House of War: A History of Europe from 1500-1815 covers the critical phase of European history that sees the rise of the national monarchies and the consequent political and social development leading up to the French Revolution and the rise and fall of Napoleon.
War after endless war engulfs Europe during this period, as the royal Houses vie for supremacy and seek to expand their territorial possessions throughout the New World. It is during this time of strife and chaos that the Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment seize the minds of the commons and the elite, and the once dominant Catholic Church staggers under the weight of its own corrupt institutions. The Thirty Years' War, the War of the Spanish Succession, and the War of the Austrian Succession all receive treatment in the context of the political and social development of war-torn Europe.
Illustrated to enhance the reading experience, House of War is essential reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the foundations for the world we live in today.
