How did Henry VIII impact the world today?

Henry VIII ruled England in the early 16th century. When he realized that his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, would never give him a male heir, he petitioned the Catholic Church for a divorce. His request was denied. Instead of accepting the decision, Henry declared that as King, he should have final say in any religious matters in England. He appointed his own Archbishop who granted the divorce.

This led to the founding of the...

Henry VIII ruled England in the early 16th century. When he realized that his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, would never give him a male heir, he petitioned the Catholic Church for a divorce. His request was denied. Instead of accepting the decision, Henry declared that as King, he should have final say in any religious matters in England. He appointed his own Archbishop who granted the divorce.

This led to the founding of the Church of England as a separate entity from the Roman Church and encouraged those who had already rejected Catholic teachings. The Protestant Reformation, which had begun over a hundred years prior when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses, gained some powerful allies and the English Reformation was underway.

The Catholics responded with the Counter-Reformation. They knew that they would have to appeal to new ways of thinking if they wanted to entice people to remain with or return to the Roman Catholic Church. After the English Reformation, Catholicism became more open-minded, both spiritually and intellectually.

The religious schisms throughout Europe may not have started with Henry VIII, but his rejection of Papal authority was the catalyst for sweeping changes in spiritual teachings, widespread social unrest, and wars, as well as more positive advances in thought and discoveries that we associate with the Renaissance.