A Companion to Eighteenth–Century Europe

This Companion contains 31 essays by leading international scholars to provide an overview of the key debates on eighteenth–century Europe. It considers not just major western European states, but also the often neglected countries of eastern and northern Europe. Placing Europe within an international context, contributors investigate key areas of society, economics, culture, and political development. The book concludes with the French and other European revolutions that brought the century to a close, both chronologically and as regards the Ancien Régime. This innovative text looks at both established and emerging areas of interest in the field, making A Companion to Eighteenth–Century Europe an essential guide for students and scholars.

List of Illustrations viii Notes on Contributors xi Acknowledgments xv Maps xvi Introduction 1 Peter H. Wilson PART I PEOPLE, PRODUCTION, AND CONSUMPTION 9 1 Eighteenth–Century History and the European Environment 11 Dennis Wheeler 2 Gender 27 Deborah Simonton 3 Rural Economy and Society 47 Markus Cerman 4 Manufacturing, Markets, and Consumption 66 Beverly Lemire 5 Towns and their Inhabitants 82 Marc Schalenberg 6 The Eighteenth–Century Nobility: Challenge and Renewal 94 Hamish Scott 7 Poverty 109 Peter H. Wilson PART II CULTURES 123 8 The Public Sphere 125 Michael Schaich 9 Enlightened Thought, its Critics and Competitors 141 Thomas Munck 10 Medicine, Medical Practice, and Public Health 158 Mary Lindemann 11 Religion 176 Joachim Whaley 12 Popular Culture and Sociability 192 Beat Kümin 13 The Arts 208 Mark Berry PART III STATE AND SOCIETY 225 14 Russia 227 Lindsey Hughes 15 Poland–Lithuania 244 Jerzy Lukowski 16 The Empire, Austria, and Prussia 260 Peter H. Wilson 17 The Scandinavian Kingdoms 276 Michael Bregnsbo 18 The Dutch Republic 289 J. L. Price 19 The Italian States 304 Gregory Hanlon 20 Iberia: Spain and Portugal in the Eighteenth Century 322 Christopher Storrs 21 France 338 Michael Rapport 22 Britain and Hanover 354 Torsten Riotte PART IV INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS 369 23 Diplomacy and the Great Powers 371 Andrew C. Thompson 24 Islam and Europe 387 Molly Greene 25 Europe and the World 402 Philippe R. Girard 26 Europe and the Sea 418 Jan Glete PART V POLITICS AND THE STATE 433 27 Dynasticism and the World of the Court 435 Clarissa Campbell Orr 28 Absolutism and Royal Government 451 Ronald G. Asch 29 War, 1688–1812 464 Ciro Paoletti 30 Participatory Politics 479 David M. Luebke 31 The French and European Revolutions 495 Alan Forrest Bibliography 512 Index 556

Peter H. Wilson is Grant Professor of History at the University of Hull. His books include F rom Reich to Revolution: German History 1558–1806 (2004); Absolutism in Central Europe (2000) and The Holy Roman Empire 1495–1806 (1999).

"This is a useful book. It starts the student off with the idea if interrelationships between social, economic, cultural and political change.... University libraries catering for a wide range of courses in historical subjects will want to consider this for acquisition." ( Reference Reviews , 2009) "This is an impressive volume, with leading experts providing a wide–ranging coverage that should satisfy most requirements for effective and thoughtful introductory surveys.... All specialists on this period will find much of value in this excellent volume." ( History , January 2009) "A vivid portrait of 18th–century Europe…. Inclusion of diverse interpretative methodologies, including gender studies … brings fascinating illumination to period sociology. Recommended for European history collections." ( Library Journal )