The Cambridge Modern History, Volume 3: The Wars of Religion, covers a tumultuous period in European history from the late 16th century to the early 17th century. This comprehensive and meticulously researched volume delves into the political, religious, and social conflicts that ravaged Europe during the period known as the Wars of Religion.

The book offers a detailed examination of the causes, course, and consequences of these conflicts, which were fueled by the rise of Protestantism and the subsequent clash with Catholic authorities. The authors provide in-depth analysis of key events, such as the French Wars of Religion, the Spanish Armada, and the Thirty Years' War, shedding light on the complex interplay of religious, political, and military factors that shaped this tumultuous era.

One of the standout features of this volume is the diverse range of perspectives presented by the contributors, who offer insights from multiple national and disciplinary backgrounds. This allows readers to gain a well-rounded understanding of the Wars of Religion and the broader impact they had on European history.

Overall, The Cambridge Modern History, Volume 3: The Wars of Religion, is an essential resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in understanding the religious conflicts that shaped the course of European history. It is a thorough, engaging, and illuminating study that shines a light on a crucial period in the continent's past.

Book Description:
The Cambridge Modern History is a universal history covering the period from 1450 to 1910. It was published in 14 volumes between 1902 and 1912. The series was planned by Lord Acton, who intended it to be a monument of objective, collaborative scholarship, and edited by A.W. Ward, G. W. Prothero and Stanley Leathes.

From the preface: "The present volume, as its title imports, relates a complicated series of conflicts of which the origin or the pretext has for the most part to be sought in the great religious schism with which the preceding volume was concerned. But the cause of the restoration of Catholic unity in the West was, in the minds of both the supporters and the opponents of that cause, inextricably interwoven with the purposes of dynastic ambition, and powerfully affected by the influences traceable to the rapid advance of the monarchical principle and to the gradual growth of the conception of the modern national State." - Summary by Kazbek