Derek Edward Dawson Beales Bücher

Europa 1750. Die katholischen Klöster erleben eine bespiellose Hochblüte. 25.000 Ordenshäusen und 350.000 Mönchen und Nonnen prägen als Lehrer, Gelehrte, Priester, Missionare, Grundbesitzer, Bauherren und fürstliche Berater das gesellschaftliche und kulturelle Leben in Deutschland und Österreich, in Frankreich, in Spanien und Portugal. Viele von ihnen sind wohlhabend, wie die Benediktiner, die Zisterzienser, die Augustiner oder Kartäuser, manche bleiben Bettelorden . Im gesamten sind sie aber Grundbesitzer und Herren über Millionen Bauern, sie besitzen Höfe und Wälder, sie bauen Vorstädte auf, produzieren und verkaufen Bier, Wein und Schnaps und übernehmen die Aufgaben einer Bank.

The emperor Joseph II (1741-90) tried to carry through something like a 'revolution from above' in the vast, varied, and mainly backward provinces of the Austrian Monarchy. This volume carries the story down to 1780. It describes the claustrophobic atmosphere, in which Joseph was trained to rule, his tragic marriages, and his attempts after 1765 as co-regent with his formidable mother, empress Maria Theresa, to dictate the domestic and foreign policy of the monarchy. The author shows that previous historians have been deceived by false sources and that the picture they have given of the emperor, his strange character, his tempestuous relationship with his mother, and his political aims, needs drastic revision.

This book introduces the reader to the relationship between the Italian national movement, achieved by the Risorgimento, and the Italian unification in 1860. These themes are discussed in detail and related to the broader European theatre. Covering the literary, cultural, religious and political history of the period, Beales and Biagini show Italy struggled towards nation state status on all fronts.The new edition has been thoroughly rewritten. It also contains a number of new documents. In addition, all the most up to date research of the last 20 years has been incorporated.The Risorgimento and the Unification of Italyremains the major text on nineteenth century Italy. The long introduction and useful footnotes will be of real assistance to those interested in Italian unification.