The age of genius: the seventeenth century and the birth of the modern mind

PART I: Introduction. Seeing the universe ; The epoch in human history

PART II: A time of wars. The origins of the wars ; The loss of the Palatinate ; The mercenary captains ; The Edict of Restitution, 1629

The Swedish apogee ; From Wallenstein to Breisach ; Towards Westphalia ; In the ruins of Europe ; The maritime conflicts

PART III: The cumulation of ideas. The intelligencers ; The short ways to knowledge ; Dr Dee and the potent art ; The Rosicrucian scare

PART IV: From magic to science. From magic to method ; The birth of science ; War and science

PART V: The social order. Society and politics ; Language and belief

PART VI: Conclusion. Is it a myth?