Nuremberg perfectly exemplifies the ideal Protestant city because it had an aristocratic ruling class, it had widespread support from prominent public figures such as artists and authors, it had humanist support, and most locals also favored the idea of citywide religious reform (Dixon 107). In other words, it was similar in structure to Germany as a whole, so it was the epitome of what the model Reformation city should be. This chapter in The Reformation in Germany aligns perfectly with the entire synopsis of Rittgers’ book The Reformation of the Keys.
The Reformation of the Keys by Ronald K. Rittgers argues that the German city of Nuremberg exemplifies the success of the complete restructuring of the office and power of the keys that took …show more content…
Dixon’s The Reformation in Germany is a very general analysis that scrutinizes several regions of Germany in addition to all levels of German society and the way the Reformation altered them. Conversely, Rittgers’ The Reformation of the Keys concentrates almost entirely on the concept of penance and private confession together with views on church authority in the evangelical city of Nuremberg. In both books the authors successfully argue their theses with supporting evidence, but the arguments and evidence are conveyed differently depending on the author. Dixon uses a “narrative overview” (Dixon, book jacket) as his method for presenting information to the reader. This method consists of a general overview of what was occurring in Germany during the Reformation and how it was affecting society; it is very broad. Conversely, Rittgers uses the case study method as his way of presenting his argument. Basically, Rittgers chose an example of a setting that elucidated his argument, in this monograph Nuremberg, as evidence for the success or failure of a Lutheran city and the new style of penance. The way each author cites the sources also varies; Dixon uses in text parenthetical citations, with a bibliography at the end of the book (Dixon 191), while Rittgers used endnotes and footnotes, then consolidated them in a chronological list by chapter (Rittgers 221) …show more content…
The most influential German texts about the Reformation included “accepted truths” and first-hand accounts of the events (Dixon 183). Viet von Seckendorff wrote History of Lutheranism in 1692 as a critique of Maimbourg’s Histoire du Lutheranisme. Seckendorff’s critiques came from his point of view as a Saxon official, a Lutheran, and a politician; the opposite of French Jesuit Maimbourg, a staunch opponent of Luther. Both Seckendorff’s criticism and Maimbourg’s original were advancements to Reformation historiography, but according to Dixon, the peak historiographical advancement of Reformation Germany came in the 19th century (Dixon
The Reformation of the Keys by Ronald K. Rittgers argues that the German city of Nuremberg exemplifies the success of the complete restructuring of the office and power of the keys that took …show more content…
Dixon’s The Reformation in Germany is a very general analysis that scrutinizes several regions of Germany in addition to all levels of German society and the way the Reformation altered them. Conversely, Rittgers’ The Reformation of the Keys concentrates almost entirely on the concept of penance and private confession together with views on church authority in the evangelical city of Nuremberg. In both books the authors successfully argue their theses with supporting evidence, but the arguments and evidence are conveyed differently depending on the author. Dixon uses a “narrative overview” (Dixon, book jacket) as his method for presenting information to the reader. This method consists of a general overview of what was occurring in Germany during the Reformation and how it was affecting society; it is very broad. Conversely, Rittgers uses the case study method as his way of presenting his argument. Basically, Rittgers chose an example of a setting that elucidated his argument, in this monograph Nuremberg, as evidence for the success or failure of a Lutheran city and the new style of penance. The way each author cites the sources also varies; Dixon uses in text parenthetical citations, with a bibliography at the end of the book (Dixon 191), while Rittgers used endnotes and footnotes, then consolidated them in a chronological list by chapter (Rittgers 221) …show more content…
The most influential German texts about the Reformation included “accepted truths” and first-hand accounts of the events (Dixon 183). Viet von Seckendorff wrote History of Lutheranism in 1692 as a critique of Maimbourg’s Histoire du Lutheranisme. Seckendorff’s critiques came from his point of view as a Saxon official, a Lutheran, and a politician; the opposite of French Jesuit Maimbourg, a staunch opponent of Luther. Both Seckendorff’s criticism and Maimbourg’s original were advancements to Reformation historiography, but according to Dixon, the peak historiographical advancement of Reformation Germany came in the 19th century (Dixon