Europe 1783–1914

Book excerpt: Europe 1783–1914 provides a comprehensive overview of Europe from the background of the French Revolution to the origins of the First World War. William Simpson and Martin Jones combine accounts of the most important countries with the wider political, economic, social and cultural themes affecting Europe as a whole, including: the impact of the French Revolution and Napoleon the rise of industry the growth of nationalism the 1848 revolutions Imperialism Marxism and left wing movements. This second edition has been significantly expanded with additional sections on Science and Technology and Thought and Culture. There are two entirely new chapters – 'Changes in the World of Ideas', which explores European responses to the Enlightenment and the French Revolution as reflected in literature, music and painting; and 'Europe and the United States', which examines the reciprocal relationship between these two continents during this critical period. The final chapter, 'Retrospect and Prospect', now addresses the changing intellectual climate under the influence of figures such as Darwin, Freud and Nietzsche, and new departures in the arts evident at the dawn of the twentieth century. Every chapter features a list of key dates, concise background information, and suggestions for further reading, as well as a concluding 'Topics for Debate' section which contains relevant contemporary sources and outlines the contrasting views of recent historians on the key issues. Extensively illustrated throughout with maps, contemporary cartoons and portraits, Europe 1783–1914 is a clear, detailed and highly accessible analysis of this turbulent and formative period of European History.