Birth of the Leviathan : Building States and Regimes in Medieval and Early Modern Europe / Thomas Ertman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ertman, Thomas.

Contributor:

Cambridge Books Online.

Constance L. Rosenthal Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Constitutional history--Europe.

Constitutional history.

Local government.

History.

Europe.

Local government--Europe--History.

Comparative government.

Europe--Politics and government.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (380 pages)

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1997.

System Details:

text file

Summary:

This book presents a new theory of statebuilding in medieval and early modern Europe. Ertman argues that two factors - the organization of local government at the time of state formation and the timing of sustained geomilitary competition - can explain most of the variation in political regimes and in state infrastructures found across the continent during the second half of the 18th century. Drawing on theoretical insights developed in the fields of historical sociology, comparative politics, and economic history, and on the most recent historical research, this book makes a compelling case for the value of interdisciplinary approaches to the study of political development.

Contents:

I. Introduction. Early Modern States: Four Types. Competing Explanations. Explaining Variations in Early Modern States: The Argument

2. The Origins of Patrimonial Absolutism in Latin Europe. The Late Roman Empire and Early State Formation in Visigoth Spain, Lombard Italy, and Merovingian and Carolingian Gaul. Economic and Ecclesiastical Renewal and the Rebirth of Royal Power in Latin Europe. Early Geopolitical Competition, Representative Assemblies, and the Creation of Systems of National Taxation. The Impact of War and Taxes on Finance and Administration: The Beginnings of Patrimonial Absolutism

3. The Triumph of Patrimonial Absolutism and the Failure of Reform in Latin Europe, c. 1500-1789. War and the Triumph of Patrimonial Absolutism in France, 1494-1659. Patrimonial Absolutism in Iberia and Italy, 1492-1789. The "Reform" of Patrimonial Absolutism Under Colbert and Louis XIV, 1660-1714. Geopolitical Pressures, the Failure of Reform, and the End of Patrimonial Absolutism, 1715-1791

4. Bureaucratic Constitutionalism in Britain. Unencumbered State Formation, Early Geopolitical Pressure, and a Precocious Attempt at Shared Rule, c. 400-1453. Deepening Patrimonialism and Its Temporary Demise, 1453-1659. The Restoration and the English "Revolution in Government," 1660-1688. The Consolidation of the New British State After 1689

5. Bureaucratic Absolutism in Germany. Failed Dark Age Statebuilding, Empire, and the Emergence of Territorial States in Germany, 511-c. 1450. Representative Institutions, Geopolitical Competition, and the Consolidation of Bureaucratic Absolutism in the German Territorial States, c. 1450-1789. The Limits and Contradictions of Bureaucratic Absolutism: The Case of Brandenburg-Prussia

6. The Triumph of Patrimonial Constitutionalism in Hungary and Poland and its Premature Demise in Scandinavia. Unencumbered State Formation and the Consolidation of Local Elite Self-Government in Hungary and Poland, c. 1000-1387. The Advent of Sustained Geopolitical Competition and the Triumph of Patrimonial Constitutionalism in Hungary and Poland, 1387-1648. Internal and External Threats to Patrimonial Constitutionalism in Hungary and Poland, 1648-1795. Abortive Patrimonial Constitutionalism in Scandinavia

7. Conclusion

Notes:

Title from publishers bibliographic system (viewed on 22 Dec 2011).

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Constance L. Rosenthal Book Fund.

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9780511529016

0511529015

9780521482226

0521482224

OCLC:

776974394

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.