Writing Context Paragraph for a Reformation Essay

The Learning Objective for this reading was: "Explain the context in which the religious, political, and cultural developments of the 16th and 17th centuries took place." 

PROMPT: Imagine you have been assigned an essay about the developments of the 16th and 17th centuries. Write the context paragraph for that essay here. Just the context, no thesis because you don't have enough knowledge for that yet!  Your context should be five or six sentences long maximum. 

When you write, use the "before" and "after" approach.  What was the religious, political and cultural situation of Western Europe BEFORE the Reformation?  How did it change--what challenges and changes arose because of the Reformation? 

You have TWO chances to get this right. Low stakes,11/10 if perfect on the first try. If perfect on the second try, 10/10, if not quite there after the second try, I will review and assign a grade--but it would have to be terrible to get below a 7/10 

Provide specific context or introductory remarks relevant to the prompt.