Britain and Europe in the Seventeenth Century is a relatively short book that deals with the impact that Britain had on European affairs at the beginning of the seventeenth century. The thesis is basically summed up in the title of the book. To expand on the thesis, Dr. Jones emphasizes the close interdependence of Britain and Europe in the seventeenth century, and shows that events at home cannot be fully understood unless they are related to developments and forces abroad. In cultural and intellectual, as well as political and economic matters, the effect on Britain of foreign influences is for most of this period greater than that of Britain on Europe; one of the main questions that Dr. Jones considered when writing this book was why this relation was later reversed.

In looking at this period as a whole there is a clear contrast between Britain's isolation and unimportance in European affairs at the beginning of the seventeenth century, and Britain's full involvement as a major influence after 1

As a college student, I found this book to be very informative and useful. The seventeenth century has probably received more attention than any other period in British history, and Jones definitely does justice to this great period in history. Throughout the readings of this book I found that Dr. Jones has very strong views on this time period, as he goes so far to say that "a great many historians who have studied the period and written about it have shown a marked insularity in their approach to its developments and problems." I feel that Dr. Jones laid out a good foundation in the beginning of the book, and this foundation was built upon throughout the book in a very sturdy manner.

I really enjoyed, agreed with, and accepted Dr. Jones' views in explaining the ways in which, in the first half of the seventeenth century, British attitudes and domestic and foreign affairs were deeply affected by European influences - political, economic, and above all religious - and how, as the century progressed, this position was later reversed. Both Whig and Marxist historians have tended to regard the "conservative" revolution of 1688 as an appendage to the revolution of the middle years of the century. Dr. Jones, along with myself, strongly disagrees with this interpretation. I truly have found a respect for the author because his views and opinion on the subject are strong enough to go against strong Whig and Marxist historians' views. Dr. Jones takes the side that in relation to Britain's final emergence as a great power and her impact on European and world affairs, the revolution of 1688 must be regarded as the decisive turning point in British seventeenth-century development. The author shows that this process was a gradual one, and I totally agree with him. For example, the author reveals not only the importance of British commercial interests in the Mediterranean even in the early years of Anglo-Dutch rivalry, but also the crucial significance of the period 1667-89 in the determination of Britain's role in Continental affairs.

It was this sense of security, of confidence, and their accompaniments of military power and upper-class and bourgeois affluence which impressed contemporary Europe. Also, due largely to Huguenot exiles who acted as translators of English science, theology and philosophy, Europeans were also made to realize that England possessed an autonomous culture.

688. This involves intellectual and political

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Approximate Word count = 1657
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)