ABSTRACT
The study of ‘politics’ encompasses all norms, values and activities relating to the government of people and territories. Usually placed at the beginning of general surveys, it concludes our examination of early modern history – not to downplay the significance of this ‘classic’ topic, but to allow a better understanding of the socioeconomic, religious and cultural parameters of political life. The following chapters are grouped in two complementary sections: first, survey essays on political theory/ practice and the broad chronology of principal conflicts and events; second, thematic accounts of locales, warfare, discontent and revolution.
