John Wycliffe's translation of the Bible into English laid crucial groundwork for the Reformation. Jan Hus's defense of Wycliffe and his own martyrdom inspired others, including Martin Luther, who nailed his 95 theses to the castle church door in 1517. Erasmus's humanist approach and Savonarola's social reform efforts also contributed to the Reformation, but the medieval church's corruption and resistance to change ultimately led to its downfall. [... more]

John Hus, a Czech priest, defied the church of his day and paid for it by being burned at the stake. His ideas and writings influenced Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. Hus' courage and conviction in the face of persecution paved the way for future reformers and the restoration of the Bible to its rightful place. [... more]