An exploration of current scholarly thinking about the wide and surprisingly complex range of historical problems associated with the study of Ancien Regime Europe

• 1: William Doyle: Introduction


• Section I: Government


• 2: Peter R. Campbell: Absolute Monarchy


• 3: Hamish Scott: Diplomacy


• 4: David Parrott: Armed Forces


• 5: Joël Félix: Finance


• 6: Julian Swann: Parlements and Provincial Estates


• Section II: Society


• 7: John Shovlin: Nobility


• 8: Sarah Maza: Bourgeoisie


• 9: Gail Bossenga: Estates, Orders, and Corps


• 10: Alan Forrest: Poverty


• 11: Julia Hardwick: Gender


• Section III: Economy


• 12: Jack A. Goldstone: Demography


• 13: Anthony Crubaugh: Feudalism


• 14: Peter M. Jones: Agriculture


• 15: Silvia Marzagalli: Commerce


• 16: William Doyle: Slavery and Serfdom


• Section IV: Religion


• 17: Nigel Aston: The Established Church


• 18: Robin Briggs: Popular Religion


• 19: Thomas O'Connor: Jansenism


• 20: Marisa Linton: Dissent and Toleration


• Section V: Culture


• 21: Dorinda Outram: Education


• 22: Pierre-Yves Beaurepaire: Sociability


• 23: Mark Ledbury: Patronage


• 24: Thomas E. Kaiser: The Public Sphere


• Section VI: Solvents?


• 25: Thomas Munck: Enlightenment


• 26: Christine MacLeod and Alessandro Nuvolari: Technological Change


• 27: Michael Rapport: Revolution


• Section VII: Test Cases


• 28: Michael Broers: The Napoleonic Regimes


• 29: Julian Hoppit: Reformed and Unreformed Britain, 1689-1801


• 30: Christopher Clark: Colonial America


• 31: Peter H. Wilson: The Old Reich


• 32: William Doyle: Conclusion


• Index

William Doyle is Emeritus Professor of History and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Bristol