The protestant reformation in northern europe drew large numbers of people away from the roman catholic church. the catholic begin in the second half of the 16th century and continuing into the 17th, aimed at preserving what strength the church still in the southern countries.

The Protestant Reformation in Northern Europe drew large numbers of people away from the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Reformation known as well as  the Catholic Revival or The Counter-Reformation,  begin in the second half of the 16th century and continuing into the 17th, aimed at preserving what strength the Church still in the southern countries.