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The Reformation: A History?
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I'd recommend reading on the Reformation, specifically this book. It's long, but it covers the history of the Reformation, the Church's response to it, the (limited) role of Orthodoxy in it, and will give you an in depth look at the first Reformation beliefs.
I’d say you’re making some fair criticism, thanks for this comment. Let me explain a little more of what I meant.
When I said “intensely Catholic”, I meant the cultural framework, not necessarily the individual piety of every Spaniard. I learned this idea of the Reconquista being the crucible that forged a much more intense Catholicism from a really fantastic book on the Reformation by Diarmaid MacCulloch. I’ll link below. In his section on the “pre-history” of the Reformation and Counter Reformation, he specifically cited this historical experience in Spain as one of the foundations of the Counter Reformation. He went into detail how the constant warfare between Christian and Muslim galvanized the Christian side, and created this intense Catholicism you didn’t really see outside of Spain. He also linked it to the reforms of someone like Teresa of Avila. Again, great informative book, and that’s where I learned about that idea.
Secondly, I wasn’t necessarily trying to lionize the conquistadors. Nor, frankly, was I trying to paint them as these valiant crusaders fighting a holy war. I was trying to relay that coming from the cultural framework they were coming from, the scenes of human sacrifices and bloody pyramids must have been particularly shocking.
Perhaps consider this: the 15th century was the age of the Inquisition in Spain, and something that was on the minds of religious Spaniards was the myth of the “blood libel.” Basically it is an anti Semitic myth where Jews would kidnap Christian children and sacrifice them during a sabbath ritual. It usually ended with a form of cannibalism and blood drinking. Of course this was fiction, but imagine being a Spanish conquistador who heard stories of blood libel his whole life, and then arriving in whats now Mexico City and seeing literally thousands of people being sacrificed. I can’t imagine the shock. It’s like a Catholic Spaniards nightmare come to life.
Here’s a link to the book:
Oooooh, I'm actually not all that familiar with Early Modern Germany, but I think I've found a few books that may help you with the religious, political and military aspects. Some of these books are pretty expensive, so I'd recommend finding a good library or seeing if your local library does inter-library loans with larger libraries. Usually you have to read the books pretty quick, but it saves paying $150 for a book if you're not in a position to do that. Just be sure to take plenty of notes!
I'd also be willing to look at what you've got but, like I said, I may not be as useful as I first thought.
The Thirty Years War: Europe's Tragedy
The Rise of Modern Warfare: 1618-1815
The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe
Germany and the Holy Roman Empire: Volume I
Society and Economy in Germany, 1300-1600
Flesh and Spirit: Private Life in Early Modern Germany
Panaceia's Daughters: Noblewomen as Healers in Early Modern Germany
Ecology, Economy and State Formation in Early Modern Germany
Crime and Culture in Early Modern Germany
The Martial Ethic in Early Modern Germany: Civic Duty and the Right of Arms
He Is the Sun, She Is the Moon: Women in Early Modern Germany
From The Reformation by Diarmaid MacCulloch http://www.amazon.com/The-Reformation-Diarmaid-MacCulloch/dp/014303538X
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