Sixteenth Century Europe: Expansion and Conflict

Palgrave History of Europe

by Richard Mackenney

Few periods of a hundred years have held the imagination as much as the period 1500-1600. At least four great themes - Renaissance, Reformation, Counter-Reformation and Expansion - vie for dominance. The decisive cultural theme of the fifteenth century - classical revival in Italy - had spread and diversified, the social structures of the Ancien Regime were yet to solidify. This study examines the symptons of expansion - population growth, adventure overseas, new voyages of the imagination - and the areas of conflict - the world and the spirit, the public and private spheres, elite and popular cultures - and argues that spiritual quest and intellectual curiosity had the same cultural roots.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

456 pages, Paperback

First published August 17, 1993

Reviews

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zatiaľ najlepšie zo série. Veľmi dobre napísaná, miestami zábavná a bohatá na informácie. Tie sú podané jednoduchým spôsobom a sú vyskladané do skvelého historického rozprávania. Obsahovo sa autor venuje hlavne Španielsku, náboženským rozkolom, expanzii hlavne európskych mocností do sveta, dôsledkom renesancie či vynálezu kníhtlače. Čo viac ku knihe dodať, je to sonda do zlomového obdobia, kedy sa pomyselne končí stredovek a začína sa niečo, čo môžeme nazvať včasný či raný novovek. K slovu sa dostávajú delá,vojnové lode, absolutistickí panovníci a neochvejná snaha Európanov ovládnuť svet v mene viery a v mene presvedčenia, že to je tak dobré pre všetkých.

[Barbora Jirincova · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great synthesis where the author does not gloss over the reality of real people and their suffering in the 16th century. The book is more for the enlightened reader, history students and history teachers as it is not written in a very readable way. But for the educated interested in the history of this complex subject, it is certainly great.

[Tobias · Rating 4 out of 5]

With great difficulty does this book wander around Europe to mark aspects of expansion internally and externally, as well the conflicts which precipitate and follow certain events. If Mackenney writes a book about the Battle of Lepanto I will read it as it was the strongest part of this book and left me wanting more.

[Ken Penegar · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the hands of a scholar like Richard Mackenney, the 1500s seem like only yesterday. Every aspect of the culture and politics of the time is illuminated and connected with the trends working their way throughout Europe. For example, one can see the disputes of religious doctrine intertwined with political power that for the modern reader suggest that the interlude of the Enlightenment to follow could well have been only that, an interlude. Twentieth-first century America, though this is only implicit in what Mackenney writes. resembles that landscape of dogma, identity and faction threatening the state at every turn. A pleasure to read as much as it is a book of enormous scholarship. Highly recommended.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this for university and while it had a lot of information it got bogged down in words, using many more words than was needed. Brilliant for my course and interesting but at the same time hard going in parts.