A Companion to Eighteenth-Century Europe

Copyright © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

A Companion to Eighteenth-Century Europe

Editor(s): Peter H. Wilson

Published Online: 30 MAR 2009

Print ISBN: 9781405139472

Online ISBN: 9781444303032

DOI: 10.1002/9781444303032

About this Book

Product Information

About The Product

This Companion contains 31 essays by leading international scholars to provide an overview of the key debates on eighteenth-century Europe.


  • Examines the social, intellectual, economic, cultural, and political changes that took place throughout eighteenth-century Europe
  • Focuses on Europe while placing it within its international context
  • Considers not just major western European states, but also the often neglected countries of eastern and northern Europe

Table of contents

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      Front Matter (pages i–xxiii)

    1. Introduction (pages 1–8)

      Peter H. Wilson

  3. Part I: People, Production, and Consumption

    1. Chapter One

      Eighteenth-Century History and the European Environment (pages 9–26)

      Dennis Wheeler

    2. Chapter Two

      Gender (pages 27–46)

      Deborah Simonton

    3. Chapter Three

      Rural Economy and Society (pages 47–65)

      Markus Cerman

    4. Chapter Four

      Manufacturing, Markets, and Consumption (pages 66–81)

      Beverly Lemire

    5. Chapter Five

      Towns and their Inhabitants (pages 82–93)

      Marc Schalenberg

    6. Chapter Six

      The Eighteenth-Century Nobility: Challenge and Renewal (pages 94–108)

      Hamish Scott

    7. Chapter Seven

      Poverty (pages 109–122)

      Peter H. Wilson

  4. Part II: Cultures

    1. Chapter Eight

      The Public Sphere (pages 123–140)

      Michael Schaich

    2. Chapter Nine

      Enlightened Thought, its Critics and Competitors (pages 141–157)

      Thomas Munck

    3. Chapter Ten

      Medicine, Medical Practice, and Public Health (pages 158–175)

      Mary Lindemann

    4. Chapter Eleven

      Religion (pages 176–191)

      Joachim Whaley

    5. Chapter Twelve

      Popular Culture and Sociability (pages 192–207)

      Beat Kümin

    6. Chapter Thirteen

      The Arts (pages 208–224)

      Mark Berry

  5. Part III: State and Society

    1. Chapter Fourteen

      Russia (pages 225–243)

      Lindsey Hughes

    2. Chapter Fifteen

      Poland-Lithuania (pages 244–259)

      Jerzy Lukowski

    3. Chapter Sixteen

      The Empire, Austria, and Prussia (pages 260–275)

      Peter H. Wilson

    4. Chapter Seventeen

      The Scandinavian Kingdoms (pages 276–288)

      Michael Bregnsbo

    5. Chapter Eighteen

      The Dutch Republic (pages 289–303)

      J. L. Price

    6. Chapter Nineteen

      The Italian States (pages 304–321)

      Gregory Hanlon

    7. Chapter Twenty

      Iberia: Spain and Portugal in the Eighteenth Century (pages 322–337)

      Christopher Storrs

    8. Chapter Twenty-One

      France (pages 338–353)

      Michael Rapport

    9. Chapter Twenty-Two

      Britain and Hanover (pages 354–367)

      Torsten Riotte

  6. Part IV: International Connections

    1. Chapter Twenty-Three

      Diplomacy and the Great Powers (pages 369–386)

      Andrew C. Thompson

    2. Chapter Twenty-Four

      Islam and Europe (pages 387–401)

      Molly Greene

    3. Chapter Twenty-Five

      Europe and the World (pages 402–417)

      Philippe R. Girard

    4. Chapter Twenty-Six

      Europe and the Sea (pages 418–432)

      Jan Glete

  7. Part V: Politics and the State

    1. Chapter Twenty-Seven

      Dynasticism and the World of the Court (pages 433–450)

      Clarissa Campbell Orr

    2. Chapter Twenty-Eight

      Absolutism and Royal Government (pages 451–463)

      Ronald G. Asch

    3. Chapter Twenty-Nine

      War, 1688–1812 (pages 464–478)

      Ciro Paoletti

    4. Chapter Thirty

      Participatory Politics (pages 479–494)

      David M. Luebke

    5. Chapter Thirty-One

      The French and European Revolutions (pages 495–511)

      Alan Forrest

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      Bibliography (pages 512–555)

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      Index (pages 556–592)

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