Customer Reviews

War and Society in Renaissance Europe, 1450-1620

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

War and Society attempts to explore the extent to which warfare affected social conventions and vice versa. The author explores a multitide of avenues: weaponry, politics, technological innovation, army composition, state finances, and impact on civilians. His conclusions are somewhat surprising at times, as he does not conclude that war had as great an impact on society as many believe. In fact, society had the greater impact on the conduct of warfare than strictly military factors.

A good amount of detail is provided on recruitment, both of leaders and soldiers, mercenaries, early modern taxation, and effects of warfare on the formation of governments (or lack thereof).

The weakness is that it is a very difficult book to read, with lots of words that will send you to the dictionary and sentences that last eight lines or so with 3 semicolons, 1 colon, and 7 commas. Despite that, if you are interested in getting a somewhat different view and style about the military-social relationships in early modern Europe, this is a good choice.

This is an excellent overview of the effect, influence and relationship of war to society in the period 1450-1620.
The chapters are:
P013: Why there were wars
P046: The military reformation: techniques and organisation
P075: Recruitment: personal and organised violence; the Second Estate
P100: Recruitment: the reaction of the Third Estate
P127: The society of soldiers: the professionals
P153: The society of soldiers: Conditions of service
P179: The direct impact of war on civilians
P209: The indirect impact: war and the economy
P232: The indirect impact: war, taxation and government
Notes, Select bibliography and Index - pp255-281

As you can see, each chapter's subject leads on into the subsequent chapter, giving a complete survey of the period. Each chapter is sprinkled with quotes from contemporary commentators and writers, and with relevant observations by the author. Although first published 25 years ago (when I first read it), it is still completely relevant today, and nothing is outdated. If you know nothing about the subject, you might find the flow of names and events a little confusing, but if you have read a little on the subject, then it will fill in many gaps; and if you have read a lot on the subject, it will be like watching a tapestry being created, as each section is interwoven with the next, showing the complex interrelationships involved in renaissance society.

Highly recommended.

This book has interesting citations whicn reflect he relations between changing society and the art of war in renaissance Europe, A reference book for all those interested in that period