European Revolutions, 1492-1992

by Charles Tilly

This book reinterprets the last five centuries of European history, a period characterised by war, revolt and contention, by the rise and struggles of states and empires, and by urbanization, enrichment and industrialization. His focus is on revolutions, their origins in ambition and discontent, and the variability of their outcomes over time and according to place, politics and culture. He seeks an understanding of revolutionary processes grounded in the contingencies of circumstance, and to show the pace of great revolutions in the long-term history of Europe and the world at large.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Sociology, European History, World History

283 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Charles Tilly was an American sociologist, political scientist, and historian renowned for his pioneering contributions to the study of social change, state formation, and contentious politics. A prolific scholar, Tilly authored over 600 articles and more than 50 books, shaping disciplines ranging from sociology and history to political science. His research was grounded in large-scale, comparative historical analysis, exemplified by his influential works Coercion, Capital, and European States, Durable Inequality, and Dynamics of Contention.
Tilly began his academic career after earning his doctorate in sociology from Harvard University, where he studied under noted figures like George C. Homans and Barrington Moore Jr. He taught at several major institutions, including the University of Michigan, The New School, and ultimately Columbia University, where he held the Joseph L. Buttenwieser Professorship of Social Science.
He developed a distinctive theoretical approach that rejected simplistic, static models of society, instead emphasizing dynamic processes and relational mechanisms. Tilly’s theories of state formation, particularly his provocative comparison of war-making and state-making to organized crime, remain central in political sociology. He also played a key role in the evolution of historical sociology and the relational sociology movement, especially through his collaborations and influence on the New York School.
A leading theorist of social movements, Tilly outlined how modern protest became structured around campaigns, repertoires of contention, and public displays of unity, worthiness, numbers, and commitment. His work with scholars like Sidney Tarrow and Doug McAdam further redefined the field by linking social movements to broader political processes.
Tilly received numerous honors, including membership in the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as multiple honorary doctorates. His legacy endures through awards bearing his name and through continued influence on generations of social scientists.

Reviews

[Musa Kayrak · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book which provides readers with a very solid and methodological way of understanding how revolutions happen at the very beginning of the book. In the following pages Tilly takes readers into the depths of history of revolutions in Europe. It is a must-read book if you are interested in History, Europe and or revolutions.

[Mansooreh Mousavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

اگر به بحث انقلاب‌های اروپایی علاقه داشته باشین، کتاب جامعی در این موضوع هست که در اولین صفحات نقشه‌ی اروپا رو نشون میده و بخشی رو به تعریف انقلاب و انواع انقلاب اختصاص داده و بعد انقلاب‌های کشورهایی مثل بریتانیا، فرانسه، روسیه و ... توضیح داده و در آخر هم تاثیر این انقلاب‌ها رو بر اروپا تحلیل کرده است.