# Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/1536-dissolution-of-the-monasteries
Location: England
Themes: Reformation

Henry VIII begins closing England's monasteries. At this point in the timeline (1536), the Bishop of Rome was Pope Paul III (13 October 1534 – 10 November 1549).

## Why it matters
Dissolution of the Monasteries mattered because it helped divide and reshape Western Christianity into the Protestant and Catholic traditions.

Pope at the time: [Pope Paul III](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-paul-iii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Dissolution of the monasteries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_the_monasteries)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Dissolution of the Monasteries](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Dissolution+of+the+Monasteries)
- [Wikipedia — Reformation (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation)