The European World 1500–1800

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
• 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. More information available here.