Germany and Scandinavia. Furthermore, the actions of the princes became significant after the Diet of Speyer (1529). It may be argued that other reformers, such as Calvin had a more significant long-term impact, Calvin’s ideas were more widespread, infiltrating France, the Netherlands and Scotland.