Any Christian, regardless of denominational theology, may look with honest awe upon those on all sides of the great 16th century struggle to clarify and purify the faith ̜especially the three figures on the cover of our ninth volume, Luther (top left), Loyola (right) and Calvin (below). For both good and ill, their clashing theological certainties inspired a colorful cast of monarchs, soldiers and explorers, bishops and reformers, in a contest that shaped much of our world today, from the opening of the New World, to the breaking of westward Islamic expansion, to the setting of the modern calendar.