Holy War Germany

Today’s headlines are full of references to jihad and jihadists, but they’re nothing new: a century ago, the entry of the Ottoman Empire into World War I was accompanied by a loud proclamation of jihad as well.

David Starkey tells the story of the Protestant Reformation and how it transformed the face of modern Europe. A schism at the heart of Christendom, the Reformation unleashed centuries of holy war, inspiring the kind of fundamentalism, terror and religious violence we are all too familiar with today. Timed to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses to the doors of All Saint's Church in Wittenberg, this programme charts the spread of Luther's ideas across Europe.

Ten-part series based on the book by Hew Strachan, Professor of the History of War at Oxford which tells the story as never before, dispelling the myths and offering new and provocative answers to core questions about the war's causes, conduct and legacy. It features hundreds of eyewitness accounts from frontline soldiers, generals, statesmen, children and women from all sides in the conflict. The First World War shaped the twentieth century. It sparked the Russian Revolution and launched America as a world power.

Wars attributed to sanctity have an endless history. It continues today, when Islamic fundamentalists are still convinced that their inhuman terrorism is "holy war" (jihad) in the name of Allah. Calls for jihad are often heard from today’s radical Islamists, while many Americans believe in a divine mission for the U.S. military—but the trail of war waged in God's name reaches back over 1,000 years.