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The Norton History of Modern Europe #2
The Age of Religious Wars, 1559-1715
The individual volumes interlock to form a continuous narrative, but each volume also stands alone as a distinctive study of a major period of European history. Emphasis is placed on trends rather than isolated facts and on meaning and process in history. Where standard views are dated or inadequate, the authors do not hesitate to advance fresh interpretations. the result is history on a broad scale that measures up to the demands of current scholarship.
The Volumes in the Norton History of Modern Europe are striking in the quality of their illustrations and maps. New Sources have been drawn upon for engravings and halftones from contemporary documents and works of art; unusually clear maps have been prepared by the cartographer Harold K. Faye.
The Volumes in the Norton History of Modern Europe are striking in the quality of their illustrations and maps. New Sources have been drawn upon for engravings and halftones from contemporary documents and works of art; unusually clear maps have been prepared by the cartographer Harold K. Faye.
322 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1970
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January 16, 2024The Age of Religious Wars, by Richard S. Dunn, was one of the first general histories I read on what was to become a lifelong subject of fascination and study: Reformation/ Counter-Reformation era Europe. I found it a passable encapsulation of that century and a half of early modern history in which religion, rather than nationalism, was the fashionable pretext for intra-European mass slaughter. It helped bring my vague notions about conflicts like the Thirty Years War, the Eighty Years War, and the French Wars of Religion out of the haze of preconceived notions and into the light of understanding. As such, I can say it was an important book for me.
I probably would have gone on to also read at least the adjoining volumes of The Norton History of Modern Europe series, had I not soon discovered The Story of Civilization, by Will and Ariel Durant, whose thoroughness and brilliance, I thought, rendered them superfluous, at best. Still, you could do worse for an introductory text. And with a new age of European religious wars perhaps now imminent (see: The New Leviathans: Thoughts After Liberalism, by John Gray) one might well consider it a timely subject to ponder.
I probably would have gone on to also read at least the adjoining volumes of The Norton History of Modern Europe series, had I not soon discovered The Story of Civilization, by Will and Ariel Durant, whose thoroughness and brilliance, I thought, rendered them superfluous, at best. Still, you could do worse for an introductory text. And with a new age of European religious wars perhaps now imminent (see: The New Leviathans: Thoughts After Liberalism, by John Gray) one might well consider it a timely subject to ponder.
October 25, 2013
Part of the Norton History of Modern Europe series, this is a good introductory history of a fairly turbulent period written in 1970. I’ll note that the series was apparently reorganized later, as there is a 1979 version of the book that runs to 1715 instead of 1689.
The book starts with the end of international conflict, and runs through the internal crises that beset most of Europe in the later sixteenth century. In so doing, it lays some groundwork that would have helped me with parts of Braudel’s Mediterranean in the Age of Philip II. It spends a fair amount of time showing the evolution of political structure, with the rise of absolutism in France, the failure of absolutism in Spain, the rise of constitutional government in England, to the dissolution of central power in much of Central Europe and Russia.
Despite the title, there’s not a lot of warfare here. Everything from the Hugenots to the Glorious Revolution is discussed, and gives a fairly solid understanding of why things happened for such a small volume. There is a good chapter on the limitations of pre-modern production, and how it limited the economy, and the end of the book gives a whirlwind tour of the trends in art and evolution of the sciences.
In all, if this is a period where you don’t have a lot of background knowledge (and it was never a popular period in my classes), this is an excellent and clear place to start.
The book starts with the end of international conflict, and runs through the internal crises that beset most of Europe in the later sixteenth century. In so doing, it lays some groundwork that would have helped me with parts of Braudel’s Mediterranean in the Age of Philip II. It spends a fair amount of time showing the evolution of political structure, with the rise of absolutism in France, the failure of absolutism in Spain, the rise of constitutional government in England, to the dissolution of central power in much of Central Europe and Russia.
Despite the title, there’s not a lot of warfare here. Everything from the Hugenots to the Glorious Revolution is discussed, and gives a fairly solid understanding of why things happened for such a small volume. There is a good chapter on the limitations of pre-modern production, and how it limited the economy, and the end of the book gives a whirlwind tour of the trends in art and evolution of the sciences.
In all, if this is a period where you don’t have a lot of background knowledge (and it was never a popular period in my classes), this is an excellent and clear place to start.
December 15, 2019
For much of the second half of the 1500's, civil wars raged between Catholic and Protestant in France. What? France? Home of the world's greatest collection of Gothic cathedrals? How can this be? Yet, France was little different than many other countries in Europe in this era, continuing into the 1600's, divided by religion and locked into war with themselves and one another. The fallout from the Reformation, begun by Martin Luther and his ilk in the early 1500's, raged for a very long time. The 30 Years War alone, for example, which dragged on from 1618 to 1648, turned the collection of states that much later became Germany into a battleground involving most of the great European powers of the day. The war killed about one third of the population of that region. The outcome left Europe hardened into much the same distribution of religious boundaries we see today, although religion has dwindled to play an ever smaller role in the daily lives of the average French, German, Dutch, Belgian, Austrian, Czech, or Swedish citizen.
It wasn't religious dogma, however, that drove those bloody conflicts. It was the struggle over power and wealth, both within and between nations, to the extent that the concept of "nation" even existed in the minds of many of the participants. Thus, it was important to a Protestant German prince, for example, to be able to dictate the religion of his people for simple reasons of consolidating his power and controlling the wealth of the church -- which required denying the authority of a distant Catholic emperor or pope. For this, millions died.
The author's discussion of this period of a century and a half of European history is remarkably broad, embracing politics, war, religion, scientific developments, intellectual currents and even literature. It's not a quick, simple read.
The geographic breadth is equally great. Though the book focuses more on Western Europe -- with which I am more familiar -- there is also extensive coverage of Eastern Europe as well, particularly of the conflict between the Ottoman empire and its neighbors, especially the Austrians. During this era, the Ottomans went from dominating the whole of the Balkans and almost conquering Vienna itself in 1683 to finding themselves in rapid retreat and giving up huge chunks of territory in Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and elsewhere. The Ottomans would never recover. The rise and fall of Sweden (yes, the Swedes were once a great European power) vs. many other players, particularly the Russians, is another surprising saga.
Overall, I highly this recommend this work as an excellent survey of European history of the era. You will walk away with a much better understanding of why some powers, such as Spain and the Ottomans, went into steep long-term decline and why others, such as England, France and Russia ended this period far stronger. You will also have much greater respect for why the European Union is such a great gift to Europe today, helping to ensure that countless centuries of European warfare of bygone eras will stay just a bloody memory. Pity some Europeans are forgetting that lesson (yes, Brexit is almost here).
It wasn't religious dogma, however, that drove those bloody conflicts. It was the struggle over power and wealth, both within and between nations, to the extent that the concept of "nation" even existed in the minds of many of the participants. Thus, it was important to a Protestant German prince, for example, to be able to dictate the religion of his people for simple reasons of consolidating his power and controlling the wealth of the church -- which required denying the authority of a distant Catholic emperor or pope. For this, millions died.
The author's discussion of this period of a century and a half of European history is remarkably broad, embracing politics, war, religion, scientific developments, intellectual currents and even literature. It's not a quick, simple read.
The geographic breadth is equally great. Though the book focuses more on Western Europe -- with which I am more familiar -- there is also extensive coverage of Eastern Europe as well, particularly of the conflict between the Ottoman empire and its neighbors, especially the Austrians. During this era, the Ottomans went from dominating the whole of the Balkans and almost conquering Vienna itself in 1683 to finding themselves in rapid retreat and giving up huge chunks of territory in Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and elsewhere. The Ottomans would never recover. The rise and fall of Sweden (yes, the Swedes were once a great European power) vs. many other players, particularly the Russians, is another surprising saga.
Overall, I highly this recommend this work as an excellent survey of European history of the era. You will walk away with a much better understanding of why some powers, such as Spain and the Ottomans, went into steep long-term decline and why others, such as England, France and Russia ended this period far stronger. You will also have much greater respect for why the European Union is such a great gift to Europe today, helping to ensure that countless centuries of European warfare of bygone eras will stay just a bloody memory. Pity some Europeans are forgetting that lesson (yes, Brexit is almost here).
May 22, 2019
This book is very difficult to read. It focuses largely on the political and religious growth of Europe, during a time period where many were persecuted for their beliefs and there were constant conflicts between countries. This book starts off talking about Calvinism and Catholicism and their struggles against the ruling class who opposed and disregarded theirs believes. The author then talks about the Spanish king Philip II and his rise to power, as well as his multiple conflicts including that event that started a conflict with Spain and England, the Revolt of Netherlands. What makes this book difficult to read is mainly the difficult language used as well as information one might not know unless they were already knowledgeable about history.
I believe this book is very informative, and I want to praise the author for being able to fit such a large amount of information into only 230 pages. I believe the most important aspect of this book is that it describes Europe during a time period of a lot of conflicts and power struggles, especially in regards to religion and it's influence on a multitude of things, the war between Spain and France, the collapse of the Holy Roman empire and even helped develop what is now modern capitalism through the influence of Calvinism.
One criticism could be the fact that there is a large focus on England and France for a decent part of the book. Later on, the book expands and covers things such as scientific and artistic advancement, In the late 1500s with notable individuals such as Sir Issac Newton And Michelangelo and the infamous class system which was founded on a system that forced a lot of poor people into staying poor in order for the wealthy to stay wealthy. Overall, I rate this book a 4/5 because It's very informative, concise and interesting, however, due to the difficult language and barrier of entry in regards to individuals needing to have a decent amount of historical knowledge to read this.
I believe this book is very informative, and I want to praise the author for being able to fit such a large amount of information into only 230 pages. I believe the most important aspect of this book is that it describes Europe during a time period of a lot of conflicts and power struggles, especially in regards to religion and it's influence on a multitude of things, the war between Spain and France, the collapse of the Holy Roman empire and even helped develop what is now modern capitalism through the influence of Calvinism.
One criticism could be the fact that there is a large focus on England and France for a decent part of the book. Later on, the book expands and covers things such as scientific and artistic advancement, In the late 1500s with notable individuals such as Sir Issac Newton And Michelangelo and the infamous class system which was founded on a system that forced a lot of poor people into staying poor in order for the wealthy to stay wealthy. Overall, I rate this book a 4/5 because It's very informative, concise and interesting, however, due to the difficult language and barrier of entry in regards to individuals needing to have a decent amount of historical knowledge to read this.
February 19, 2013
An interesting re-read, having been required background reading in college. A very accessible primer on some of the dynamics shaping history and culture in early modern Europe, with particular focus on confessional conflicts and their political ramifications.
March 12, 2021
With this excellent book, Richard Dunn demystifies a complex and colorful era.
Writing with beautiful clarity on politics, economics, society, intellectual life and culture, Dunn covers all parts of Europe. He addresses big questions with sound judgments, on topics ranging from economics – the alleged connection between Protestantism and capitalism; and how English commerce benefited from mercantilist policies – to culture: the meaning of the Baroque, and the secularization of art.
In international relations, Dunn shows that the brutal Thirty Years’ War which devastated Germany finally resulted only in restoration of the previously established principle of territorial churches, either Catholic or Protestant. Across Europe, he observes that those leaders who practiced moderation rather than intolerant violence, namely Henry IV and Elizabeth I, came out best from the religious upheavals.
Dunn punctuates his political narrative with crisp biographies of key people and telling side-remarks about national character. Castilians (Spaniards), for example, “valued business well below fighting and praying”, and developed no significant industries. In Russia,
"Tsars, nobles, priests and peasants all accepted physical brutality – flogging and torture – as [a] staple feature of society."
Dunn avers that Peter the Great had more confidence to deal with the West “than most of his countrymen have had, then or since.”
The reader will enjoy Dunn’s accessible language and slightly irreverent humor, as when he compares Rubens’ “Adoration of the Magi” to the crowd at Grand Central Station. King James I, he says, bore a large tongue, rolling eyes, and a “perpetually apprehensive expression.” As for Louis XIV, that he “had received a very superficial education was doubtless an advantage, since it permitted him to accept his own greatness naively….”
The book goes far beyond these witticisms, in outstanding surveys of the religious wars in which idealistic Protestants and reformed Catholics slaughtered without mercy; the explosion of trade-based capitalism, from which the Dutch and English earned the greatest benefits; the rise of absolute monarchy in France and constitutional monarchy in England, both supported by collaboration of aristocrats; the tremendous achievements of the “century of genius” – the era of Galileo, Newton, Rembrandt, and Shakespeare; and the wars at the end of the century, concluded through treaties which established a new balance of power among the major states.
Supplemented with well-chosen illustrations and excellent maps, every chapter of Dunn’s book rewards the reader with insight and understanding.
Writing with beautiful clarity on politics, economics, society, intellectual life and culture, Dunn covers all parts of Europe. He addresses big questions with sound judgments, on topics ranging from economics – the alleged connection between Protestantism and capitalism; and how English commerce benefited from mercantilist policies – to culture: the meaning of the Baroque, and the secularization of art.
In international relations, Dunn shows that the brutal Thirty Years’ War which devastated Germany finally resulted only in restoration of the previously established principle of territorial churches, either Catholic or Protestant. Across Europe, he observes that those leaders who practiced moderation rather than intolerant violence, namely Henry IV and Elizabeth I, came out best from the religious upheavals.
Dunn punctuates his political narrative with crisp biographies of key people and telling side-remarks about national character. Castilians (Spaniards), for example, “valued business well below fighting and praying”, and developed no significant industries. In Russia,
"Tsars, nobles, priests and peasants all accepted physical brutality – flogging and torture – as [a] staple feature of society."
Dunn avers that Peter the Great had more confidence to deal with the West “than most of his countrymen have had, then or since.”
The reader will enjoy Dunn’s accessible language and slightly irreverent humor, as when he compares Rubens’ “Adoration of the Magi” to the crowd at Grand Central Station. King James I, he says, bore a large tongue, rolling eyes, and a “perpetually apprehensive expression.” As for Louis XIV, that he “had received a very superficial education was doubtless an advantage, since it permitted him to accept his own greatness naively….”
The book goes far beyond these witticisms, in outstanding surveys of the religious wars in which idealistic Protestants and reformed Catholics slaughtered without mercy; the explosion of trade-based capitalism, from which the Dutch and English earned the greatest benefits; the rise of absolute monarchy in France and constitutional monarchy in England, both supported by collaboration of aristocrats; the tremendous achievements of the “century of genius” – the era of Galileo, Newton, Rembrandt, and Shakespeare; and the wars at the end of the century, concluded through treaties which established a new balance of power among the major states.
Supplemented with well-chosen illustrations and excellent maps, every chapter of Dunn’s book rewards the reader with insight and understanding.
August 19, 2024
After finishing Ken Follett's novel 'A Column of Fire,' as well as the remainder of his "Kingsbridge" series, I was moved to look into the historical context of those fictional works.
Richard S. Dunn's 'Age of Religious Wars' was a good place to start. It is one of seven volumes in The Norton History of Modern Europe series.
The book emphasizes the Protestant-Catholic tensions and outright wars, but it also lays out the political, legal and cultural aspects of the century and a half period. National boundaries (such as they were understood in those times) shifted often, as did the roles of church and state.
It was good to revisit this period, which had been touched on in my "Western Civ." college courses. The list of prominent individuals is truly stunning: Elizabeth I, Louis XIV, Galileo, Newton, Shakespeare, Moliere, Descartes, Locke, Michelangelo, and many others. And the 30 Years War was a breathtaking calamity, worse than I had remembered in class.
I plan to read all six volumes (of which 'Age of Religious Wars' is the second). Next up: 'The Foundations of Early Modern Europe.'
Richard S. Dunn's 'Age of Religious Wars' was a good place to start. It is one of seven volumes in The Norton History of Modern Europe series.
The book emphasizes the Protestant-Catholic tensions and outright wars, but it also lays out the political, legal and cultural aspects of the century and a half period. National boundaries (such as they were understood in those times) shifted often, as did the roles of church and state.
It was good to revisit this period, which had been touched on in my "Western Civ." college courses. The list of prominent individuals is truly stunning: Elizabeth I, Louis XIV, Galileo, Newton, Shakespeare, Moliere, Descartes, Locke, Michelangelo, and many others. And the 30 Years War was a breathtaking calamity, worse than I had remembered in class.
I plan to read all six volumes (of which 'Age of Religious Wars' is the second). Next up: 'The Foundations of Early Modern Europe.'
September 10, 2020
A really sold textbook on early modern Europe, covering every aspect of social, economic and military history, with a refreshingly broadminded take on various competing schools of thought. I purchased this one back in my schooldays (the 1980s!) and have re-read it for research purposes for my next novel. It's aged very well, and contains quite a few corking one liners, my favourite being: "There is no way of reasoning with people who equate genius with book learning or blue blood."
December 25, 2017
Informative, but not dry! It took me forever to read, but I'm really glad I did. It was very helpful, and most any time I was a little lost, they'd restate the main point to help make sure the issue was understandable! :)
June 28, 2022
Very dry on it's own, this book was recommended by our homeschool curriculum for our Rhetoric history studies. It was too analytically detailed for a high school course, where my kids were already reading several other books and taking other classes.
December 26, 2017
Remarkably clear and concise.
May 23, 2021
you’ve outdunn yourself, dunn
July 16, 2024
Really 4.5 stars but a solid overview with a good bibliography. Would have liked more on the collapse of Venice.
September 5, 2024
Really excellent. Touches on virtually every aspect of things, from the social to the artistic, in digestible, well-ordered sections.
June 29, 2015
I was kind of torn in my ranking between a 3 and a 4, a 3.5 would be most appropriate. It's well written and is a good survey-type of history of 16th and 17th century Europe. This is the kind of book that will interest more or less only those who are inclined toward history in the first place, but I would say that it's quite readable considering the genre. The author is a bit overly obsessed with the France/England dynamic, and indeed devotes an entire chapter to these two growing empires. My personal preferences lie in Eastern Europe, and I would have preferred to have more information about the (similarly) growing Habsburg Empire and its religious and ethnic diversity. I was also a bit perplexed by Dunn's citation/reference style, as footnotes are few and far between and are often seemingly trivial. I've seen it done much better in other historical surveys. In the end, I learned a lot about this period that I did not know before, so that in and of itself made it worthwhile.
August 13, 2014
I had to read this book for an AP Euro summer assignment, and I can honestly say that this is by far the most boring book I have ever read. Don't get me wrong, I love history, but The Age of Religious Wars by Dunn was too lengthy and unnecessarily wordy. I was able to get a fairly detailed summary written in about three or four pages. The book also did not go chronologically, which made the book even more of a pain to read. There were countless errors in grammar throughout the book. It was much too dry for my liking. I will not be rereading this one.
March 23, 2016
Good again, although I preferred the previous volume's balance among different types of history. This one put a heavier emphasis on political developments and seemed to address social and intellectual developments as an afterthought. One welcome addition was more attention to eastern Europe.
July 26, 2011
Serves its purpose. Would have been better with about 100 pages edited out.
Want to read
June 18, 2012Gilbert, Felix; et al.
The Norton History of Modern Europe
In compilation only.
The Norton History of Modern Europe
In compilation only.
November 11, 2012
Great! A little dragged out at the end.
Read
May 21, 2018Originally read in 2002
July 1, 2014
This is the sort of three star book that I only rated 3 stars because I have no idea how else to rate it. I've never read a book like this before.
December 14, 2014
Exceptionally well-written survey. Scholarly and informative without being overly dense. What is lacks, though, is any mention of historiographical argument.
February 17, 2015
Good spine book for the study of European history in the time period.
October 27, 2020
这个时代欧洲普通人是痛苦的吧？宗教战争的频繁，以及现代民族国家成型阶段的战争，一团乱麻。
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