Germany in the Age of Kaiser Wilhelm II (Studies in European History)

Publisher Description: This Lively And Concise Book Uses A Dual Approach To Introduce Students And Non-specialists To Wilhelmine Germany (1888-1918). It Surveys Social, Economic, Political, Cultural And Diplomatic Developments In An Age Of Tumultuous Upheaval. It Also Explains Why Historians Have So Often Reversed The Interpretative 'switches' Guiding Research On This Period. By Highlighting The Breadth Of Historical Change Under Wilhelm Ii And The Evolution Of Opposing Viewpoints About Its Significance, This Book Provides Easy Access To An Epoch - And A Debate - Characterised More By Controversy Than Consensus. Interpretive Turning Points -- The Birth Of The Modern Age -- Rattling The Sabre: Weltpolitik And The Great War -- The Many Germanies Of Wilhelm Ii James Retallack. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 113-127) And Index. This lively and concise new book uses a dual approach to introduce students and non-specialists to Wilhelmine Germany (1888-1918). It surveys social, economic, political, cultural and diplomatic developments in an age of tumultuous upheaval. It also explains why historians have so often reversed the interpretative 'switches' guiding research on this period. By highlighting the breadth of historical change under Wilhelm II and the evolution of opposing viewpoints about its significance, this book provides easy access to an epoch - and a debate - characterised more by controversy than consensus Front Matter....Pages i-xv Introduction....Pages 1-7 Interpretative Turning Points....Pages 8-15 The Birth of the Modern Age....Pages 16-72 Rattling the Sabre: Weltpolitik and the Great War....Pages 73-91 The Many Germanies of Wilhelm II....Pages 92-107 Conclusions....Pages 108-112 Back Matter....Pages 113-133