Martin Luther: Exploring His Life and Times, 1483-1546

This CD Rom provides a graphic introduction to the life and times of the Reformer from birth to death with excellent graphics and lots of contemmporary pictures. The software loads quickly and is simple to use. The texts are brief and accurate, written at the level of a solid high school student or entry level college student. The CD Rom is arranged so you can break up the narrative in order to seek out sections of Luther's life or details on particular issues. Some of the animations are great (e.g., demonstrating what happens to souls after death according to medieval theological views), but the animated film that accompanies all of the sections is JUST PLAIN WEIRD. Scholars may be bothered that it is hard to figure out the sources of all the pictures or texts, but students unfamiliar with Luther will probably learn something. The material is not exciting, but it is very solid.