OSHER 135 - European Profiles of the Reformation Era

This set of lectures examines many of the key individuals and events that shaped the Reformation era from 1492 to 1648. Each lecture will revolve around a biographical sketch of an historical figure, with substantial focus on the context in which the person lived and acted. Our topics will include Queen Isabella of Spain, Martin Luther, King Henry VIII of England, Queen Catherine de Medici of France, and King Ferdinand II of the Holy Roman Empire. We will cover the voyages of Columbus, the Inquisition, Henry VIII's marriages, the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre, and the Thirty Years War.