ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book shows that wars, public finance and state intervention in the economy were key elements underlying European economic dynamics by comparing the different economic policies. It looks at the central issues of the relationship between state and economy in the conflict-ridden early modern era: the military revolution. The book also looks at the role of the state in the crisis of the 17th century and the “re-centring” of the European economy in the second half of the 17th century. It presents a more detailed account of the different economic policies of the most important European states, their successes and failures, within the specific historical context, that is, the complex combination of demographic, economic, military, cultural, institutional factors and political events that influenced the decisions of political leaders and economic operators.
