The short Oxford history of Europe. The seventeenth century : Europe, 1598-1715

The complete Short Oxford History of Europe provides a concise, readable, and authoritative point of entry for the history of Europe from the Ancient Greeks to the present day in eleven volumes. In each chapter a leading expert offers focused and penetrating insights into the major themes and influences of the period. Lying between the two great "peaks" of European history, the Reformation and the Enlightenment in the centuries before and after, the seventeenth century seems not to have a popular identity itself. And yet, as Professor Bergin points on in the Introduction, it is the very proliferation of major events, crises and processes throughout Eruope that has made this transitional age so difficult to label. In this book, the seventeenth century is fully explored by Professor Bergin and six major authors as they address, in turn, economy, society, politics, war, international relations, science, thought and culture ('The Age of Curiosity'), and Europe in the wider world. In a set of chapters covering and contrasting the European experience across the century, both the reader and the student are offered a rich, lively, and provocative introduction to the period, and a superbly authoritative context for more detailed work. The complete Short Oxford History of Europe (series editor: Professor T.C.W. Blanning) will cover the history of Europe from Classical Greece to the present in eleven volumes. In each, experts write to their strengths tackling the key issues - including society, economy, religion, politics, and culture - head-on in chapters that will be at once wide-ranging surveys and searching analyses. Each book is specifically designed with the non-specialist reader in mind; but the authority of the contributors and the vigour of the interpretations will make them necessary and challenging reading for fellow academics across a range of disciplines. Lying between the two great 'peaks' of European history, the Reformation and the Enlightenment in the centuries fore and aft, the seventeenth century seems not to have a popular identity itself. And yet, as Professor Bergin points out in his Introduction, it is the very proliferation of major events, crises and processes throughout Europe that has made this transitional age so difficult to label.; In this book, the seventeenth century, heavy with significance for the future of Europe, is fully explored by Professor Bergin and six major authors as they address, in turn, economy, society, politics, war and international relations, science, thought and culture ('The Age of Curiosity'), and Europe in the wider world. In a set of chapters covering and contrasting the European experience across the full century and the full continent, the reader is offered a rich, lively, and provocative introduction to the period, and students a superbly authoritative context for more detailed work Introduction: Introduction: -- Joseph Bergin -- 1. Introduction: -- Joseph Bergin -- 1. -- R.C. Nash -- 2. Society / -- Thomas Munck -- 3. Introduction: -- Joseph Bergin -- 1. -- R.C. Nash -- 2. Society / -- Thomas Munck -- 3. -- Anthony Upton -- 4. Introduction: -- Joseph Bergin -- 1. -- R.C. Nash -- 2. Society / -- Thomas Munck -- 3. -- Anthony Upton -- 4. -- David Parrott -- 5. Introduction: -- Joseph Bergin -- 1. -- R.C. Nash -- 2. Society / -- Thomas Munck -- 3. -- Anthony Upton -- 4. -- David Parrott -- 5. -- Laurence W.B. Brockliss -- 6. Introduction: -- Joseph Bergin -- 1. -- R.C. Nash -- 2. Society / -- Thomas Munck -- 3. -- Anthony Upton -- 4. -- David Parrott -- 5. -- Laurence W.B. Brockliss -- 6. -- Anthony Pagden -- Conclusion: Introduction:-- Joseph Bergin-- 1.-- R.C. Nash-- 2. Society /-- Thomas Munck-- 3.-- Anthony Upton-- 4.-- David Parrott-- 5.-- Laurence W.B. Brockliss-- 6.-- Anthony Pagden-- Conclusion:-- Joseph Bergin "In this book, Professor Begin and his fellow authors provide an account of the main aspects of seventeenth century Europe - from economy and society to politics, war, and intellectual life. Finally, the book dwells on the ways in which contact with a wider world beyond Europe impinged on the consciousness of Europeans in this 'age of curiosity'. This account, written by leading specialists in the field, will challenge those who are familiar with the period to think again about established views, and awaken the interest of those unfamiliar with it."--BOOK JACKET. This exploration of the history of the 17th century in Europe covers and contrasts the European experience across the whole century. It reveals a period in which major events and crises marked a transition that many historians find hard to label.