Theodore K. Rabb

"The Renaissance may have emerged out of the upheavals of the fourteenth century - but when did it end? And why? The renowned historian Theodore Rabb tackles these question in this engaging and deeply learned book, and in so doing recasts our understanding of European history." "In the second half of the seventeenth century, a sea change swept over Europe. The dominant commitments of the preceding centuries were eroding, and a new outlook was emerging from an age of conflict and uncertainty. The ancient world no longer held the European imagination in thrall. Rulers across the continent consolidated political power, asserting control over territories that long had relished their independence. Religion began to lose ground to reason as a model for human inquiry. And both the attitude to war and the belief in the supernatural passed crucial divides. As these vast transformations unfolded, the Renaissance gave way to the Age of Revolution." "By defining the decisive shifts that heralded the end of this momentous era, Rabb enhances our understanding not only of the Renaissance itself but also of the modern world to which it gave birth"--Book jacket.

The stories of fifteen men and women, some familiar, others less so, that demonstrate the profound transformations of society that cut across and remade the realms of human conduct and custom and that are a part of the era with the name meaning "rebirth."

Historians have argued over the 'crisis' of seventeenth-century Europe for decades. Taking into account the recent literature on the subject, the author assesses the controversy and offers a new interpretation of the period between 1500 and 1700, focusing on a crucial transition from turmoil to relative tranquility. [Back cover].

Frontispiece and colored plate are accompanied by guard sheets with descriptive letterpress.An earlier edition (Williamstown, Mass., The McClelland Press [c1938]) has title: The influence of hunger on human history. "List of some older books quoted in this volume, and names of libraries in which they can be found, together with brief biographical notes of their authors": p. 241-257.

This book consists of a selection of articles published in the Journal of Interdisciplinary History on the theme of marriage and fertility and is the first of a series of readers in interdisciplinary history.