History Of The Popes: Their Church And State, /c By Leopold Von Ranke

Ranke's classic history of the papacy provides a sweeping overview of the institution's origins, development, and influence during the Middle Ages and beyond. The book covers topics such as the papacy's relationship with the Holy Roman Empire, its role in the Crusades and other conflicts, and its attempts to assert its political power in the centuries leading up to the Reformation.