Companion to Eighteenth-Century Europe

Peter H. Wilson is Grant Professor of History at the University of Hull. His books include From 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)

• List of Illustrations viiiNotes on Contributors xiAcknowledgments xvMaps xviIntroduction 1Peter H. WilsonPART I PEOPLE, PRODUCTION, AND CONSUMPTION 91 Eighteenth-Century History and the European Environment 11Dennis Wheeler2 Gender 27Deborah Simonton3 Rural Economy and Society 47Markus Cerman4 Manufacturing, Markets, and Consumption 66Beverly Lemire5 Towns and their Inhabitants 82Marc Schalenberg6 The Eighteenth-Century Nobility: Challenge and Renewal 94Hamish Scott7 Poverty 109Peter H. WilsonPART II CULTURES 1238 The Public Sphere 125Michael Schaich9 Enlightened Thought, its Critics and Competitors 141Thomas Munck10 Medicine, Medical Practice, and Public Health 158Mary Lindemann11 Religion 176Joachim Whaley12 Popular Culture and Sociability 192Beat Kümin13 The Arts 208Mark BerryPART III STATE AND SOCIETY 22514 Russia 227Lindsey Hughes15 Poland-Lithuania 244Jerzy Lukowski16 The Empire, Austria, and Prussia 260Peter H. Wilson17 The Scandinavian Kingdoms 276Michael Bregnsbo18 The Dutch Republic 289J. L. Price19 The Italian States 304Gregory Hanlon20 Iberia: Spain and Portugal in the Eighteenth Century 322Christopher Storrs21 France 338Michael Rapport22 Britain and Hanover 354Torsten RiottePART IV INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS 36923 Diplomacy and the Great Powers 371Andrew C. Thompson24 Islam and Europe 387Molly Greene25 Europe and the World 402Philippe R. Girard26 Europe and the Sea 418Jan GletePART V POLITICS AND THE STATE 43327 Dynasticism and the World of the Court 435Clarissa Campbell Orr28 Absolutism and Royal Government 451Ronald G. Asch29 War, 1688–1812 464Ciro Paoletti30 Participatory Politics 479David M. Luebke31 The French and European Revolutions 495Alan ForrestBibliography 512Index 556