A History of Modern Germany: The Reformation

by Hajo Holborn

The first volume of a major reassessment of the last five centuries of German history deals with that age of German history which had the widest effect on the rise of modern Western civilization. Against the background of medieval culture, the author shows the origins of Luther's religion and the growth of various Protestant churches, as well as the subsequent restoration of the Roman Catholic Church. The history of the religious movements of the Reformation and the Counter Reformation is closely co-ordinated with the great tranformation simultaneously taking pace in the social, econimic, and intellectual institutions of Europe. Included are detailed discussions of the effects of the Black Death, the rise of the cities, Luther's social ethics, The Thirty Years' War, and the Peace of Westphalia in 1648.

Genres: History, Germany, Nonfiction, European History

374 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

A scholar of German and European history, Hajo Holborn fled Nazi Germany with his family in 1933, first arriving in the United Kingdom, then emigrating to America. He taught at Yale and Tufts before becoming Sterling Professor of History at Yale; among his students there was Peter Gay. He became an American citizen and served as president of the American Historical Association.

Reviews

[Bernard English · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good chunk of this book revolves around theology which might turn some readers off. However much the national and socio-economic factors played significant roles in the upcoming Thirty Years' War, the religious background of the Reformation cannot be skimmed over. Solid history with the one shortfall that there are few references given.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite good. The history of the German Empire in this period is insanely complicated; in this book it was at least possible to follow events and to understand some of the reasons for them. Looking forward to the next volume!

[MJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Covers the religious ascept from 1200 up to 1600s to time of the 30 year war.

[Canavan · Rating 4 out of 5]

✭✭✭✭

[Roderick Lee]

This is an outstanding book to understand the politics, economics and religious battles between Catholicism and Protestantism as well as the intense rivalries of fledgling Protestant sects emerging during the Reformation.