Early Modern Europe 1500-1789

by H.G. Koenigsberger

Opening at the height of the Renaissance, the book chronicles the dawning of a new age on the European continent. Koenigsberger paints a detailed picture of the Reformation and its significance as increasingly powerful nations began to intrude on their subjects’ public and private lives. He gives account of the Counter-Reformation and the political and economic crisis that accompanied it, and an in-depth discussion of the age of Louis XIV and the balance of power in Europe. A full chapter addresses the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, and throughout attention is given to social, cultural and intellectual developments. The book concludes with a summary of the situation throughout Europe on the eve of the French Revolution, and the dramatic changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution and the beginnings of a consumer society.

Genres: History

356 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Helmut Koenigsberger, born in Berlin, educated in Britain, sent as an enemy alien to Canada he served briefly in the Royal navy during the Second World War.

He had a long career teaching history at Queen's University Belfast, Manchester University, Nottingham University, Cornell and King's College London.

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

In his attempt at brevity Koenigsberger loses clarity. The narrative hovers so far above the events discussed that simple cause and effect relationships are rarely exposed. Even though the text was designed as an introductory narrative, it neither delivers on clarity -- or historical color for that matter -- nor helps students develop much more than name recognition with some of the most profound figures in European history.