Violence in Early Modern Europe 1500-1800

A broad-ranging survey of violence in western Europe from the Reformation to the French Revolution. Julius Ruff summarises a huge body of research and provides readers with a clear, accessible, and engaging introduction to the topic of violence in early modern Europe. His book, enriched with fascinating illustrations, underlines the fact that modern preoccupations with the problem of violence are not unique, and that late medieval and early modern European societies produced levels of violence that may have exceeded those in the most violent modern inner-city neighbourhoods. Julius Ruff examines the role of the emerging state in controlling violence; the roots and forms of the period's widespread interpersonal violence; violence and its impact on women; infanticide; and rioting. This book, in the successful textbook series New Approaches to European History, will be of great value to students of European history, criminal justice sciences, and anthropology. '... his book provides valuable evidence for those psychologists interested in a broader perspective on human violence than psychology alone can provide.' The Psychologist 'This interesting book is a comprehensive synthesis of various historiographies, brought together for the first time in an extended treatment of the subject of violence in early modern Europe.' HistoryList of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Introduction: the problem of violence in early modern Europe; 1. Representations of violence; 2. States, arms and armies; 3. Justice; 4. The discourse of interpersonal violence; 5. Ritual group violence; 6. Popular protest; 7. Organised crime; Conclusion; Index.