Table of Contents

Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Tribal kingship: from the fall of Rome to the end of the Merovingians; 3. The first Europe: the Carolingian empire; 4. Europe divided: the post-Carolingian era; 5. The foundation of the modern state; 6. The classic absolutism of the Ancient Regime; 7. The absolute state: no lasting model; 8. The bourgeois nation state; 9. The liberal model transformed or rejected; Epilogue; Select bibliography; Index.

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Historical analysis of different models of constitutional government assessing their impact today.

Reviews

"...this well-written work provides a grand perspective and judicious abalysis of issues for its intended audience of undergraduates and law students, those 'who want to place their own constitution, which is part of their curriculum, in an international and historical perspective, but who lack the time and the languages to read the relevant national legal histories." Albert J. Schmidt, Law and History Review