Bethencourt, Francisco. The Inquisition: A Global History, 1478–1834. 2009. A comprehensive study that examines the Inquisition in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the Iberian empires overseas.

Cameron, Euan. The European Reformation, 2d ed. 2012. A thorough analysis of the Protestant and Catholic Reformations throughout Europe.

Earle, T. F., and K. J. P. Lowe, eds. Black Africans in Renaissance Europe. 2005. Includes essays discussing many aspects of ideas about race and the experience of Africans in Europe.

Ertman, Thomas. The Birth of Leviathan: Building States and Regimes in Medieval and Early Modern Europe. 1997. A good introduction to the creation of nation-states.

Hendrix, Scott. Luther. 2009. A brief introduction to his thought; part of the Abingdon Pillars of Theology series.

Hsia, R. Po-Chia. The World of Catholic Renewal, 1540–1770, 2d ed. 2005. Situates the Catholic Reformation in a global context and examines colonial Catholicism.

Johnson, Geraldine. Renaissance Art: A Very Short Introduction. 2005. Excellent brief survey that includes male and female artists and sets the art in its cultural and historical context.

Levack, Brian. The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe, 3d ed. 2007. A good introduction to the vast literature on witchcraft, with helpful bibliographies.

Man, John. Gutenberg Revolution: The Story of a Genius and an Invention That Changed the World. 2002. Presents a rather idealized view of Gutenberg but has good discussions of his milieu and excellent illustrations.

Matheson, Peter, ed. Reformation Christianity. 2004. This volume in the People’s History of Christianity series explores social issues and popular religion.

Nauert, Charles. Humanism and the Culture of Renaissance Europe, 2d ed. 2006. A thorough introduction to humanism throughout Europe.

Waley, Daniel, and Trevor Dean. The Italian City-Republics, 4th ed. 2010. Analyzes the rise of independent city-states in northern Italy, including discussion of the artistic and social lives of their inhabitants.

Wiesner-Hanks, Merry E. Women and Gender in Early Modern Europe, 3d ed. 2008. Discusses all aspects of women’s lives as well as ideas about gender.