Describe the Reformation and the Age of Expansion.

The Reformation was a movement during the 1500s that
ultimately led to a separation from the Catholic Church and the creation of hundreds of
new sects and eventually denominations of Christian churches.  It's called the
Protestant Reformation because it was started by disgruntled Christians who protested
many aspects of the Catholic Church including doctrines and practices.  Martin Luther is
credited most with exposing problems with the Catholic Church through several published
works that spread like wildfire thanks to the newly invented printing press.  He
originally only wanted to reform certain things in the Catholic Church like the practice
of indulgences rather than break away from the Church, but after being excommunicated
and seeing no promising chances for change, he decided to start his own church, which
later became known as the Lutheran Church.  Today most "Protestant" churches include
most Christian churches that are not either Catholic or
Orthodox.

The Age of Exploration began a little before the
Reformation, but continued well after Luther's life.  Due to the breakthroughs in
scientific discovery, a new era had begun where people used the scientific method to
explain the natural world.  Known as the Scientific Revolution, beginning around the mid
1400s, all kinds of new inventions were changing life in Europe.  Improvements to large
ships and navigation instruments allowed Portuguese sailers to explore the west coast of
Africa and take advantage of trading opportunities.  Soon other European nations were
following their lead and finding better trade routes to Asia and looking for new land to
exploit.  Enter Christopher Columbus sailing for Spain and claiming land for King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1492 and the Age of Exploration was off and running
changing the world forever.