Sverre Håkon Bagge was Professor at the University of Bergen from 1991 to 2012. His books in English include: Society and Politics in Snorri Sturluson’s Heimskringla (1991); Kings, Politics, and the Right Order of the World in German Historiography, c. 950-1150 (2002); Cross and Scepter: The Rise of the Scandinavian Kingdoms from the Vikings to the Reformation (2014).

• INTRODUCTION *CHAPTER I. THE FORMATION OF THE EUROPEAN STATE SYSTEM *Warfare and State Formation: From the Age of Invasions to the Eighteenth Century *The State Made War but War did not Make the State *War within the Family – Politics and Diplomacy *Norms and Interests *Conclusion *CHAPTER II. THE FOUNDATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF EUROPEAN MONARCHY *What was a State? *The Basic Features of European Society *King and Aristocracy *The Formation of Dynasties *War and the State *The Finances *Towards a Monopoly of Violence: The Royal Courts of Law *The Central Administration *From Ugly Toes to the King’s Napkin *The Formation of the Sovereign State *King, Nobility and People, and the Idea of the Nation *The State and the People: the Peasant Rebellions *Conclusion *CHAPTER III. THE STATE AND ITS COMPETITORS *The Church and the Papal Monarchy *States without a King: Principalities and City Republics *The Medieval Foundations of the European State *Conclusion *CHAPTER IV. THE REVOLUTIONS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES *The Renaissance *The Reformation *Reformation and State Formation *The Great Discoveries and the Development of European Trade *Why did Europe Conquer the World? *Conclusion *CHAPTER V. ABSOLUTISM AND CONSTITUTIONALISM *Capital Versus Coercion – England, The Dutch Republic and France *The Dutch Republic *Coercion and Capital *Towards Absolute Monarchy in France *The Development of Constitutional Government in England *The Difference between France and England *The Spanish Kingdoms *Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Agrarian States – the Case of Scandinavia *Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Agrarian States: Prussia, Austria and East Central Europe *Conclusion: Absolutism and Constitutionalism: Advantages and Disadvantages *CHAPTER VI. THE STATE AND THE ENLIGHTENMENT *Enlightened Despotism and Parliamentary Government *The Development of a Modern Bureaucracy *Conclusion *CONCLUSION: THE STATE OF THE OLD REGIME AND ITS LEGACY *REFERENCES *

Select Guide Rating

Sverre Håkon Bagge was Professor at the University of Bergen from 1991 to 2012. His books in English include: Society and Politics in Snorri Sturluson’s Heimskringla (1991); Kings, Politics, and the Right Order of the World in German Historiography, c. 950-1150 (2002); Cross and Scepter: The Rise of the Scandinavian Kingdoms from the Vikings to the Reformation (2014).

• INTRODUCTION *CHAPTER I. THE FORMATION OF THE EUROPEAN STATE SYSTEM *Warfare and State Formation: From the Age of Invasions to the Eighteenth Century *The State Made War but War did not Make the State *War within the Family – Politics and Diplomacy *Norms and Interests *Conclusion *CHAPTER II. THE FOUNDATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF EUROPEAN MONARCHY *What was a State? *The Basic Features of European Society *King and Aristocracy *The Formation of Dynasties *War and the State *The Finances *Towards a Monopoly of Violence: The Royal Courts of Law *The Central Administration *From Ugly Toes to the King’s Napkin *The Formation of the Sovereign State *King, Nobility and People, and the Idea of the Nation *The State and the People: the Peasant Rebellions *Conclusion *CHAPTER III. THE STATE AND ITS COMPETITORS *The Church and the Papal Monarchy *States without a King: Principalities and City Republics *The Medieval Foundations of the European State *Conclusion *CHAPTER IV. THE REVOLUTIONS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES *The Renaissance *The Reformation *Reformation and State Formation *The Great Discoveries and the Development of European Trade *Why did Europe Conquer the World? *Conclusion *CHAPTER V. ABSOLUTISM AND CONSTITUTIONALISM *Capital Versus Coercion – England, The Dutch Republic and France *The Dutch Republic *Coercion and Capital *Towards Absolute Monarchy in France *The Development of Constitutional Government in England *The Difference between France and England *The Spanish Kingdoms *Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Agrarian States – the Case of Scandinavia *Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Agrarian States: Prussia, Austria and East Central Europe *Conclusion: Absolutism and Constitutionalism: Advantages and Disadvantages *CHAPTER VI. THE STATE AND THE ENLIGHTENMENT *Enlightened Despotism and Parliamentary Government *The Development of a Modern Bureaucracy *Conclusion *CONCLUSION: THE STATE OF THE OLD REGIME AND ITS LEGACY *REFERENCES *

Select Guide Rating

Sverre Håkon Bagge was Professor at the University of Bergen from 1991 to 2012. His books in English include: Society and Politics in Snorri Sturluson’s Heimskringla (1991); Kings, Politics, and the Right Order of the World in German Historiography, c. 950-1150 (2002); Cross and Scepter: The Rise of the Scandinavian Kingdoms from the Vikings to the Reformation (2014).

• INTRODUCTION *CHAPTER I. THE FORMATION OF THE EUROPEAN STATE SYSTEM *Warfare and State Formation: From the Age of Invasions to the Eighteenth Century *The State Made War but War did not Make the State *War within the Family – Politics and Diplomacy *Norms and Interests *Conclusion *CHAPTER II. THE FOUNDATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF EUROPEAN MONARCHY *What was a State? *The Basic Features of European Society *King and Aristocracy *The Formation of Dynasties *War and the State *The Finances *Towards a Monopoly of Violence: The Royal Courts of Law *The Central Administration *From Ugly Toes to the King’s Napkin *The Formation of the Sovereign State *King, Nobility and People, and the Idea of the Nation *The State and the People: the Peasant Rebellions *Conclusion *CHAPTER III. THE STATE AND ITS COMPETITORS *The Church and the Papal Monarchy *States without a King: Principalities and City Republics *The Medieval Foundations of the European State *Conclusion *CHAPTER IV. THE REVOLUTIONS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES *The Renaissance *The Reformation *Reformation and State Formation *The Great Discoveries and the Development of European Trade *Why did Europe Conquer the World? *Conclusion *CHAPTER V. ABSOLUTISM AND CONSTITUTIONALISM *Capital Versus Coercion – England, The Dutch Republic and France *The Dutch Republic *Coercion and Capital *Towards Absolute Monarchy in France *The Development of Constitutional Government in England *The Difference between France and England *The Spanish Kingdoms *Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Agrarian States – the Case of Scandinavia *Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Agrarian States: Prussia, Austria and East Central Europe *Conclusion: Absolutism and Constitutionalism: Advantages and Disadvantages *CHAPTER VI. THE STATE AND THE ENLIGHTENMENT *Enlightened Despotism and Parliamentary Government *The Development of a Modern Bureaucracy *Conclusion *CONCLUSION: THE STATE OF THE OLD REGIME AND ITS LEGACY *REFERENCES *

Select Guide Rating