Reformation: Europe’s Holy War

Duration: 59'21''

Synopsis

Historian David Starkey tells the story of the Protestant Reformation and how it transformed the face of modern Europe, unleashing fundamentalism, terror and religious violence.

Further Information

More resources about History

'Upon this rock'' | David Suchet - In the Footsteps of St Peter

'Upon this rock'' | David Suchet - In the Footsteps of St Peter

BBC One | 2015 | 4'30''

The story of one of the most significant moments in church history, the Confession of St Peter.

1: The First Christianity | A History of Christianity

1: The First Christianity | A History of Christianity

BBC Four | 2009 | 58'45''

Diarmaid MacCulloch reveals the origins of Christianity and asks if it can survive in our secular society. He shows how...

1. Ancient Book, Modern World | A History of the Bible by John Barton

1. Ancient Book, Modern World | A History of the Bible by John Barton

BBC Radio 4 | 2020 | 13'10''

Read by Hugh Bonneville, this first episode discusses the contemporary relevance of the Bible and explo...

2: Catholicism: The Unpredictable Rise of Rome | A History of Christianity

2: Catholicism: The Unpredictable Rise of Rome | A History of Christianity

BBC Four | 2009 | 59'09''

Diarmaid MacCulloch explores the rise of Roman Catholicism. How did a small Jewish sect become wes...

2. The Gospel Truth? | A History of the Bible by John Barton

2. The Gospel Truth? | A History of the Bible by John Barton

BBC Radio 4 | 2020 | 13'03''

Hugh Bonneville introduces the gospels and the importance they have to the Christian community.

3: Orthodoxy - From Empire to Empire | A History of Christianity

3: Orthodoxy - From Empire to Empire | A History of Christianity

BBC Four | 2009 | 58'12''

Diarmaid MacCulloch explores Eastern Orthodox Christianity's fight for survival, having withstood threats fr...

3. In the Beginning... | A History of the Bible by John Barton

3. In the Beginning... | A History of the Bible by John Barton

BBC Radio 4 | 2020 | 13'36''

In this instalment of John Barton's essay, Hugh Bonneville narrates the history of The New Testament.

4: Reformation: The Individual Before God | A History of Christianity

4: Reformation: The Individual Before God | A History of Christianity

BBC Four | 2009 | 58'42''

Diarmaid MacCulloch looks at the Reformation and sees how a faith based on obedience and authority led ...

4. Who's In and Who's Out? | A History of the Bible by John Barton

4. Who's In and Who's Out? | A History of the Bible by John Barton

BBC Radio 4 | 2020 | 12'25''

In this penultimate part of the series, Hugh Bonneville explains which scripture made it into the New Test...

5: Protestantism - The Evangelical Explosion | A History of Christianity

5: Protestantism - The Evangelical Explosion | A History of Christianity

BBC Four | 2009 | 58'36''

Diarmaid MacCulloch traces the growth of an exuberant expression of faith that has spread across the...

5. Nine Lessons and Carols | A History of the Bible by John Barton

5. Nine Lessons and Carols | A History of the Bible by John Barton

BBC Radio 4 | 2020 | 13'19''

In the final episode Hugh Bonneville compares how the Scriptures are used within Christianity and Judaism.

6: God in the Dock | A History of Christianity

6: God in the Dock | A History of Christianity

BBC Four | 2009 | 58'41''

Diarmaid MacCulloch examines the concept of scepticism in Western Christianity and challenges the idea that faith has ebbed aw...

Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia | Africa's Great Civilisations

Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia | Africa's Great Civilisations

BBC Four | 2018 | 5'25''

Throughout Ethiopian history, rulers have claimed links to King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba and the Ark of the...

Bar Mitzvah in Jerusalem | David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Paul

Bar Mitzvah in Jerusalem | David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Paul

BBC One | 2012 | 2'04''

David Suchet explores Jerusalem and witnesses a Bar Mitzvah at the Western Wall.

Byzantine mosaics | Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

Byzantine mosaics | Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

BBC Four | 2013 | 4'08''

A few years ago an ancient Byzantine church was discovered in Istanbul complete with a wealth of extraordinary mosaics.

Constantinople | Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

Constantinople | Byzantium: A Tale of Three Cities

BBC Four | 2013 | 2'40''

Constantinople was once the capital of a unified Christian Empire, bringing religion and power together.

England's Reformation: Three Books That Changed a Nation

England's Reformation: Three Books That Changed a Nation

BBC Four | 2017 | 59'43''

Janina Ramirez tells the story of three books that defined the Reformation in England - Tyndale's New Testament, Cra...

Episode 1 | David Suchet - In the Footsteps of St Peter

Episode 1 | David Suchet - In the Footsteps of St Peter

BBC One | 2015 | 59'06''

Actor David Suchet goes in search of one of the most puzzling characters in history - the man we know today as Saint ...

Episode 1 | David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Paul

Episode 1 | David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Paul

BBC One | 2012 | 58'56''

David Suchet undertakes an epic journey spanning the Mediterranean, inspired by the life and travels of Paul the Apostl...

Episode 2 | David Suchet - In the Footsteps of St Peter

Episode 2 | David Suchet - In the Footsteps of St Peter

BBC One | 2015 | 59'13''

Actor David Suchet continues to trace the life of the man we know today as Saint Peter. According to the Bible, it is...

More from David Starkey

S3E1: The Return of the King | Monarchy By David Starkey

S3E1: The Return of the King | Monarchy By David Starkey

Channel 4 | 2006 | 47'14''

The remarkable story of King Charles II, who secured the restoration of the English monarchy in 1660.

Richard III: The Princes in the Tower

Richard III: The Princes in the Tower

Channel 4 | 2015 | 47'22''

Did Richard III really kill his nephews so that he could be king? A stellar cast of experts including David Starkey and Philippa Gregor...

The Last Days of Anne Boleyn

The Last Days of Anne Boleyn

BBC Two | 2013 | 59'08''

In a radical new approach to televised history, a stellar cast of writers and historians, including Hilary Mantel, David Starkey, Philippa Grego...

Power and Personality | The Genius of British Art

Power and Personality | The Genius of British Art

Channel 4 | 2012 | 47'29''

Passionate polemics on how British art made us who we are today and how it continues to give us a vision of ourselves. In t...

Episode 1 | Six Wives Of Henry VIII

Episode 1 | Six Wives Of Henry VIII

Channel 4 | 2001 | 49'33''

Dr David Starkey reveals the stories behind Henry's third and fourth wives. Henry married Jane Seymour the day after Anne Boleyn's execut...

S1E1: From the Prison to the Palace | David Starkey's Elizabeth

S1E1: From the Prison to the Palace | David Starkey's Elizabeth

Channel 4 | 2000 | 49'47''

In this first episode David Starkey examines Elizabeth I's life before her coronation. If her reign was full ...

4: Consuming Passions | Soul of Britain

4: Consuming Passions | Soul of Britain

BBC One | 2000 | 49'01''

Today, three-quarters of the population believe there is no single moral code to live by and no absolutes to judge right and wrong. W...