A History of European Diplomacy: 1815–1914

From the perspective of diplomatic history, this book systematically analyzes a century of upheaval in Europe. What did Europe’s political landscape look like after Napoleon Bonaparte’s second abdication and the collapse of his empire? What circumstances led to the Congress of Vienna? How did the great powers maintain the balance of power in Europe? Why was Europe’s political direction after the Congress of Vienna dominated by the “Holy Alliance” and the “Quadruple Alliance”? How did Spain’s American colonies gain independence? What was the purpose of the United States’ Monroe Doctrine? When did nationalism replace the principle of legitimacy? How did the Crimean War begin? How did European diplomats resolve the Italian question? How did Prussia rise to power? How was the German Empire unified? What role did the unification of Italy and Germany play in creating Europe’s armed peace? Why is the founding of the German Empire considered the most important political event in nineteenth-century Europe? What caused the Eastern Question to resurface? How did the two Balkan Wars differ? Why is imperialism considered the root cause of World War I? This book explores these questions in depth.