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The Wars of Religion - The struggle for power in 16th century Europe - Book II of III
The continuation of the epic history of Europe in the 16th century, the Wars of Religion Book II of III. Illustrated throughout to enhance the reading experience.
Contents of Book II include:
MARY STUART
THE ELIZABETHAN NAVAL WAR WITH SPAIN
THE LAST YEARS OF ELIZABETH
THE ELIZABETHAN AGE OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
TUSCANY
SAVOY
ROME UNDER SIXTUS V
THE END OF THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE
Contents of Book II include:
MARY STUART
THE ELIZABETHAN NAVAL WAR WITH SPAIN
THE LAST YEARS OF ELIZABETH
THE ELIZABETHAN AGE OF ENGLISH LITERATURE
TUSCANY
SAVOY
ROME UNDER SIXTUS V
THE END OF THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE
- GenresHistory
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 5, 2015
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37 people want to read
About the author
Adolphus William Ward
386 books2 followersSir Adolphus William Ward (2 December 1837 – 19 June 1924) was an English historian and man of letters.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 28, 2018
The second-volume of this 3-volume survey of the 16th C spends most of its time on Elizabethan England. The first chapter is a good history of Mary, Queen of Scots. Although the authors note that the Casket Letters' authenticity has been questioned, it's pretty clear that they believe that Mary was complicit in Darnley's death (whether through foreknowledge or by protecting Bothwell afterward). They give her credit for how she navigated the challenges of being a Catholic queen in a Scotland dominated by John Knox's brand of Protestanism.
Once the authors switch their focus to Elizabeth I, they don't recite the well-known history of the reign. Instead, the authors focus on England's growing naval power, how the government navigated the religious conflict and controlled/oppressed Catholics, and the development of literature. Emphasizing the naval expeditions is smart, as it shows why England remained such a threat to Catholic Spain.
The remainder of the volume focuses on Italy, specifically Cosimo Medici's leadership in Tuscany, the reigns of Emmanuel Philibert and Charles Emmanuel (although the authors only follow the latter's rule through the close of the 16th C) in Savoy, and Sixtus V, whose 5.5 year reign strengthened papal rule, administration, and finances.
This history is suprisingly readable, in light of the fact that it was written over 100 years ago. The authors write clearly and with immediacy. There is an assumption of familiarity with European history that was probably a fair one at the close of the 19th/beginning of the 20th Century. Today, however, most readers are unlikely to be familiar with the political structure or geographical scope of various Renaissance European states. So, it was easier for me to comprehend and appreciate the history of subjects already familiar to me (England and Scotland). But I was able to follow and appreciate much of what was written about Tuscany and Savoy, though I don't know the geography well enough to appreciate some of the strategic decisions. Similarly, the chapter on Sixtus V is pretty easy to follow.
Once the authors switch their focus to Elizabeth I, they don't recite the well-known history of the reign. Instead, the authors focus on England's growing naval power, how the government navigated the religious conflict and controlled/oppressed Catholics, and the development of literature. Emphasizing the naval expeditions is smart, as it shows why England remained such a threat to Catholic Spain.
The remainder of the volume focuses on Italy, specifically Cosimo Medici's leadership in Tuscany, the reigns of Emmanuel Philibert and Charles Emmanuel (although the authors only follow the latter's rule through the close of the 16th C) in Savoy, and Sixtus V, whose 5.5 year reign strengthened papal rule, administration, and finances.
This history is suprisingly readable, in light of the fact that it was written over 100 years ago. The authors write clearly and with immediacy. There is an assumption of familiarity with European history that was probably a fair one at the close of the 19th/beginning of the 20th Century. Today, however, most readers are unlikely to be familiar with the political structure or geographical scope of various Renaissance European states. So, it was easier for me to comprehend and appreciate the history of subjects already familiar to me (England and Scotland). But I was able to follow and appreciate much of what was written about Tuscany and Savoy, though I don't know the geography well enough to appreciate some of the strategic decisions. Similarly, the chapter on Sixtus V is pretty easy to follow.
Displaying 1 of 1 review