The 16th Century

[bicker]

I've been reading a bit about European history of the 16th Century. It seems to me that the Western world utterly changed during that period of time, in a manner that the world hadn't changed in the previous thousand years or more, and in a manner that the world didn't change afterward, except perhaps for the 20th Century (too soon to tell).

Is anyone else fascinated by this period of history?

 

[olena]

I've been reading a bit about European history of the 16th Century. It seems to me that the Western world utterly changed during that period of time, in a manner that the world hadn't changed in the previous thousand years or more, and in a manner that the world didn't change afterward, except perhaps for the 20th Century (too soon to tell).

Is anyone else fascinated by this period of history?

Very much so!

 

[NMAmy]

I've always been fascinated with British history in particular during that time period. The Tudors were an interesting family.

 

[mom2travel]

I've always been fascinated with British history in particular during that time period. The Tudors were an interesting family.

me too! I know they are fiction, but I've been reading Philippa Gregory's books about Henry VIII, his wives and children - good stuff!

 

[Golf4food]

Interested in all history, no specifc century necessarily required. My main area of expertice would be the US Civil War, followed by other military history, but I do read general history as well. Read a good book about Eurpean history between 1648 and 1815 not too long ago (not 16th century, but close!):

The Pursuit of Glory: The Five Revolutions that Made Modern Europe: 1648-1815

http://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Glory...r_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246980480&sr=1-15

What recommendations havest though for 16th century reading?

 

[PaulaSB12]

I don't think you can say there was no change before the 16th century, the effects of the black death where very significant, it killed of serfdom and peasants started to move about more.

http://www.insecta-inspecta.com/fleas/bdeath/Europe.html

Not to mention the changes with the Stuarts the death of Charles I the fact that Charles II was secretly working to make England catholic again, James II got kicked off the throne for that and then they introduced the law banning catholics from the throne to keep his son from being king, they where scared of another Mary as she burned quite a few people for being protestant. Then in 1707 there was the unification of the thrones of Scotland and England.

By the way the Tudors have always been my favourite part of history which is why the butchering of the story of the Tudors for the tv show has always irritated me.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

I love history from any era, unfortunately, I don't get to read as much as I did b.k. (before kids)

 

[rie'smom]

I love all history. Each century has had its own effect on how we live today. For example, the 15th century was the Age of Exploration and the 17th century was the Age of Enlightenment.

 

[daisax]

Did you overlook the industrial revolution?

 

[rie'smom]

Did you overlook the industrial revolution?

That would be the late 18th and the 19th centuries.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I love history in general. I really wish that the History Channel would do a lot more about real history.

 

[Golf4food]

I love history in general. I really wish that the History Channel would do a lot more about real history.

Ghosts, bigfoot, and food aren't history? Really? Who knew?

(Obviously not the people that run THC!!!)

 

[daisax]

That would be the late 18th and the 19th centuries.

I realize that. But the OP seemed to think that the 16th century changed life in ways that hadn't happened since, "except perhaps for the 20th century (too soon to tell)."

I don't think you can leave the Industrial Revolution out of that equation.

 

[minkydog]

If you love British History, you've got to read Ken Follett's "Pillars of the Earth" and the sequel "World Without End." Follett usually writes mystery & thrillers, but these books are historical fiction. "Pillars of the Earth" takes place in the 1100's. "World Without End" continues with the descendants of the first book 200 years later, all through the Black Plague. You can really tell he did an enormous amount of research for these two books.

 

[DarthKTrava]

Ghosts, bigfoot, and food aren't history? Really? Who knew?

(Obviously not the people that run THC!!!)

Same goes for Syfy where they think wrestling and horror are SF...

The era of the Tudors was a fascinating but volatile time in history. There was lots of upheaval with religion during this time.