A History of Modern Europe
From the Renaissance to the Present
New theme of empire
Volume I examines the rise of the Ottoman empire and its multicultural composition, compares English and Spanish empires in the New World, and discusses both the expansion of the British empire into the Pacific and the expansion of the Russian empire and the decline of independent Poland. Volume II considers the new imperialism and the second industrial revolution and the permeable boundary between rulers and ruled, and presents decolonization in the context of the Cold War. A new discussion of the British withdrawal from Kenya is a reminder of the violence at the heart of empire.
Single author—narrative flair and a consistent approach
Professor Merriman is a seasoned teacher and talented historian. He offers a carefully crafted narrative, grounded in chronology, full of wonderful characters, and set off with a sense of humor. The single-author narrative guides students through a vast amount of complex material, integrating the many aspects of the European experience into a larger, interconnected whole. The result is an accessible narrative, with a balance between political and social history.