The New Cambridge Modern History, Volume 1: The Renaissance, 1493-1520

The New Cambridge Modern History #1

by G.R. Potter (Editor), Denys Hay (Editor)

In a preface written for the paperback edition, Professor Hay examines some of the changes in Renaissance scholarship since the first publication of this volume in 1957. Successive chapters examine the social and economic structure of a continent about to establish trade and colonies in the New World, the intellectual and artistic movements which made up the Renaissance, the position of the Church on the eve of the Reformation, the political inheritance of the Middle Ages, with its rising nation states, and the growth of the Ottoman Empire.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Renaissance, World History, Ebooks, Art

532 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

Reviews

[David Newell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant resource that covers a very broad range of topics relating to the renaissance.

The chapters are well constructed and easy to digest, and my only small criticism is the lack of pictures associated with the chapter on art, which would have made clearer the themes presented, especially to an artistic layman like myself

[Alok Ghimire · Rating 4 out of 5]

The wealth of details is unnecessary to a reader who isn't a student of history or a student of that particular period. This is by no means a casual read ( the whole series is twelve volumes). Since the European nations of the time were closely linked by trade and war, separate chapters for the same wars but from different national vantage become repetitive. The final chapters are absolutely delightful.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mammoth account of Europe across a period of less than 30 years. Expansive, detailed and highly academic, it doesn't shy away from immersing you in the world of renaissance Europe and beyond. The themed chapters give you a deep dive on, say, economic conditions, France or the New World. What you're left with is a comprehensive and informed survey of the period.

It is a highly academic book, and probably requires a background in historiographic study. The chapters are by various authors meaning that they can vary in quality. Also, I would say that you should read a more basic introduction if you're just getting into the period as it assumes a basic timeline.

But if you've got even a simple understanding you'll get a lot out this book.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fine survey of the state of Europe at a critical, innovative, and quickly evolving period in history, as the new learning of the Italian/Mediterranean Renaissance spread into the wider European world. This period sees a dramatic rise in political, military, and economic power of north and west Europe followed, in the long run, by increasing cultural, religious and scientific interactions that affected and expanded the influence of "western" / European societies (and affected, for better or worse, cultures around the world).

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, solid, detailed etc etc