History: Reformation: Change and Conflict in Sixteenth Century Europe

This course will allow you to dive into a fascinating time in which religion and politics could not be separated. You will learn with others about the influence of the printing press, social change and new ideas in the early 16th century. You will discover how the reformation took off in Germany and Switzerland. You can explore the twists and turns of the reformation in Britain, as the law changed rapidly back and forth in a matter of years. This is a good opportunity to find out if common assumptions about the reformation are true! You will look at writings from the time and meet fascinating characters who stood up to authority – and others who defended it. You will have the chance to discuss how the reformation related to political rebellions and wider social change. By the end of the course, you will be able to form your own views about the causes and consequences of the reformation, weighing up different interpretations promoted by historians. You will have gained new insights into how the reformation affects us today, and into why and how change happens when it does.