La cristianità in frantumi. Europa 1517-1648

Pity the historian who tries to write for people who are not professional historians, for all her options are bad: i) write in order to sell books to people who want their own prejudices confirmed. See: presidential biographies; new atheist pamphlets; moralistic narratives of war. ii) write *kind of* Leggi tutto

Apparently the prior book in the series covering the renaissance won’t be out until next year..... bad show Penguin!..... but I’m going to jump ahead to this book & continue with the series & come back to book 4 when its available. The title of the book is to be much loved by this Pagan! As always (wi Leggi tutto

A very long, detailed and, at times, long winding book. Greengrass starts with describing common life during the 16th and 17th centuries (living conditions, science/philosophy, discoveries in the New World, colonialism, communication and printing). After this he zooms in on the politico-religious de Leggi tutto

This volume organizes a very broad and complex topic, the history of a continent through 130 years, around a relatively simple concept: that at the beginning of the period, there was Christendom, and at the end, Europe. Unfortunately, I don't think the author does an adequate job of demonstrating th Leggi tutto

I have to say immediately that this will be brief and from a layman's perspective, because my knowledge of history is limited to my sporadic consumption of dense history books such as this one. That being said, it is wonderfully written, concise and descriptive; it maintains an academic tone while s Leggi tutto

This is a whirlwind tour of a very tumultuous period of Europe. A period spanning 130 years that started with one of the most famous schisms in Christianity, a period of radical changes in climate, effecting lives of kings and peasants alike. It's not easy to describe so many important events with s Leggi tutto

An amazing historical period of epic proportions, about which I previously knew little. This book fills in that gap; however, I still don't understand it well. It is too vast a stage with a cast of thousands, where I have trouble seeing the forest because of the many trees. Trying to read it casuall Leggi tutto

Excellent history. Well written and engaging. I wanted to find a good history read about this period and this book is superb. It is full of information and tidbits but very well written and shows all the aspects of the struggle from 1517-1648. Anyone interested in this period of transition from "Chr Leggi tutto

Terribly written book, full of statistics and short of analysis. Did anyone notice the repeated statements on the earth cooling during that period? Early frosts and short, wet summers that ended up damaging crops? The earth has been heating and cooling for millennia without the attendant hysteria.

Almost as good as Wilson’s on the 30 year war, this one covers most of the reformation and some of the counter reformation from Europe. The book slowed down a little with a lot of little details and personalities, but well worth it.