Joseph R. Strayer

The modern state, however we conceive of it today, is based on a pattern that emerged in Europe in the period from 1100 to 1600. Written from the experience of a lifetime of teaching and research in the field, this short, clear book is the classic work on what is known about the early history of the European state. Charles Tilly's foreword shows how Strayer's book set the agenda for a whole generation of historical analysts, not just in medieval history but also in the comparative study of state formation. William Chester Jordan's foreword addresses the scholarly and pedagogical setting within which Strayer produced his book, and how this both enhanced its accessibility and informed its focus on peculiarly English and French accomplishments in early state-building.

On the Medieval Origins of the Modern State

الأصول الوسيطة للدولة الحديثة

Vol. 13 (index) prepared by Wm. J. Richardson Associates, Inc. Includes bibliographical references.

Dictionary of the Middle Ages

The reign of Philip the Fair marks both the culmination of the medieval French monarchy and the beginning of the transition from the medieval to the modern period. In this long-awaited study of Philip's reign, Joseph R. Strayer discusses the king's personality, his quarrels with the Church and with neighboring rulers, and his relations with his subjects. He also examines developments in the French administrative system. In studying the decision-making process and the careers of hundreds of royal officials, the author determines how increases in royal power and in the effectiveness and complexity of the administration were achieved. He also considers how these changes affected the possessing classes and how Philip made them acceptable or at least tolerable to the politically conscious segment of the population. As Professor Strayer shows, under Philip, the balance of loyalty swung away from the local authorities and the Church Universal and toward the secular, sovergein state. the central administration grew so strong, and its efficiency so improved, that it became the model for many other European states. Joseph R. Strayer retired from Princeton University as Dayton-Stockton Professor of History in 1973. He is the author of numerous books and articles, including On the Medieval Origins of the Modern State and Medieval Statecraft and the Perspectives of History (both Princeton books). Originally published in 1980. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Joseph R. Strayer

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