The theologian and historian Zimmermann, a delegate in the Frankfurt National Assembly in 1848, achieved great success with his comprehensive book on the Peasant Wars of the 16th century, as it addressed a highly relevant social issue of the time and was written in clear and vivid language. His work, based on detailed source studies, was soon translated into other languages. Friedrich Engels and August Bebel studied Zimmermann's Peasant War and referred to his "revolutionary instinct" (Engels). Unlike other contemporary historians, Zimmermann stands on the side of the rebellious peasants. This is a carefully revised and abridged reprint of the 1891 edition.