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.
Evropské dějiny v perspektivěSérie
Tato série se ponořuje do klíčových témat evropských dějin a nabízí stručné, ale pronikavé pohledy. Každý svazek zkoumá důležité historické události a procesy, které formovaly kontinent. Je to ideální zdroj pro čtenáře hledající jasné a poutavé shrnutí evropského vývoje. Odborně edičně připravená série osloví studenty i laiky se zájmem o minulost.






Doporučené pořadí čtení
Drawing on recent research, David Sturdy presents a concise and comparative analysis of the private and public careers of Richelieu and Mazarin. Several chapters are devoted to such central themes as the international government of France and the conduct of foreign policy, while others deal with the political strategies of the two men, the relations between the ministers and the crown, and the patronage which they exercised. The study concludes with an assessment of the historical significance of Richelieu and Mazarin.
Governing Tsarist Russia
- 256 stránek
- 9 hodin čtení
The Tsarist Empire posed unique problems to its rulers. Peter Waldron examines the challenges that faced them in terms of geography, culture, finance and military power, analysing the sources of the Russian Empire's strength and the reasons why the tsars were able to maintain their unlimited power for so long.
The causes of war have tended to attract more attention than the causes of peace, yet the two are intimately related, Indeed there was much talk of war during the unprecedentedly long periods of peace between the European great powers in the years 1815-1854 and again in 1871-1914, the Near Eastern crises of 1878 and 1887-8 being only two of the more notable examples. In the case of the latter, there occurred a spell of fatalistic and belligerent talk in both Berlin and Vienna which in many ways anticipated that which gripped those capitals by 1914. A study of the whole question of the best methods by which to defend and advance the national interest is often more illuminating on why wars were avoided that are studies of the documentation surrounding the Holy Alliance, the congress system or the Concert of Europe. It is clear that the Concert tended to become most active only after a war had already been fought, or when the powers had already decided that conflict was likely to prove too costly, dangerous and unpredicatable in its effects both at home and abroad. Thus the Russians twice advanced almost to the gates of Constantinople only to recoil at the implications of trying to obtain control of the Straits. Similarly, Habsburg thoughts of war were frequently neutralised by reminders of financial weakness. This valuable book will be welcomed by anyone wishing to understand the nature of European state relations in the nineteenth century. Professor Bartlett examines why major wars did happen and did not happen, with particular attention being paid to the events of 1914.
The Longman Companion to Nazi Germany
- 286 stránek
- 11 hodin čtení
The book offers an in-depth exploration of Germany from 1918 to 1945, encompassing the Weimar Republic, the rise of Nazism, and the Third Reich. It provides detailed insights into the political landscape, including the Nazi party and police state, as well as the economic, social, and cultural aspects of the era. Key topics such as diplomacy, rearmament, and the Holocaust are thoroughly examined. Supplementary materials like biographies, a glossary, and an annotated bibliography enhance its value as a comprehensive guide to Nazi Germany.
By turns radical, uncertain, ambitious, and autocratic, Mikhail Gorbachev in his bid to reform the Soviet Union has shaped the contemporary world. In 1985, he set out to modernize the Soviet state and revive his Communist Party. Instead, by the end of 1991, the USSR had fragmented and the Party was banned. Institutions which had survived for 70 years, notwithstanding Stalin's murderous purges and the Nazi war machine, proved unable to survive his well-meant reforms. This is a concise and lively introduction to the man and his times, setting them in the context of a decaying and ramshackle empire and an ideology long since betrayed by its professed followers. Simply and clearly, it follows Gorbachev's increasingly desperate attempts to control the forces he unleashed and hold together a state whose days were over. Ultimately, Gorbachev failed yet, as this study concludes, from his revolution arose an historic opportunity to redefine Russia's place in the world and break with a centuries-long autocratic tradition.
The history of Sweden in the seventeenth century is perhaps one of the most remarkable political success stories of early modern Europe. Little more than a century after achieving independence from Denmark, Sweden - an impoverished and sparsely-populated state - had defeated all of its most fearsome enemies and was ranked amongst the great powers of Europe. In this book, which incorporates the latest research on the subject, Paul Douglas Lockhart: - surveys the political, diplomatic, economic, social and cultural history of the country, from the beginnings of its career as an empire to its decline at the end of the seventeenth century - examines the mechanisms that helped Sweden to achieve the status of a great power, and the reasons for its eventual downfall - emphasises the interplay between social structure, constitutional development, and military necessity Clear and well-written, Lockhart's text is essential reading for all those with an interest in the fascinating history of early modern Sweden.
The Long European Reformation
- 308 stránek
- 11 hodin čtení
The Long European Reformation
Religion, Political Conflict and the Search for Confirmity, 1350-1750
- 240 stránek
- 9 hodin čtení
Peter G. Wallace interweaves the Reformation into the transformations of political institutions, socioeconomic structures, gender relations, and cultural values in early modern Europe. In approaching the European Reformation as a long-term process, Wallace argues that the classic sixteenth-century religious struggles with the resolutions proposed by reformers such as Luther, were not fully realized for most Christians until the early eighteenth century.
Lenin
- 272 stránek
- 10 hodin čtení
A political and intellectual biographical study of Lenin which focuses on those aspects of his thought and political activities that had a bearing on the accession of the Bolsheviks to power in Russia in 1917 and the creation of the Soviet state. schovat popis
This is a study of the defining aspects of the reign of Louis XIV. The nature of the French monarchy, methods of government, Louis's relationship to his subjects and to the churches, the organization of cultural life, and France's relations with the rest of Europe are all considered. The book relates Louis and his regime to the longer-term movements of French history and to some of the wider historical forces at work in 17th-century Europe. It raises past and present historiographical controversies surrounding Louis XIV and indicates some of the major problems in interpretation which still confront historians.
The Dutch Republic emerged from the epic revolt of the Netherlands against Spanish rule in the late 16th century and became a major political force in Europe. This study shows how this new state was able to achieve such successes despite the burden of the Eighty Years War with Spain.
Sweden in the Seventeenth Century
- 178 stránek
- 7 hodin čtení
The seventeenth century marks a remarkable transformation for Sweden, evolving from a poor, sparsely populated nation into a formidable European power. Within just over a hundred years of gaining independence from Denmark, Sweden successfully vanquished its major adversaries, establishing itself as a key player in early modern European politics. This period highlights Sweden's significant military and diplomatic achievements, showcasing a compelling narrative of resilience and strategic prowess.
This book explores the long-term reasons for the demise of Imperial Russia, examining the failure of the autocratic state to strengthen its own political position while economic change transformed Russian society.