A Short History of Renaissance and Reformation Europe: Dances over Fire and Water (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Jonathan W. Zophy (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0139593624 | ISBN-13: 978-0139593628 | Publication Date: July 9, 1998 | Edition: 2

For history courses in Renaissance and Reformation Europe. This text's conversational tone and concise presentation are examples of an approach that is more representative than comprehensive-introducing historical figures and concepts as they flow through the narrative, without frequent interruption to include and define technical and foreign terms. Rather than a compendium or grand summa, the text serves as a brief introduction to some of the major personalities, issues, events and ideas of the Renaissance and Reformation age.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Representative -- rather than comprehensive -- this concise and lively history of Europe between 1300 and 1500 provides brief introductions to the major personalities, issues, events, and ideas of the Age of Renaissance -- emphasizing people of all ages and both genders. It offers fuller coverage of the same topics presented in the author's combined Renaissance-Reformation edition, and can be used effectively with collections of sources and/or scholarly monographs. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

In an effort to bridge the gap between the often different worlds of professors and students, this exploration of Renaissance and Reformation Europe offers an accessible, engaging approach that pays sufficient attention to the roles and contributions of women. Its conversational tone and concise presentation are examples of an approach that is more representative than comprehensive—introducing historical figures and concepts as they flow through the narrative, without frequent interruption to include and define technical and foreign terms. Rather than a compendium or grand summa, the text serves as a brief introduction to some of the major personalities, issues, events and ideas of the Renaissance and Reformation age.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 335 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (July 9, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0139593624
• ISBN-13: 978-0139593628
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,686,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Readable, quick reference, good for overall understanding, August 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Short History of Renaissance and Reformation Europe: Dances over Fire and Water (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Dr. Zophy has gone through a lot of trouble to make this book a readable guide for first-time students of Renaissance history. It follows a clear outline and is followed by a short list of dates at the end of each chapter. Visual aids also abound in the book with several paintings and examples of art from different periods. However, there are some problems in the actual references. Also, there is a problem with the priority of some topics, which favor women who made little difference while leaving out more important religious figures in history.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zophy Distills the Essence of the Renaissance and Reformatio, January 14, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Short History of Renaissance Europe: Dances Over Fire and Water (Paperback)

I had the pleasure of being in Dr. Zophy's Renaissance History Graduate Seminar during the time that he was writing this book. This gave me the opportunity to see the book in its prepublished state. Despite these prejudices in favor of the book, I can honestly say that Dr. Zophy's history of the Renaissance is the most readable and accessable overview of that period that I have found. His scholarship is above reproach and the organization of the book only serves to enhance its authority. Because Dr. Zophy is an excellent teacher, his focus in Dances Over Fire and Water is instructional. The addition of timelines and annotated bibliographies at the end of each chapter not only aid students in organizing the events of the Renaissance and Reformation, but provide a jumping off point for independent research. While Zophy covers the expected topics in Renaissance and Reformation history, he places special emphasis on the role of women in the arts and politics. The inclusion of women's history topics in a general text should help dispell the notion that women's history can somehow be separated from the history of western civilization and therefor trivialized. Zophy's excellent writing, sense of humor, and scholarship should make Dances Over Fire and Water a standard in graduate and undergraduate classes for years to come.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent Work, April 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Short History of Renaissance and Reformation Europe: Dances over Fire and Water (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

This book is well written by the instructor. It explains all the aspects of the German Anglo and Italian Mediterranean Cycles. This book contains many illustrations- Kings,Queens,Albrecht Durer, Luther, Pope Sixtus, and also Women Renaissance Reformation figures of the time. This work is clear and direct, a must for any historian or enthusiast reader