Early Modern Europe: Issues and Interpretations

This collection brings together original and influential recent work in the field of early modern European history. It provides a thought–provoking overview of current thinking on this period, demonstrating that history is a dynamic process of interpretation.

The book is structured around six major themes: evolving early modern identities, treated within a global context; changes in religion and cultural life; the revolution of the mind; roles of women in early modern societies; the rise of the modern state; and research paradigms. Each of the six sections contains an introduction by the editors, discussing the significance of the topic and the history of its interpretation; five or six essays are then followed by a ′debate′ juxtaposing two competing interpretations on a particular theme.

Noteworthy features of the collection include an article translated into English for the first time and the incorporation of new scholarship on eastern and central Europe.

Acknowledments.

Introduction: Interpreting Early Modern Europe: Karen L. Taylor and James B. Collins.

Part I Evolving Early Modern Identities.

Introduction.

1 The Legacy of Rome: Anthony Pagden.

2 Europe and the Atlantic Slave Systems: David Eltis.

3 History, Myth and, Historical Identity: Karin Friedrich.

4 The Theresian School Reform of 1774: James Van Horn Melton.

5 The Evil Empire? The Debate on Turkish Despotism in Eighteenth–Century French Political Culture: Thomas Kaiser.

Part II Changes in Religion and Cultural Life.

Introduction.

6 Ira Dei super nos: Denis Crouzet.

7 Charitable Activities of Confraternities: Maureen Flynn.

8 The Sins of Belief: A Village Remedy for Hoof and Mouth Disease (1796) David Warren Sabean.

9 Dutiful Love and Natural Affection : Parent–Child Relationships in the Early Modern Netherlands: Sherrin Marshall.

Part III The Revolution of the Mind.

Introduction.

10 A Possible Support for Irreligion: The Sciences: Lucien Febvre.

11 The Material Culture of the Church and Incipient Consumerism: Richard A. Goldthwaite.

12 From a Culture of Science toward the Enlightenment: Kathleen Wellman.

13 Contesting Possession: Patricia Seed.

14 Ritual and Print Discipline and Invention: The Fête in France from the Middle Ages to the Revolution: Roger Chartier.

Part IV The Roles of Women in Early Modern Society Introduction.

15 Political, Economic, and Legal Structures: Merry E. Wiesner.

16 Women before the Bench: Female Litigants in Early Modern Normandy: Zoë A Schneider.

17 Review of The Family, Sex and Marriage in England 1500–1800, by Lawrence Stone: Alan Macfarlane.

18 Illegitimacy and Infanticide in Early Modern Russia: David L Ransel.

19 Public Leisure and the Rise of Salons: Deborah Hertz.

Part V The Rise of the Modern State System.

Introduction.

20 The Crisis in Assumptions about Political Thinking: Felix Gilbert.

21 From Contractual Monarchy to Constitutionalism: Gerhard Oestrich.

22 Paradoxes of State Power: John Brewer.

23 The Power of the King: Antonio Feros Feros.

24 The Royal Government, Guilds, and the Seamstresses of Paris, Normany, and Provence: Clare Haru Crowston.

Part VI Research Paradigms, Old and New.

Introduction.

25 The Courtization of the Warriors: Norbert Elias.

26 Women on Top: Natalie Zemon Davis.

27 The Contrasts: Alfred W. Crosby.

28 Transcending East–West Dichotomies: State and Culture Formation in Six Ostensibly Disparate Areas: Victor Lieberman.

29 Introduction to The Great Divergence. China, Europe, and the Making of the Modern World Economy: Kenneth Pomeranz.

30 Between Carnival and Lent: Paula Findlen.

Index

James B. Collins is Professor of History at Georgetown University, and Chair of the History Department.

Karen L. Taylor is Lecturer in History at Georgetown University.

"Collin and Taylor′s anthology... will be a valuable resource in teaching the historiography of the early modern era." History<!––end––> Touches on a wide range of methodologies .Offers a broadening of horizons beyond any specialty. Much undiscovered territory much inspiration. Sixteenth Century Journal