Final answer:
The division of Christianity into Catholic and Lutheran states in Germany was recognized by the Peace of Augsburg in 1555, and later by the Peace of Westphalia in 1648.
Step-by-step explanation:
The division of Christianity in Germany into Catholic and Lutheran states was officially recognized by the Peace of Augsburg in 1555. This agreement allowed rulers within the Holy Roman Empire to choose Lutheranism as the official religion in their territories, leading to a division where northern German states mostly became Lutheran, while southern areas like Austria and Bavaria remained Catholic. However, it was the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 that concluded the devastating Thirty Years' War and further solidified the religious and political independence of states within the empire, thereby having a profound influence on the religious landscape of Europe.