MTTC Social Studies 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The decline of Church power in early modern Europe was significantly influenced by intellectuals criticizing Church corruption. This criticism emerged during the Renaissance and Reformation periods, where thinkers and scholars began to challenge the moral and ethical standards of the Church. Figures such as Martin Luther, who famously criticized the selling of indulgences, inspired many to question the Church's authority and practices. The development of humanism also encouraged people to value reason and individual interpretation of scriptures over institutional dogma. These critiques not only undermined the Church's moral authority but also contributed to the rise of alternative religious movements, which further diminished the Church's political and social influence.

The other options, while they may have played roles in the broader context, do not specifically address the direct intellectual challenge posed to Church power. The adoption of Protestantism by monarchs did foster religious conflicts, but it was the underlying critique rooted in intellectual thought that fundamentally shifted public perception of the Church. Increased regional identities contributed to a sense of nationalism that could diverge from Church authority, but this stemmed from the foundational critiques of the Church. Finally, while a decline in population due to the plague had social and economic impacts, it did not directly reflect an erosion of faith in Church authority in the same way that intellectual