Europe's Reformations, 1450-1650
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Overview
Europe's Reformations establishes a new standard for historians of the early modern era. In recent decades, Reformation scholars have dismantled brick by brick the idea that the Middle Ages came to an abrupt end in 1517, with Martin Luther's Ninety-five Theses. Prominent historian James D. Tracy is the first scholar to effectively synthesize this new understanding of the profound continuities between medieval Catholic Europe and the multiconfessional sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.Tracy illustrates how Reformation-era religious conflicts tilted the balance in church-state relations in favor of the latter, so that the secular power was able to dictate the doctrinal loyalty of its subjects. Religious reform, Catholic as well as Protestant, reinforced the bonds of community, while creating new divisions within towns, villages, neighborhoods, and families. In some areas these tensions were resolved by allowing citizens to profess loyalty both to their separate religious communities and to an overarching body-politic. This kind of society, a product of the Reformations, though not willed by the reformers, was the historical foundation of modern pluralism.
Synopsis
In this widely praised history, noted scholar James D. Tracy offers a comprehensive, lucid, and masterful exploration of early modern Europe's key turning point. Establishing a new standard for histories of the Reformation, Tracy explores the complex religious, political, and social processes that made change possible, even as he synthesizes new understandings of the profound continuities between medieval Catholic Europe and the multiconfessional sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. This revised edition includes new material on Eastern Europe, on how ordinary people experienced religious change, and on the pluralistic societies that began to emerge. Richly illustrated and elegantly written, this book belongs in the library of all scholars, students, and general readers interested in the origins, events, and legacy of Europe's Reformation.
The New York Times Book Review - Felipe Fernandez-Armesto
A well-informed, critical, independent-minded but essentially traditional view . . . Tracy is masterly in absorbing information and masterful in organizing it -- skeptical of fashion, clear in exposition, fluent in communication, unremittingly scholarly.
Editorials
The New York Times
[Tracy] is masterly in absorbing information and masterful in organizing it—skeptical of fashion, clear in exposition, fluent in communication, unremittingly scholarly. Europe's Reformations displays in print his efficient, engaging classroom manner.— Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, University of Notre Dame
Comitatus
In this excellent survey, James Tracy provides a concise and balanced account of what he terms the 'religious revolution of the sixteenth century.' Lively and readable prose. A lucid account of the Reformation's medieval roots; sixteenth-century climax; and often unintended religious, social, and political consequences, Europe's Reformations represents an outstanding introduction for both students and non-specialists.— Jason P. Coy
H-Hre
When the first edition of James Tracy's Europe's Reformations, 1450-1650 appeared in 1999, instructors and college students were quite fortunate to have a textbook that offered such a concise, learned synthesis of the Reformation written in a fluid and enjoyable style. . . . Even in this now more competitive field, Tracy's textbook continues to distinguish itself, because the author gives his readers pith, breadth, and scholarship in a textbook format. . . . Instructors in search of a text for their undergraduate Reformation course will continue to be very well served by Tracy's text.Felipe Fernandez-Armesto
A well-informed, critical, independent-minded but essentially traditional view . . . Tracy is masterly in absorbing information and masterful in organizing it -- skeptical of fashion, clear in exposition, fluent in communication, unremittingly scholarly.—The New York Times Book Review
Choice
An interesting, lucid survey of Europe's Reformation . . . provides a stimulating look and reflects Tracy's command of the material. . . . students and faculty will enjoy this well-written, thoughtful book.— D. P. King
Sixteenth-Century Journal
The value of this book lies not just in the fact that it complements current introductory text offerings by focusing on how the face of Europe was altered through a combination of doctrine, politics, and societal changes. Rather, the organization of the material, the succint, clear (but never simplistic) discussion, and the numerous, well-chosen illustrations make this an outstanding classroom resource.Comitatus, A Journal Of Medieval and Renaissance Studies
In this excellent survey, James Tracy provides a concise and balanced account of what he trems the "religious revolution of the sixteenth century." Tracy is a well-respected professor of history at the University of Minnesota and brings years of scholarly work on early modern Europe to his account of the complicated developments of the Reformation period. Lively and readable prose. A lucid account of the Reformation's medieval roots, sixteenth century climax, and often-unintended religious, social, and political consequences, Europe's Reformations represents an outstanding introduction for both students and non-specialists.CHOICE
An interesting, lucid survey of Europe's Reformation . . . provides a stimulating look and reflects Tracy's command of the material. . . . students and faculty will enjoy this well-written, thoughtful book.— D. P. King
History
Historians have long endeavored to define the Reformation. Further disagreement is found in attempts to specify a time period for the Reformation. James Tracy, however, has successfully found a way to do it by first recognizing and then embracing the multiformity of the Reformation.History Today
James D. Tracy brings a lifetime of study of Erasmus and the Netherlands to a wise and useful survey of the Reformation in an American textbook series. He has produced an attractively and sensitively illustrated book.Religious Studies Review
Tracy is especially skillful in handling complex theological and political developments and gives adequate coverage to social and economic issues. The book includes a fine series of illustrations, a brief coda comparing the European Reformations with other movements of religious reform around the world such as Neo-Confucianism, and a fifteen-page bibliography of works in English.Sixteenth Century Journal
The value of this book lies not just in the fact that it complements current introductory text offerings by focusing on how the face of Europe was altered through a combination of doctrine, politics, and societal changes. Rather, the organization of the material, the succint, clear (but never simplistic) discussion, and the numerous, well-chosen illustrations make this an outstanding classroom resource.History
Solidly researched and artfully written, this volume stands as a work of original scholarship. This study could be useful in upper-divisional and graduate-level courses on Reformation Europe.The Living Church
A superb volume, both balanced and subtle. Thoroughly researched and well-illustrated, the book draws upon a host of fresh material, particularly in the highly popular field of social history. If one seeks a painless way to access recent scholarship, Europe's Reformations is a fine place to begin.CHOICE
An interesting, lucid survey of Europe's Reformation . . . provides a stimulating look and reflects Tracy's command of the material. . . . students and faculty will enjoy this well-written, thoughtful book.The Living Church
A superb volume, both balanced and subtle. Thoroughly researched and well-illustrated, the book draws upon a host of fresh material, particularly in the highly popular field of social history. If one seeks a painless way to access recent scholarship, Europe's Reformations is a fine place to begin.— Justus D. Doenecke