The state controlled essentially everything. Unlike the Inquisitions the Protestants didn't give fair trials, you disappeared or got a very publice execution as an example for others.
Savoronola was executed for heresy so he isn't a good Catholic Example.As for the equating happiness with Protestanism, isen't it true that the Protestant Reformation took away some of the holidays that Catholics had enjoyed. I remember reading espeically about the English Reformation (yes I know this does not involve Calvin), and how Oliver Cromwell forbade parties, holidays and makeup and demanded modesty of women, while when Charles II (the Catholic King) returned to the throne, he once again allowed for these things to return, making the people happier.
The flip side to this would be Florence's Catholic preacher Savoranola, who destroyed many pieces of "non Christian" artwork and demanded a return to a simpler life style. Although the flip to this, was that the Catholic Church in Rome ended up burning him on the stake....
Well, at least thats my two cents, on the happiness issue. I personnaly don't think you can equate Catholicism or Protestantism with happiness though, each had their own ups and downs at any given point in time.
Also the fact that the Protestants should get a science boost is a bit absurd as well, considering that Luther, among other church reformers (Calvin, Zwingli etc.), were strongly against the helio-centric theory and later on evolution amongst other advances as well. BUT... I think what should be praised is the Protestant Work Ethic, something which scholars have equated to have lifted Europe out of obscurity and would later be a large driving force behind the rise of the United States, therefore a production and gold bonus should be given to the Protestants, while the Catholic's in the late game should get Jesuits, and better purging abilities, perhaps through Jesuits as well, (Spanish inquisition in Spain and Louis XIV attempts to remove the Huguenots from France).
Also, do the crusades end in 1500? It seems fairly late, I would recommend moving it down to 1300-1400, with 1400 being the latest. But please correct me if I'm wrong.
Also I agree with the fact that the Muslims should not get a friendly bonus with each other, when in fact the Turks, Arabs, Cordobans hated each other (and any Cordoba collapses by the time the Turks get here, removing any potential problem), but most assuredly the Cordobans hate the Abbasid Arabians, thats for certain. And I don't know if Catholic Europe was so "united" as the diplomatic bonus between them would give them the appearance to be. As more wars would be fun to watch
EDIT: That reminds me, Burgundy stays in the game for WAYY too long, and towards the end of their historical lifespan, they should begin to crumble away with successive stability hits like the Cordobans, to allow for France and Germany to expand in that direction. Also it would create some real and actually interesting battles between the French and Germans on the Rhine/Rhone valley
Europe's rise was assured before the Protestant Reformation, Capitalism was effectively invented in the Italian city states. The US was successful because it has tremendous amounts of resources (made because is almost as big as Europe).
You forgot Poland, well the Jesuit work in it.
Catholic Europe wasn't very United, but the Pope managed to get them to get along mostly.
It's one of my very first games in RFC:E, so excuse me if I'm being very dumb - I play as the Vikings, and WB shows there's a tile near what I a assume is Iceland, where it apparently shows up, but how do I "activate" it, or whatever is needed? Also, I could not figure out how to build Vinland.
