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Review
'To be welcomed as a brisk and clear account of this mighty element in the history and culture of Europe … a concise and highly readable account …'. The Times Higher Education Supplement
'… a well written and incisive history providing both a good introduction for those new to the subject and yet full of ideas for those who have thought about Austria for many years. … nicely balanced between foreign affairs and domestic problems and achievements … for anyone interested in the origins of the events that are shaking Europe today, this excellent history can be highly recommended.' Contemporary Review
'Throughout this is an arresting work, interesting, provocative, reflecting a sound balance of knowledge between the German and non-German lands, open to cultural developments, and aware of the importance of economic trends. Ingrao provides at once the best short accounts of the reigns of Leopold I, Charles VI and Maria Theresa. His book will be of great value to those teaching and studying the period … '. Jeremy Black, Teaching History
'... Ingrao's opus will remain the standard reference for students and general readers alike, and not only within the English-speaking world.' Michael Hochedlinger, Austrian History Yearbook
'Elegant and concise, yet stimulating and provocative, this is a volume well placed not only to challenge the conventional preconceptions of undergraduates but the comfortable insularities of more senior scholars as well.' Franz A. J. Szabo, American Historical Review
'… a well written and incisive history providing both a good introduction for those new to the subject and yet full of ideas for those who have thought about Austria for many years. … nicely balanced between foreign affairs and domestic problems and achievements … for anyone interested in the origins of the events that are shaking Europe today, this excellent history can be highly recommended.' Contemporary Review
'Throughout this is an arresting work, interesting, provocative, reflecting a sound balance of knowledge between the German and non-German lands, open to cultural developments, and aware of the importance of economic trends. Ingrao provides at once the best short accounts of the reigns of Leopold I, Charles VI and Maria Theresa. His book will be of great value to those teaching and studying the period … '. Jeremy Black, Teaching History
'... Ingrao's opus will remain the standard reference for students and general readers alike, and not only within the English-speaking world.' Michael Hochedlinger, Austrian History Yearbook
'Elegant and concise, yet stimulating and provocative, this is a volume well placed not only to challenge the conventional preconceptions of undergraduates but the comfortable insularities of more senior scholars as well.' Franz A. J. Szabo, American Historical Review
Product Description
This is a revised and updated edition of a highly acclaimed history of the early modern Habsburg monarchy. Charles W. Ingrao challenges the conventional notion of Habsburg state and society as peculiarly backward by tracing its emergence as a military and cultural power of enormous influence. The Habsburg monarchy was undeniably different from other European polities: geography and linguistic diversity made this inevitable, but by 1789 it had laid the groundwork for a single polity capable of transcending its uniquely diverse cultural and historic heritage. Charles W. Ingrao unravels the web of social, political, economic and cultural factors that shaped the Habsburg monarchy during the period, and presents this complex story in a manner that is both authoritative and accessible to non-specialists. This edition includes a revised text and bibliographies, new genealogical tables, and an epilogue which looks forward to the impact of the Habsburg monarchy on twentieth-century events.
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On 9 June 1815 the representatives of the great European powers gathered in the Hofburg, the medieval city palace of the Habsburgs to sign the peace settlement that eliminated Napoleon's empire. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
On 9 June 1815 the representatives of the great European powers gathered in the Hofburg, the medieval city palace of the Habsburgs to sign the peace settlement that eliminated Napoleon's empire. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Habsburgs are one of the great ruling dynasties in history. From their medieval origins in Austria the family would eventually occupy thrones that dominated much of central and eastern Europe before a series of setbacks and political shifts brought about the end of their monarchy in 1918. Yet as Charles Ingrao argues, far too much attention is focused on the final century of the monarchy's existence, which has the effect of distorting our understanding of it and how it survived for so long. His book, which is a survey of the monarchy from the start of the Thirty Years' War to the end of the Napoleonic Wars, examines the factors which he sees as shaping the 'distinctive course of Austrian history,' factors which he argues continued to define the development of the monarchy for the duration of its existence.
As Ingrao notes, the Habsburgs faced formidable challenges in governing their vast and diverse territories, which left them vulnerable to both local resistance and external threats. Yet he shows how the Habsburgs pragmatically turned these challenges into strengths, building an enduring empire that survived and even thrived during the early modern period. One of the foremost of these was its geographical position, which left it vulnerable to attack yet also valuable as an ally. Such alliances were the product of deft diplomacy, something the Habsburgs had to learn to master not only in dealing with the other powers of Europe but with the numerous minorities that made up their subjects. This diversity forced successive emperors to pursue consensus rather than confrontation with local elites, which left the monarchy weaker as an institution than many of its contemporaries in Europe but also served as a form of restraint in its international policy, as the monarchy was forced to avoid wars of aggression for which they would be unable to mobilize the necessary support. Their policies may not have made for the grandest of European states, but they helped the monarchy endure long after many of its contemporaries exhausted themselves through inconclusive wars.
Such an approach can run counter to preconceived notions about the Habsburg monarchy, yet Ingrao's arguments are convincing. Through them, the Habsburg empire's status as a great power and its survival over so many centuries become comprehensible to readers, helping them to understand not just its endurance but its long-overshadowed vitality as well. Well-written and thought-provoking, this book is an excellent introduction for anyone seeking to understand the history of the Habsburg empire and how such a seemingly unworkable state ruled so much of Europe for as long as it did.
As Ingrao notes, the Habsburgs faced formidable challenges in governing their vast and diverse territories, which left them vulnerable to both local resistance and external threats. Yet he shows how the Habsburgs pragmatically turned these challenges into strengths, building an enduring empire that survived and even thrived during the early modern period. One of the foremost of these was its geographical position, which left it vulnerable to attack yet also valuable as an ally. Such alliances were the product of deft diplomacy, something the Habsburgs had to learn to master not only in dealing with the other powers of Europe but with the numerous minorities that made up their subjects. This diversity forced successive emperors to pursue consensus rather than confrontation with local elites, which left the monarchy weaker as an institution than many of its contemporaries in Europe but also served as a form of restraint in its international policy, as the monarchy was forced to avoid wars of aggression for which they would be unable to mobilize the necessary support. Their policies may not have made for the grandest of European states, but they helped the monarchy endure long after many of its contemporaries exhausted themselves through inconclusive wars.
Such an approach can run counter to preconceived notions about the Habsburg monarchy, yet Ingrao's arguments are convincing. Through them, the Habsburg empire's status as a great power and its survival over so many centuries become comprehensible to readers, helping them to understand not just its endurance but its long-overshadowed vitality as well. Well-written and thought-provoking, this book is an excellent introduction for anyone seeking to understand the history of the Habsburg empire and how such a seemingly unworkable state ruled so much of Europe for as long as it did.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an exceptional book. Besides being very well written and engaging (after all, the monarchy's history is quite turbulent), it also presents a *wealth* of information revealing how the monarchy functioned. The reader would learn what sort of relations the Austrian Habsburgs had with their separate dominions and how these relations evolved over time, how the monarchy attempted to administer and draw revenue from its subjects (enforcement of annual regular taxes as late as the middle of the 18th century was an eye-opener), and, of course, what role it performed in international relationships.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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7 reviews
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
excellent detailed history of the Habsburg Monarchy
19 Dec 1998
Format:Paperback
As the author Charles Ingrao states in his preface to this excellent history, it can be difficult to combine the brevity of a textbook history with the completeness and detail sought by the scholar. Fortunately, Mr. Ingrao provides fascinating and detailed portraits of the historical background and the interacting personalities of the period. The Habsburg monarchs display personality traits which often influence the historical events of the time ( the counter-revolutionary zeal of
Ferdinand II instigating the thirty years' war ). Prince Eugene of Savoy is certainly one of the most brilliant military leaders of any time, and his prominant role in the defeat of the army of Louis XIV is emphasized in this book. The history begins at the thirty years' war in 1618 and extends through the numerous challenges to the Habsburg Monarchy, including the Turks, the French, and the Prussians. The enlghtened rule ( and reform ) of both Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II are discussed in the later chapters leading into the early nineteenth century. Mr. Ingrao has taken care to incorporate details of economic as well as social-cultural events to support his thesis that the Habsburg Monarchy was a very positive and active influence on the society of this period, and what a period for the empire!
For those interested in the history of Austria or the Habsburg Monarchy, this book offers the extra details to make history interesting. The personalities are fascinating, and the historical background of the period often anticipates our questions or concerns and leads into absorbing discussions of these issues.
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Better than nothing
6 Sep 2003
Format:Hardcover
Habsburg history between Charles V and Metternich is almost a dead zone for Anglophone readers. The Thirty Years Wars sparks a bit of interest, as does Rudolphine Prague. But unless I am mistaken, there is no biography available in English of any of the Emperors from Ferdinand II until Maria Theresia. And even she hasn't received a serious study in English since Edward Crankshaw's in the 1960's. Louis XIV continues to receive regular biographies and specialist studies. Yet Leopold I, his great rival, who reigned for nearly 50 years (1658-1705), is almost completely ignored.
Ingrao's book covers a lot of material in a fairly short space and is necessarily cursory in many respects. I also thought he was much more interested in the 18th century than the 17th. He clearly admires Maria Theresia, though is not blind to her faults, and treats Joseph II more kindly than he perhaps deserves. (Joseph seems to have been the perfect illustration of the dangers of what Michael Oakeshott famously called Rationalism in Politics).
Ingrao's treatment of the cultural contributions of the Habsburg Empire, its greatest legacy, is patchy. There is no mention of the great Austro-Bohemian composers of the 17th century - Biber, Schmelzer etc, nor of Fux in the 18th.
Still, as an up-to-date well-written survey of a complex and fascinating subject, Ingrao's book is very welcome.
Now all you post-doctoral history students, stop mucking about and start writing some detailed studies of the topics Ingrao could merely touch on.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Great book on early Habsburg Monarchy
28 Oct 2005
Format:Paperback
This is a great book that covers in good detail the rise of Austria under the rule of the Habsburg monarchy from the 30 Years War to the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Charles Ingrao gives great insight into the minds and personalities of all the Habsburg monarchs, including some of the less known ones like Ferdinand II and Joseph II. He explains how the nation had to develop from three kingdoms with one king to one nation under an emperor. Also covered is the role of the Habsburgs as Holy Roman Emperors and their dominance in Germany until the rise of Prussia in the mid 18th Century when Austria was forced to look east for power.
A more long lasting issue covered, that even has effects to the present day, is the issue of nationality and ethnicity within the empire. This is the issue that arguably brought the end to the multinational empire and has caused so many wars in the Balkans in the past two decades.
My only real complaint is that at times Ingrao can get a bit bogged down in the details, and it can be a little hard to follow. Also, it should be stated that the book is inevitably biased a bit toward Austria and therefore is slightly anti-Prussia and French at times.
Overall though, if you want a good overview on the development of the early Austrian monarchy this is a great choice.
A more long lasting issue covered, that even has effects to the present day, is the issue of nationality and ethnicity within the empire. This is the issue that arguably brought the end to the multinational empire and has caused so many wars in the Balkans in the past two decades.
My only real complaint is that at times Ingrao can get a bit bogged down in the details, and it can be a little hard to follow. Also, it should be stated that the book is inevitably biased a bit toward Austria and therefore is slightly anti-Prussia and French at times.
Overall though, if you want a good overview on the development of the early Austrian monarchy this is a great choice.
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