Napoleon and the Transformation of Europe (European History in Perspective, 9)

Alexander Grab explores the impact of Napoleon's domination throughout his empire and the response of the Europeans to his rule. This important book focuses on the developments and the events in the ten states that comprised the Grand Empire: France itself, Belgium, Germany, The Illyrian Provinces, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. Grab discusses Napoleon's exploitation of occupied Europe and particularly his reform policies, and assesses their success in transforming Europe. Creating a French Empire and establishing French dominance over Europe constituted Napoleon's most important and consistent aims. In this fascinating book, Alexander Grab explores Napoleon's European policies, as well as the response of the European people to his rule, and demonstrates that Napoleon was as much a part of European history as he was a part of French history. Napoleon and the Transformation of Europe: - Examines the formation of Napoleon's Empire, the Emporer's impact throughout Europe, and how the Continent responded to his policies - Focuses on the principal developments and events in the ten states that comprised Napoleon's Grand Empire: France itself, Belgium, Germany, the Illyrian Provinces, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland - Analyses Napoleon's exploitation of occupied Europe - Discusses the broad reform policies Napoleon launched in Europe, assesses their success, and argues that the French leader was a major reformer and a catalyst of modernity on a European scale

Grab (history, U. of Maine) examines the principal events and developments in the ten countries that comprised the Napoleonic Empire at one time or another: France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, the Illyrian Provinces, Italy, Portugal, Poland (the Grand Duchy of Warsaw), Spain, and Switzerland. Individual chapters on each country feature a chronological narrative covering the period from the Revolutionary years to the fall of Napoleon, collectively describing and analyzing the Napoleonic reform programs in each country, their success or failure, their impact on the local population, how the people responded to the changes, and the legacy of the Napoleonic period. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Contents......Page 6 List of Maps......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 9 Introduction......Page 10 1 The Formation of the Napoleonic Empire......Page 16 2 The Janus Face of Napoleon’s Rule: Reform and Exploitation......Page 34 3 France......Page 49 4 The Netherlands......Page 75 5 Belgium......Page 90 6 Germany......Page 100 7 Switzerland......Page 127 8 Spain......Page 138 9 Portugal......Page 159 10 The Italian Peninsula......Page 167 11 The Grand Duchy of Warsaw......Page 191 12 The Illyrian Provinces......Page 203 13 The Collapse of the Napoleonic Empire......Page 212 Conclusion: The Legacy of Napoleon......Page 219 Notes......Page 227 Selected Bibliography......Page 243 Index......Page 249 This title examines the political, economic, adminstrative and judicial reforms that Napoleon launched in his satellite states, their impact on state and society, and the response of the local population to those changes Alexander Grab. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 228-233) And Index.