The Thirty Years War: The Holy Roman Empire and Europe 1618-48

European History in Perspective

by Ronald G. Asch

Historians have tried time and again to identify the central issues of the conflict which devastated Europe between 1618 and 1648. The Thirty Years War by Ronald G. Asch puts the religious and constitutional struggle in the Holy Roman Empire squarely back into the centre of events. However, other issues are not neglected. Thus the problems of war finance are shown to be an important key to the interaction between inter-state and domestic conflicts during the war. Equally confessional tensions are analysed as a decisive factor linking international and domestic disputes, and the reader is provided with a succinct narrative account concentrating on the major turning points of the war.

Genres: History, Germany, European History, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published May 21, 1997

About the author

Ronald G. Asch is a graduate of Tübingen University where he also completed his doctorate (1982) on the counts of Fürstenberg in the 16th and 17th centuries after having studied earlier in Kiel and in Cambridge (Clare Hall).

Reviews

[Ton · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ambitious effort, but sadly not quite convincing. Too much jumping back and forth, and not enough analysis - perhaps to be expected when trying to fit such a complex subject into 200 pages. Perhaps a thematic approach would have worked better.

[Andrew Skene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cursory, with disorientating jumps foreword and backwards in time (owing to the four-particular-dates structure). Nevertheless, a useful book that successfully captures the main causes, belligerents, war goals, and effects of the Thirty Years War.

[Cara Lynn]

Read for school

[Joseph Boquiren · Rating 3 out of 5]

At 200 pages this book barely qualifies as a primer for this epochal conflict in Central Europe. Names, places, dates and important treaties are thrown out at the reader at a frantic pace. The book has its place as an appetizer for someone who wishes further study into what is essentially a 17th century World War.

[Doria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely informative, highly detailed and only somewhat dry description and analysis of The Thirty Years War in Europe.