Books by Geoffrey Parker

Geoffrey Parker presents the firsthand testimony of men and women who saw and suffered from the sequence of political, economic, and social crises between 1618 to the late 1680s. He also deploys the scientific evidence of climate change during this period.

Now available in a revised and updated version, The Cambridge Illustrated History of Warfare provides a unique account of Western warfare from antiquity to the present day. The book treats the history of all aspects of the subject: the development of warfare on land, sea and air; weapons and technology; strategy and defense; discipline and intelligence; mercenaries and standing armies; cavalry and infantry; chivalry and Blitzkrieg; guerilla assault and nuclear arsenals. It places in context particular key events in the history of armed engagement, from the Greek victory at Marathon, through the introduction of gunpowder in medieval England and France, to the jungle warfare of Vietnam and the strategic air attacks of the Gulf War. Throughout, there is an emphasis on the socio-economic aspects of military progress: who pays for it, how can its returns be measured, and to what extent does it explain the rise of the West to global dominance over two millennia?

A compelling subject, war is common to almost all known societies and almost all periods of history. The Cambridge History of Warfare is a comprehensive account of war in the West. The combined effort of seven leading experts, this book treats the history of all aspects of the subject: the development of warfare on land, seas, and air; weapons and technology; strategy and defense; discipline and intelligence; mercenaries and standing armies; cavalry and infantry; chivalry and blitzkreig; guerrilla assault and nuclear warfare. It places in context particular key elements in the history of armed engagement, from the Greek victory at Marathon, through the advent of gunpower in medieval England and France, to the jungle warfare of Vietnam and the strategic air strikes of the Gulf War. Throughout, there is an emphasis on the socio-economic aspects of military progress and how these help explain the rise of the West over the past two millenia to global military dominance.

Book by PARKER, GEOFFREY

The publication of The Army of Flanders and the Spanish Road in 1972 marked the birth of the "new military history", which emphasized military organization--mobilization, pay, supply, morale and, above all, logistics--rather than military "events" such as sieges and battles. Constantly cited since its first publication in English (with translations into Spanish and Dutch), this revised updated second edition includes new sources and references but otherwise remains faithful to the original edition. First Edition Hb (1972): 0-521-08462-8 First Edition Pb (1975): 0-521-09907-2

The idea of a dialogue--sometimes harmonious, sometimes divisive--between the center and periphery of the early modern European state stands at the heart of much of John Elliott's historical writing. This collection of essays by a group of Elliott's former students examines different aspects of this important theme and develops them. Taken together with the "personal appreciation" of Elliott (now Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford), it forms an important examination of the work of the greatest living historian of Spain as well as being a major contribution to early modern European history.

In this work, Geoffrey Parker traces the rise and fall of global empires, the impact of mass warfare and limits to religious growth in 16th- and 17th-century Europe. He ranges from the dramatic rise and fall of Philip II's Spanish superpower to William of Orange's invasion of England; from Elizabethan espionage and treason to the spread of Protestanism; and from the development of military technology to war crimes and the "etiquette of atrocity" in early modern Europe. All these studies reveal what the short-lived triumphs and devastating failures of this period can tell us about the modern world.

In this spellbinding biography, the definitive work on Philip, Geoffrey Parker drew upon a vast, previously untapped collection of the king's private correspondence, in which he expressed his emotions, personal thoughts, and social philosophy. This new edition has a Bibliographical Essay, evaluating the many new works on Philip published on and around the 400th anniversary of his death.

At the end of July 1588, Philip II's Armada of 130 ships set sail against England. Within a month they were condemned to defeat. The authors spent 13 years reassessing the profusion of untapped documents, diaries and private papers lying forgotten in Spanish and Dutch archives. This material has been augmented by underwater discoveries from the Armada wrecks.

In the new edition of this classic book, Geoffrey Parker draws on material from all over Europe to provide an authoritative and exciting account of the eventful first half of the seventeenth century.

Often in the past, the Edmondson Lectures have tended to fall into one of two distinct categories: they either conveyed the results of recent historical research, or they constituted a synthesis of a scholar's lifetime work on a subject of major historical importance. Professor Parker's lectures combine the two approaches in a masterful way as he analyzes the manner in which Philip II of Spain managed his global Empire while being driven - and tragically handicapped - by an overpowering messianic complex. Parker's lectures combine the most profound insights with a lucidity of presentation.

This fascinating book is highly original, in that it specifically analyses how Philip II of Spain ruled the first global empire in history, from 1556 to his death in 1598. Geoffrey Parker investigates the strengths and weaknesses of Philip's strategic vision, the priorities that underlay his policies, the practices and prejudices that influenced his decision-making, and the external factors that affected the achievement of his goals. Geoffrey Parker is Andreas Dorpalen Professor of History at The Ohio State University, and winner of the 2012 Heineken History Prize. Among his other books is 'Global Crisis: War, Climate Change and Catastrophe in the Seventeenth Century'. 'A splendid study ... Parker offers an enthralling analysis', Henry Kamen, Times Literary Supplement 'A deeply-researched, sublime and immensely satisfying analysis of the policies of one of the most important figures in western and world history during the past one thousand years.' Paul Kennedy 'This is a history that moves backward from the strategic concerns of today; that gives it an edge and an immediacy few other books on Philip have achieved ... A highly detailed but also immensely readable book.' Anthony Pagden, New York Times Book Review 'Basing his work on the mass of unpublished letters, declarations and notes that the 'prudent king' wrote and received ... Parker leads us with consummate skill through the thorny problems of Philip's reign.' Hugh Thomas, Wall Street Journal '... history on a grand scale. In it, Parker has distilled the fruit of thirty years' research and writing, which have made him the leading authority on Spain's relations with Northern Europe in the early modern era ... A highly sophisticated and stimulating work.' Bruce Taylor, History: Review of New Books.

A discussion of the causes, character and legacy of World War I, providing a framework for understanding the whole 20th century. The contributors show that World War I meant not only the dissolution of four defeated empires but also the collapse of the optimistic assumption of progress.

The first edition of The Thirty Years' War offered an unrivalled survey of a central period in European history. Drawing on a huge body of source material from different languages and countries throughout Europe, it provided a clear and comprehensive narrative and analytical account of the subject. It has established itself as the classic text with reviewers, students and the general reader.
This second edition has been thoroughly revised to include the very latest research. The updated bibliographical information provides an invaluable resource, synthesising the major work in the field, in all languages, up to 1996.
Written with great clarity and liveliness, the book brings alive the period in all its aspects. It covers the horrors of the war and the contorted politics of the period. It deals with all the major figures, including Wallerstein and Richelieu, Gustavus Adolphus and Tilly, the Winter King and the Habsburg emperors. For range and depth of coverage there is no other work like it. It has become the definitive book on the subject.

One of the most fierce and wide-ranging debates in historical circles during the last twenty years has concerned the theory that throughout Europe, the seventeenth century was a period of crisis so pervasive, significant and intense that it could be labelled a 'General Crisis'. A number of articles stimulated by the debate were collected and published in a book entitled Crisis in Europe, edited by Trevor Aston.
This volume takes the still acrimonious debate up to the present day. The editors have collected together ten important subsequent essays concerning the social, economic and political crises which affected not only Europe but also Asia in the mid-seventeenth century. All the pieces are essential reading for a clear understanding of the period. This new edition of The General Crisis of the Seventeenth Century contains fresh research, new perspectives and completely updated bibliographies and index.

Well before the Industrial Revolution, Europe developed the superior military potential and expertise that enabled her to dominate the world for the next two centuries. In this attractively illustrated and updated edition, Geoffrey Parker discusses the major changes in the military practice of the West during this time period--establishment of bigger armies, creation of superior warships, the role of firearms--and argues that these major changes amounted to a "military revolution" that gave Westerners a decided advantage over people of other continents. A new chapter addresses the controversies engendered by the previous edition.

A compilation of 10 studies which weigh up the military, social and economic impact on Spain and the Netherlands of the 82-year Dutch Revolt. The studies range from general articles on the European and global contexts of the Revolt, to specific episodes such as the mutiny of the Spanish Army.

An encyclopedia of military history covers the wars of Asia, South America, and Africa, as well as North America and Europe.

The authors take advantage of startling new evidence from under the sea and the vast archives of those who shaped the Spanish defeat. The result is genuinely even-handed between English and Spanish; it couples vigorous, spare and often bold writing with scrupulous scholarship.