German Histories in the Age of Reformations, 1400–1650

by Thomas A. Brady Jr.

This book studies the connections between the political reform of the Holy Roman Empire and the German lands around 1500 and the sixteenth-century religious reformations, both Protestant and Catholic. It argues that the character of the political changes (dispersed sovereignty, local autonomy) prevented both a general reformation of the Church before 1520 and a national reformation thereafter. The resulting settlement maintained the public peace through politically structured religious communities (confessions), thereby avoiding further religious strife and fixing the confessions into the Empire’s constitution. The Germans’ emergence into the modern era as a people having two national religions was the reformation’s principal legacy to modern Germany.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Germany, Academic

496 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2009

Reviews

[Francis Weyns · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to turn a complicated story in an interesting chapter of German history ? Thomas Brady succeeded in making “German histories...” a must have for every one who is interested in European history. A great book.

[Citrom Citrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brady's point of view/concept is really stirring.