Description
The 16th and 17th centuries saw many ambitious European rulers develop permanent armies and navies. This study examines this military change as a central part of the political, social and economic transformation of Early Modern Europe. The book exposes the economic structures necessary for supporting permanent military organizations across Europe. Large armed forces could not develop successfully without various interest groups who needed protection and were willing to pay for it. Arguing that early fiscal-military states were in fact protection-selling enterprises, the author focuses on: Spain, the Dutch Republic and Sweden; the role of local elites; and the political and organizational aspects of this new military development. Review: 'A scholarly attempt to integrate the history of early modern state formation with early modern warfare in Europe.' - USI Journal
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