Book Review: Early Modern Europe: Issues And Interpretations
Book Review: Early Modern Europe: Issues And Interpretations
The history of Europe is one that attracted different authors who published various books, journals, periodicals, and other written materials. A significant era in the European history recorded in literature is that of the Early Modern Europe. The Early Modern Europe is the period estimated between the 15th and 18th centuries. James B. Collins and Karen L. Taylor are among the authors that showed interest in the Early Modern Europe. Collins and Taylor edited the book, Early Modern Europe: Issues and Interpretations. This paper provides a review of the book Early Modern Europe: Issues and Interpretations. The books were edited by Collins and Taylor and published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons.
In the 480 page book, Collins and Taylor put together authentic and influential recent literature about the early modern European history. The book highlights an analysis of the current perception regarding the history of early modern Europe. The authors discuss themes including the early modern identities, the evolution of religion and culture across Europe, the emergence of modern states, the new world as it pertains to Europe, and the gender, particularly the position of women.
About the Authors
Jim Collins is a professor at Georgetown since 1992. Collin got a B.A. in 1971 from the University of Rochester, M.A in 1974 from Columbia University, and Ph.D. from Columbia University. He served in the position of Graduate Studies of History as the Director between 1991 and 1995. Between 2000 and 2003, Collins was the Chair of History Department. Beyond his career in Georgetown University, Collins had the chance to lecture in France, Warsaw, Florence, and London. For his achievement, Collins received the ‘Medal of Meritorious Service to Polish Education’ in 2009 from the Polish Ministry of Education. As a scholar, he also won Presidential Scholar-Teacher Award by the Georgetown University. Collins contributed significantly in publishing various historical books alongside the Early Modern Europe: Issues and Interpretations (2008). He published The State in Early Modern France (2009), From Tribes to Nation: The Making of France, 500-1799 (2002), The Ancient Regime and the French Revolution (2002), Classes, Estates, and order in early modern Brittany (1994), and The Fiscal Limits of Absolutism (1988). Karen L. Taylor is History lecturer at Georgetown College. Alongside being editors, Karen also has some historical literature to her name including The Facts on File Companion to the French Novel (2006) and Grand Canyon’s Long-Eared Taxi (1992).
The organization of the book
Collins and Taylor compiled the book using different sources of information but majorly literature by various authors that focused on different aspect of the history of early modern Europe. Certain literature was thematic while others were chronological. However, the book gives a thematic approach to the account of early modern Europe. Some of the literature reproduced in the book include The Legacy of Rome (1995), History, Myth and Historical Identity (2000), The Theresian School reforms of 1774 (1988), The Evil Empire? The Debate on Turkish Despotism in Eighteenth-Century French Political Culture (2000), among others. The title of the literature used by the editors indicates that the authors focused on a single or small section of European’s history. The authors thus reorganized the books into a thematic approach to provide a more comprehensive account. The various themes under analysis by the editors include the Early Modern Identities, which involved Rome, the slave trade, historical perspective, educational reforms, and the Empires. The second theme involved religion and cultural life of the early modern Europe where the editors reviewed the Ira Dei Super Nos, Confraternities, Sin of belief, and Dutiful love and Natural Affection as it pertains to Netherlands. The third section, the editors highlighted the revolution of intellectual capacity, which entailed the dawn of science, incipient consumerism, and inventions. The fourth theme focuses on gender by highlighting the position of women in the early modern Europe by highlight the political, legal, and economic structures. The final theme is that of Modern State Systems.
Authors Argument
The argument of the author is essential in understanding the purpose of the prose. First, the editors base their arguments on a thematic approach. Themes thus provide a basis for evaluating their viewpoint. The editor’s approach to understanding the history of early modern Europe is agreeable. In history, review or giving a thematic evaluation is a way of conveying a message. The history of Europe was never in a single book. Different authors and publishers wrote accounts based on regional experience or major events that they encountered thus making it difficult to comprehend the progress that historian made. The purpose of the authors thus provided a more conventional approach to understanding the social, political, and economic aspects. There would be no a better thematic approach that the editors would adopt regarding the historical accounts because the historical development of the three major aspects of the human history that was bound to change in the evolution that took place in the Europe. The authors also based their argument on authentic literature from renowned editors, authors, and publishers that wrote credible accounts. It is understandable that history is an aspect of knowledge that had many omissions and prejudice and trusting any source of literature would make the book biased or prejudiced.
Audience
The book is suitable for general studies as well as both the undergraduate and graduate level. The authors did not narrow the scope of the book to a particular area of study in history but focused on diverse recent literature on the history of early modern Europe. The book is relevant as a general reference because it reviews most literature by other authors. Therefore, it acts as a one-stop library for anyone with the passion of understanding the history of early modern Europe. In undergraduate studies, there are various sections highlighted which on the aspect of the evolving Europe, whether social, political, or economic. The graduate can also relate to the argument by Collins and Taylor regarding the history of Europe. In addition, Collins and Taylor refer to a collection of updated information from different authors to compile an objective book that discusses Europe’s history in relevant topics and subtopics. The author makes an inference regarding the literature by other authors. Finally, Collins and Taylor provide the basis of research in history. Graduate school entails research and discovering the new scope of knowledge not explored by others or expanding on the works of others. Therefore, the book is a suitable reference material in all aspects of historical knowledge.
Understanding the Book
Understanding and following historical information require aids such as maps, diagrams or drawings, and images. The editors do not organize the books regarding chronology. However, there are bibliographies for follow up and verification of the information provided. However, there are limited maps and images that the reader can follow and understand. Maps and images are valuable in visualizing the location and features that the author describes in the book. The map such as that of the rising states, images of inventions, and regions outlined in the different literature are essential in historical records. The presence of an index, however, makes it easy to find the relevant keyword that the reader may have interest. The overview of the themes also acts as a summary that gives the reader an idea or a feel of the information by the editors. The editors also divide table of contents according to the various themes of interest. The reader can, see the various topics and subtopics of the book easily without having to skim through the book. The book also ensures that the vital information provided is within a few pages. The book has only 470 pages of the early modern history of Europe. The reader finds readily gets the essential historical information of the vast continent.
Concluding remarks
The book, Early Modern Europe: Issues and Interpretations, was edited by Collins and Taylor. The review was of the second edition published by John Wiley & Sons in 2008. The first edition was in 2005 by the Wiley Publisher. The editors use a thematic account to recreate the selected aspects of early modern Europe. The book highlights various social, political, and economic themes that emerged with the changing Europe. The books reflect on and provide an analysis selected recent historical literature by the authors. Significantly, some of the literature had to be translated to ensure that the book had sufficient information. The kind of argument by the editors is agreeable because they use credible and authentic literature; they are renewed editors and authors from a reputable institution, and of a competent academic background. However, the edition has limited reading aids such as maps, images, and drawing to facilitate understanding. The book is relevant for general, undergraduate, and graduate level of history education as reference material. The book has an index, table of content, and an overview of the various themes. The book is, therefore, an excellent reference material in history especially that of the early modern Europe.