ABSTRACT

The European World 1500–1800 provides a concise and authoritative textbook for the centuries between the Renaissance and the French Revolution. It presents early modern Europe not as a mere transition phase, but a dynamic period worth studying in its own right.

Written by an experienced team of specialists, and derived from a successful undergraduate course, it offers a student-friendly introduction to all major themes and processes of early modern history. This fully updated fourth edition is structured in six parts – Starting Points, Society and Economy, Religion, The Wider World, Culture, Politics – and includes two new chapters on the Environment and Food and Drink Cultures.

Specially designed to assist learning, The European World 1500–1800 features:

  • expert surveys of key topics written by an international group of historians
  • suggestions for seminar discussion and further reading
  • extracts from primary sources and generous illustrations, including maps
  • a glossary of key terms and concepts
  • a full index of persons, places and subjects
  • and a companion website, offering colour images, direct access to primary materials, and interactive features which highlight key events and locations discussed in the volume.

The European World 1500–1800 is essential reading for all students embarking on the discovery of the early modern period.

For support with the early modern historiographical debates see the partnering volume Interpreting Early Modern Europe edited by C. Scott Dixon and Beat Kümin.- https://www.routledge.com/Interpreting-Early-Modern-Europe/Dixon-Kumin/p/book/9781138799011.  

part I|25 pages

Starting Points

chapter 1|11 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|11 pages

Europe in 1500

part II|81 pages

Society and Economy

chapter 3|10 pages

Environments

chapter 4|12 pages

Gender and Family

chapter 5|10 pages

Rural Society

chapter 6|11 pages

Urban Society

chapter 7|11 pages

Marginals and Deviants

chapter 8|12 pages

Sickness and Health

chapter 9|11 pages

The Early Modern Economy

part III|73 pages

Religion

chapter Prelude|1 pages

The Long Reformation

chapter 11|11 pages

The Long Reformation: Lutheran

chapter 12|11 pages

The Long Reformation: Reformed

chapter 15|11 pages

Jews and Muslims

part IV|73 pages

The Wider World

chapter 16|11 pages

Beyond Europe c. 1500

chapter 18|11 pages

Expanding Horizons

chapter 19|12 pages

Europe Overseas

chapter 20|10 pages

Global Exchange of Goods

part V|92 pages

Culture

chapter 22|10 pages

The Renaissance

chapter 23|10 pages

Arts and Society

chapter 25|12 pages

Food and Drink Cultures

chapter 26|10 pages

Popular Culture(s)

chapter 27|12 pages

Witchcraft and Magic

chapter 28|11 pages

The Scientific Revolution

chapter 29|12 pages

Enlightenment

part VI|3 pages

Politics

part VI|58 pages

(B) Themes

chapter 33|10 pages

Courts and Centres

chapter 34|11 pages

Centre and Periphery

chapter 35|10 pages

The Impact of War

chapter 36|10 pages

Riot and Rebellion

chapter 37|14 pages

Revolution: England and France

part |11 pages

Epilogue

chapter 38|9 pages

Europe in 1800