Module Information

Historians now tend to look at the Reformation as a process rather than an event. The concept of Europe's Long Reformation, stretching from the early sixteenth century until at least the end of the seventeenth century, has become increasingly accepted. This module adopts this perspective, and looks at the Protestant and Catholic Reformations throughout Europe, and including North American in this period. The module, therefore, deals with a series of inter-related questions and themes; it looks at the magisterial reformers in some detail and examines the different `reformations' which they advocated. It then looks at how those different `reformations' became entwined with larger dynastic and political concerns throughout Europe; adopting a series of varied case studies from different parts of Europe. The module also explores the nature of Protestant belief and spirituality, and it looks at what it actually meant in real terms to be a Protestant in this period. The Reformation revolutionized forms of worship, family relationships and popular beliefs. This module gives students the opportunity to explore some of these issues in considerable depth.

This module gives students the opportunity to study the sixteenth and seventeenth-century religious Reformation. It takes a broad comparative approach, looking at the Reformation throughout Europe with reference to North America. It introduces students to the study of religious belief, central to pre-modern European cultures, and therefore draws upon the disciplines of history, theology and religious studies. The course will complement the department's existing suite of early modern modules, and will be of interest to students on the medieval and early modern degree scheme as well as general history students.