Sacred Foundations: The Religious and Medieval Roots of the European State By Anna M. Grzymała-Busse. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 2023. 256 pp. 99. 95 hardcover, 29. 95 paperback

Key Points

• State formation in Europe heavily reflects the impact of religious institutions and beliefs.
• Central to this is the concept of sacred authority, which underpins political legitimacy across centuries.
• This analysis explores medieval institutions as foundational elements in shaping modern European governance systems and structures.   Often overlooked, these historical ties suggest that religion influences contemporary political dynamics in Europe.