Beyond the Military Revolution: War in the Seventeenth-Century World - Paperback

by Jeremy Black (Author)

The seventeenth century has long been seen as a period of 'crisis' or transition from the pre-modern to the modern world. This book offers a chance to explore this crisis from the perspective of war and military institutions in a way that should appeal to those doing global history.

By placing 17th century warfare in a global context, Black challenges conventional chronologies and permits a reappraisal of the debate over what has been seen as the Military Revolution of the early-modern period. The book discusses war with regard to strategic cultures, assesses military capability in terms of tasks and challenges faced and attaches styles of warfare to their social and political contexts. Genuinely global in range, this up-to-date and wide-ranging account provides fresh historiographical insights into this crucial period in world history.

Back Jacket

The seventeenth century has long been seen as a period of 'crisis' or transition from the pre-modern to the modern world. This book offers a chance to explore this crisis from the perspective of war and military institutions in a way that should appeal to those doing global history.

By placing 17th century warfare in a global context, Black challenges conventional chronologies and permits a reappraisal of the debate over what has been seen as the Military Revolution of the early-modern period. The book discusses war with regard to strategic cultures, assesses military capability in terms of tasks and challenges faced and attaches styles of warfare to their social and political contexts. Genuinely global in range, this up-to-date and wide-ranging account provides fresh historiographical insights into this crucial period in world history.

Author Biography

JEREMY BLACK is Professor of History at the University of Exeter, UK. He is a leading authority on early modern British and continental European history, with special interest in international relations, military history, the press, and historical atlases. His recent publications include The English Seaborne Empire, Rethinking Military History, The Age of Total War, Using History and Naval Power.
JEREMY BLACK is Professor of History at the University of Exeter, UK. He is a leading authority on early modern British and continental European history, with special interest in international relations, military history, the press, and historical atlases. His recent publications include The English Seaborne Empire, Rethinking Military History, The Age of Total War, Using History and Naval Power.