The Early Modern State: Drivers, Beneficiaries and Discontents: Essays in Honour of Prof. Dr. Marjolein 't Hart

Early modern European states experienced significant increases in financial, military, and bureaucratic power, but these changes were less absolute and definitive than previously thought. Rulers relied on negotiations with elite groups and private networks to maintain control, and attempts to increase control often faced popular resistance. This volume examines the main drivers, beneficiaries, and discontents of state formation in the early modern period across and beyond Europe.

Format: Hardback
Length: 310 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

During the early modern era, European states experienced a significant increase in their capacity to raise finances, wage wars, exert bureaucratic power over various aspects of social life, and control their own and distant populations. However, it is important to note that these changes were not as absolute and definitive as previously believed. While war played a crucial role in pushing the boundaries of emerging fiscal-military states in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, rulers still relied heavily on negotiations with competing elite groups and the private networks of contractors and financial intermediaries. Attempts to enhance control over subjects often faced popular resistance, which in turn imposed limits on the development of state institutions.

This volume, written in honor of renowned historian Marjolein t Hart, explores the main drivers, beneficiaries, and discontents of state formation across and beyond Europe during the early modern period. The chapters gathered here provide valuable insights into the complex processes that shaped the political, economic, and social landscapes of this era.

One of the significant drivers of state formation was the expansion of trade and commerce. As European economies grew and interconnected, states sought to establish control over trade routes, tariffs, and customs to maximize their economic gains. This led to the development of centralized administrative systems, such as taxation and bureaucracy, to manage these activities.

Another important factor was the rise of nationalism. As people began to identify with their national identities and seek to assert their sovereignty, states responded by expanding their territorial boundaries and asserting their authority over their subjects. This led to the creation of nation-states and the establishment of standardized legal systems and administrative structures.

However, state formation was not without its challenges. Rulers often faced resistance from competing elite groups, who sought to maintain their power and influence over their subjects. This led to the development of political institutions, such as parliaments and courts, to balance the power of the ruler and ensure that the interests of the people were represented.

State formation also had significant impacts on social life. As states sought to exert control over their populations, they implemented policies that affected education, healthcare, and social welfare. These policies often led to the development of new social classes and the emergence of social movements that challenged the authority of the state.

In conclusion, the early modern period was a time of significant change and transformation in European states. While the capacity of states to raise finances, wage wars, and exert bureaucratic power increased, these changes were not absolute and definitive. Rulers remained highly dependent on negotiations with competing elite groups and the private networks of contractors and financial intermediaries. Popular resistance also played a crucial role in shaping the development of state institutions and influencing the direction of state formation. This volume provides valuable insights into the main drivers, beneficiaries, and discontents of state formation in the early modern period, shedding light on the complex processes that shaped the political, economic, and social landscapes of this era.

Weight: 760g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367544683