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...

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- List of Illustrations -- Chapter 1: The structural characteristics of preindustrial economies -- 1.1: From the Neolithic Revolution to the Bronze Age urbanrevolution -- 1.2: The structural features of agrarian economies...

Contents: Preface -- Part I: Introduction -- 1. Finding a common economic pathway -- 2. Transitions and revolutions -- Part II: Beginnings: place and people -- 3. Changing contexts -- 4. The past within us -- 5. The dynamic forager -- Part III: The agricultural phase, from 15000 BC to 1800 AD --...