This book offers the first long-term analysis of the protracted struggle between Britain, France, Prussia, Russia, and Sweden for economic power and political influence in the northern part of the Eurasian continent between 1660 and 1860. This book shows how their commercial, diplomatic, and...

War, finance, and mercantilism -- Great divergence, fiscal-military state and economic policy -- From trading cities to territorial states -- The "military revolution" -- The rise of the fiscal state -- Different paths to public finance and fiscal systems -- European states and the crisis of the...