The small and densely populated nation of Belgium has played an important role in the history of Europe and other continents, especially Africa. It was a pioneering force in industry, trade, and finance during the Middle Ages, through early modern times and into the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It introduced innovative political regimes and played a leading role in the creative arts. Yet this rich past is not widely known. This introductory history offers an accessible and rigorous overview of this small but important West-European country, synthesizing Belgium's main economic, social, political, and cultural developments from pre-Roman times until today. Today, this nation-state, born in 1830, is well-known for the rivalries between its two main language communities, and as a result is often considered a fragile or even an artificial political construct. This systematic chronological analysis of both present-day Belgium and the polities that preceded it throws fresh light on this controversial issue and demonstrates Belgium's enduring importance and influence.

Offers an accessible overview of the history of this small but important West-European country, from ancient times to the present.

About the Author
Guy Vanthemsche is Professor Emeritus at the Free University Brussels, where he taught contemporary history for over three decades. He is the secretary of the Belgian Royal Historical Commission and a member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Overseas Sciences. He is the author of several books on nineteenth- and twentieth-century social, economic and political Belgian history, including Belgium and the Congo, 1885-1980 (Cambridge University Press, 2012). Roger De Peuter was a lecturer in economic and social history at Utrecht University and taught late medieval and early modern history of the Low Countries at the Free University Brussels until his retirement in 2011. His publications include articles and a book on early modern Belgian history.

Reviews
'A remarkable feat of synthesis. This volume provides an excellent modern history of the territories in north-west Europe which, having experienced many different forms of rule - local and imperial, religious and secular - were brought together as the nation and state of Belgium after 1830.' Martin Conway, University of Oxford
'Ranging from the Roman Empire to the European Union, De Peuter and Vanthemsche's richly detailed history provides a panoramic view of the evolution of the country that Stefan Zweig called the 'crossroads of Europe.' Engaged with contemporary debates on European and national Belgian identity, this is a masterpiece of historical synthesis.' Carl J. Strikwerda, The College of William and Mary in Virginia



Book Information
ISBN 9780521192415
Author Guy Vanthemsche
Format Hardback
Page Count 396
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 650g
Dimensions(mm) 221mm * 140mm * 25mm