Europe in the Eighteenth Century' is a wide-ranging social history of Europe in all its aspects - economic, intellectual, politics, diplomatic, military and colonial written by the celebrated Marxist historian George Rude.
He presents the development of government, institutions, cities, economies, war and the role of protest during the three quarters of a century separating the death of Louis XIV from the industrial revolution in England and the social and political revolution in France.
The book is organized in three main parts. Port one covers population, land and peasants, industry, urban growth and society. Part two described government, administration, religion, the arts and contemporary ideas. Part three studies tensions and conflicts both within nations and in their external relations.
The author then concludes with a discussion of how far all these factors contributed to revolution in some countries, notably in France, and why they did not do so in others.
Contents:
Illustrations
Maps
Introduction
Part 1. People and Society
1. Countries and Population
2. Land and Peasants
3. Industry and Trade
4. Cities
5. Society and Aristocracy
Part 2. Government and Ideology
6. Government
7. Bureaucracy
8. Church, State and Society
9. The Arts
10. Enlightenment
Part 3. Conflict
11. The Struggle for Control of the State
12. The Popular Challenge
13. Diplomacy and Warfare
14. Wars and the Expansion of Europe
Notes
Chronology of Main Events 1713-1789
Rulers of Europe 1713-1789
Bibliography
Index
