The Historians of Ancient Europe: Jacques Barzun and Norman Davies
Jessica Woodyard
7th period
AP European History
Jacques Barzun and Norman Davies were historians that wrote books describing ancient and modern Europe. Excerpts from these books describe the different view points each author had on the Protestant Reformation. Barzun 's outlook of the Protestant Reformation was of cultural movement. Barzun describes Western Europe the most in his passage. Davies ' view of the Protestant Reformation was a political movement. Davies describes Europe the most in his passage. These authors both proved their points very strongly, in order to prove their sides of the argument. Barzun states that the Protestant Reformation has been characterized as a revolution. He views the Protestant Reformation as " the violent transfer of power and property in the name of an idea." Barzun thinks that revolutions gives each culture a new outlook. He states that revolutions changed attitudes, art, and human failings. Barzun then describes Luther 's posting of the 95 Theses on the doors of Wittenberg castle church doors. " A German scholar has recently argued that Luther never posted his Theses." Luther 's 95 Theses were printed due to Gutenberg 's invention of the printing press. This invention had a great impact on the tear of Western Europe. Luther did not believe in the sale of indulgences. His belief was the gospel was the only treasure of the church. Luther then made proclamation that stated "every man is a priest." That meant their should be no church and every man should preach to themselves. The proclamation was announced to the German and became a new way of life for the Germans. The Pope had begun to get black mailed by the kings. Therefore the kings got special privileges. Barzun believed that this did nothing to reform the church. In a reaction to the Pope condeming 41 of Luther 's 95 theses, he publicly burned books which idolized the Pope. Barzun then describes how most revolutions are begun. He states
7th period
AP European History
Jacques Barzun and Norman Davies were historians that wrote books describing ancient and modern Europe. Excerpts from these books describe the different view points each author had on the Protestant Reformation. Barzun 's outlook of the Protestant Reformation was of cultural movement. Barzun describes Western Europe the most in his passage. Davies ' view of the Protestant Reformation was a political movement. Davies describes Europe the most in his passage. These authors both proved their points very strongly, in order to prove their sides of the argument. Barzun states that the Protestant Reformation has been characterized as a revolution. He views the Protestant Reformation as " the violent transfer of power and property in the name of an idea." Barzun thinks that revolutions gives each culture a new outlook. He states that revolutions changed attitudes, art, and human failings. Barzun then describes Luther 's posting of the 95 Theses on the doors of Wittenberg castle church doors. " A German scholar has recently argued that Luther never posted his Theses." Luther 's 95 Theses were printed due to Gutenberg 's invention of the printing press. This invention had a great impact on the tear of Western Europe. Luther did not believe in the sale of indulgences. His belief was the gospel was the only treasure of the church. Luther then made proclamation that stated "every man is a priest." That meant their should be no church and every man should preach to themselves. The proclamation was announced to the German and became a new way of life for the Germans. The Pope had begun to get black mailed by the kings. Therefore the kings got special privileges. Barzun believed that this did nothing to reform the church. In a reaction to the Pope condeming 41 of Luther 's 95 theses, he publicly burned books which idolized the Pope. Barzun then describes how most revolutions are begun. He states
Cited: Barzun, Jacques, From Dawn to Decadence. New York: HarperCollins, 2000. Davies, Norman, Europe: A History. New York: HarperCollins, 1996.