The Reformation was a seismic event in European history, one which left an indelible mark on the modern world. In this Very Short Introduction, Peter Marshall illuminates the causes and consequences of this pivotal movement in western Christianity. The Reformation began as an argument about what Christians needed to do to be saved, but rapidly engulfed society in a series of fundamental changes.
Throughout the twentieth century Scottish literary studies was dominated by a critical consensus addressing the contemporary anti-Catholic atmosphere which resulted in a re-reading of the Reformation. This consensus saw the replacement of a rich medieval culture with a Protestant anti-aesthetic tyranny of life and letters. As a result, Scottish literature has consistently been defined in opposition to the Calvinism to which it frequently returns.
This revised edition of Encyclopedia of the Renaissance (1987) has approximately 2,100 entries, 200 of which are new. Length ranges from a paragraph to two pages, with diverse entries such as Erasmus, Desiderius; Libraries; and Spanish Inquisition. The fact that the scope has been widened to encompass the Reformation means that many articles have been expanded. Other revisions reflect recent scholarship with enhanced coverage of, for example, literacy, families, and the role of women. Editors Speake, a prolific reference book editor, and Bergin, a Yale University professor now deceased, were also responsible for the first edition.
Will Durant - The Story of Civilization 06 - The Reformation
6th in the Civilization series - The Reformation toppled thrones, produced countless martyrs and spawned a host a new Christian sects.
VI. The Reformation (1957)
1. From John Wyclif to Martin Luther: 1300-1517
2. The Religious Revolution: 1517-64
3. The Strangers in the Gate: 1300-1566
4. Behind the Scenes: 1517-1564
5. The Counter Reformation: 1517-65
