War and Society in the Seventeenth Century

Sir George Clark discusses war as a factor for good and ill in European society in the seventeenth century. In particular, he shows how war helped to determine the emergence of modern Europe from a society geographically, politically and doctrinally confused: what Sir George calls the mêlée of the early part of the century. His first chapter stresses that war was accepted as part of the order of society. It was considered a legitimate instrument of policy, provided that it was just. The nex...