The eighteenth century : 1688-1815 / edited by Paul Langford.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Langford, Paul.

Series:

Short Oxford history of the British Isles

The short Oxford history of the British Isles

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Great Britain--History--18th century.

Great Britain.

History.

Great Britain--History--1660-1714.

Great Britain--History--1789-1820.

Physical Description:

xiii, 287 pages : illustrations, maps ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2002.

Summary:

The complete Short Oxford History of the British Isles provides a concise, readable, and authoritative point of entry for the history of the British Isles from the Roman Era to the present day in eleven volumes. In each chapter a leading expert offers focused and penetrating insights into the major themes and influences of the period. The eighteenth century was an era of intense change and growth in which the British political system re-invented itself so as to compete on equal terms with the great states of Europe. Economic growth, social change, and imperial expansion were marked but problematic features of a period that presented numerous challenges to rulers and ruled alike. Written by a team of expert contributors under the editorship of Paul Langford, this volume presents a lively picture of the long eighteenth century, from the Revolution of 1688 through to the defeat of Napoleon, and provides an integrated coverage of both Britain and Ireland during this period. The book takes a thematic approach to the subject, covering such issues as politics high and low, religious developments, cultural transformations, social policy, and economic growth.

Contents:

Introduction: time and space / Paul Langford 1

Posterity and the eighteenth century 1

The new historiography 4

Contemporary perspectives: outsiders 9

Contemporary perspectives: insiders 11

Insular unities 17

Beyond the British Isles 25

1 Contested kingdoms, 1688-1756 / David Hayton 35

Crown, parliaments, and the demands of warfare 36

The rage of party 46

The Walpolean ascendancy 55

The end of the 'Robinocracy' and its consequences 64

2 Enlightenment and faith / David Hempton 71

Time, space, and religion 73

Established churches and the rise of pluralism 82

Popular religion 89

Catholics and enthusiasts 93

3 Governing diverse societies / Joanna Innes 103

Ruling classes 103

Local government in national

and international

context 118

Social issues: case studies 128

4 The wealth of the nation / Martin Daunton 141

The Malthusian race 141

The growth of population 143

Agriculture 148

Specialization and commerce 158

From an organic to a mineral economy 171

Towns, industries, and services 173

5 The culture of improvement / Peter Borsay 183

Forms of improvement 186

Inculcation and imposition 191

Improvement in context 197

Alternative cultures 204

6 Contested empires, 1756-1815 / Michael Duffy 213

The objects of imperial warfare 214

The extent of the national war effort 218

Impulses to the national commitment 222

Political reactions to the wars 226

Problems of empire 230

The quest for a national leader 234

Causes of the final victory 239

1. The turnpike road network in 1741 270

2. The turnpike road network in 1770 271

3. The canal system in the early nineteenth century 272

4. England's empire in 1689 273

5. The British empire in 1815 274.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0198731329

0198731310

OCLC:

50761439