Spreading Like Wildfire: Luther’s Network and the Early Reformation

Authors

Sascha O. Becker, Monash University
Yuan Hsiao, University of Washington
Steven Pfaff, University of Washington
Jared Rubin, Chapman UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-27-2020

Abstract

The Protestant Reformation, led by Martin Luther, was one of the most transformative periods of European (if not world) history in the second millennium. How did this movement succeed? This column offers a theory that combines relational diffusion (via Luther’s network ties) with spatial diffusion (via trade routes in the Holy Roman Empire), and substantiates this theory using data on Luther’s letters, travels, and students. Luther’s network alone does not explain the success of the Reformation, but his network in combination with the pre-existing ties created by trade routes explains much of its success.

Comments

This article was originally published on VoxEU in November 2020.

Recommended Citation

Becker, S. O., Hsiao, Y., Pfaff, S., & Rubin, J. (2020, Nov. 27). Spreading like wildfire: Luther’s network and the early Reformation. VoxEU. https://voxeu.org/article/spreading-wildfire-luther-s-network-and-early-reformation