Sverre Håkon Bagge was Professor at the University of Bergen from 1991 to 2012. His books in English include: Society and Politics in Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla (1991); Kings, Politics, and the Right Order of the World in German Historiography, c. 950-1150 (2002); Cross and Scepter: The Rise of the Scandinavian Kingdoms from the Vikings to the Reformation (2014).

INTRODUCTION *

CHAPTER I. THE FORMATION OF THE EUROPEAN STATE SYSTEM *

Warfare and State Formation: From the Age of Invasions to the Eighteenth Century *

The State Made War but War did not Make the State *

War within the Family - Politics and Diplomacy *

Norms and Interests *

Conclusion *

CHAPTER II. THE FOUNDATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF EUROPEAN MONARCHY *

What was a State? *

The Basic Features of European Society *

King and Aristocracy *

The Formation of Dynasties *

War and the State *

The Finances *

Towards a Monopoly of Violence: The Royal Courts of Law *

The Central Administration *

From Ugly Toes to the King's Napkin *

The Formation of the Sovereign State *

King, Nobility and People, and the Idea of the Nation *

The State and the People: the Peasant Rebellions *

Conclusion *

CHAPTER III. THE STATE AND ITS COMPETITORS *

The Church and the Papal Monarchy *

States without a King: Principalities and City Republics *

The Medieval Foundations of the European State *

Conclusion *

CHAPTER IV. THE REVOLUTIONS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES *

The Renaissance *

The Reformation *

Reformation and State Formation *

The Great Discoveries and the Development of European Trade *

Why did Europe Conquer the World? *

Conclusion *

CHAPTER V. ABSOLUTISM AND CONSTITUTIONALISM *

Capital Versus Coercion - England, The Dutch Republic and France *

The Dutch Republic *

Coercion and Capital *

Towards Absolute Monarchy in France *

The Development of Constitutional Government in England *

The Difference between France and England *

The Spanish Kingdoms *

Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Agrarian States - the Case of Scandinavia *

Absolutism and Constitutionalism in Agrarian States: Prussia, Austria and East Central Europe *

Conclusion: Absolutism and Constitutionalism: Advantages and Disadvantages *

CHAPTER VI. THE STATE AND THE ENLIGHTENMENT *

Enlightened Despotism and Parliamentary Government *

The Development of a Modern Bureaucracy *

Conclusion *

CONCLUSION: THE STATE OF THE OLD REGIME AND ITS LEGACY *

REFERENCES *