The Reformation

As Luther wrote, 'The prosperity of a country depends not upon the abundance of its revenue, nor on the strength of its fortifications, nor on the beauty of its public buildings, but it consists in the number of cultivated citizens, in its men of education, enlightenment and character.' After a preliminary essay on the concept of Reformation, the studies in this second collection by Lewis Spitz emphasize this special concern for education shown by the reformers of the 16th century,...
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As Luther wrote, 'The prosperity of a country depends not upon the abundance of its revenue, nor on the strength of its fortifications, nor on the beauty of its public buildings, but it consists in the number of cultivated citizens, in its men of education, enlightenment and character.' After a preliminary essay on the concept of Reformation, the studies in this second collection by Lewis Spitz emphasize this special concern for education shown by the reformers of the 16th century, whose leaders were nearly all university men themselves. The second half of the book takes up the origins and development of early modern historical thought, reflecting the conviction of the reformers, even more than the humanists, that the knowledge of history and enquiry into its meaning were of fundamental importance for civilized culture, perspective, and for building the future.