The book offers a broad ranging investigation of the social, economic and political circumstances which led to the revolutions of 1848 as well as an account of the revolutions themselves. An accessible and valuable introduction to this complex subject.

In 1848 revolutions broke out all over Europe - in France, the Habsburg and German lands and the Italian peninsular. This Seminar Study considers why the revolutions occurred and why they were so widespread. The book offers a broad ranging investigation of the social, economic and political circumstances which led to the revolutions of 1848 as well as an account of the revolutions themselves. First published in 1981, and fully revised in 1991, the study has long established itself as one of the most accessible and valuable introductions to this complex subject.

Part 1 The background: the outbreak of revolution. Part 2 The European transformation: the impact of industrialization on the working classes
the impact of industrialization on the middle classes
population pressure and the condition of agricultural society
the breakdown of traditional political control
the crisis of the 1840s. Part 3 1848 - the year of revolution: France
the Habsburg Lands
the German Lands
the Italian peninsula. Part 4 Assessments and consequences. Part 5 Documents.