Why was the concept of “mutually assured destruction” important during the cold war?

'MAD' is what prevented the cold war from being a hot destructive war. Because each side in the war was afraid that attacking their enemy would result in their enemy striking back with equal force, it prevented an actual destructive war from breaking out. Fear was the primary driver here.

the protestant reformation's started in 1517, disturbing the religious and political order in europe´s catholic countries. the outcome was the european wars of religion prosecuted in europe in the 16th, 17th and part of the 18th century. nonetheless, uprisings, territorial disputes, and great power conflicts were also causes of the wars.  

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