American historian Martin Malia explores European religious conflicts of the 15th and 16th centuries, revolutionary events in England, France, the United States and Russia. As a result, he comes to the conclusion that the roots of the revolutionary events of the XX century. go deep into the history of Europe, and revolutionary thought and model of behavior from one great revolution to another were subjected to a process of radicalization. Malia offers an original view of the phenomenon of revolution and gives an interesting assessment of the influence of this phenomenon, considering it as the driving force of the historical process. The book is designed for historians and a wide range of readers.