[PieterCasparzen]

Americans should learn about Reformation-era Europe.

There was so much going on in Europe during the few hundred years prior to America’s founding that really is key to understanding a little about what was going on in the minds of those who really “started” America.

La Rochelle, New Rochelle, etc.

Reformation-era Europe is eye-popping history that for Americans today, comfortably and dispassionately looking back, is chock-full of lessons that we need.

[Cronos]

Reformation-era Europe should NOT be read purely in the context of religion. For instance the 30 years war in Germany. That seems on the outset to be Catholic v/s Lutheran, but then one sees that Catholic France was fighting alongside Protestants???

Then one sees Lutheran princelings crushing baptist etc. serfs

What was going on?

You cannot read this without reading how the Holy Roman Empire was Catholic and the little Lords, Dukes etc. in northern Europe used the Reformation to declare their independence

you cannot read it without reading how France used the opportunity to weaken the Holy Roman Empire (i.e. how West Francia stole a march over East Francia) and how the Turks used this European turmoil to their own advantage