In 1640 the term Europe was without real political significance. In the following years the idea of Europe came to mean much more. The Making of Modern Europe, 1648-1780 tells the story of this fascinating period. Throughout, the central theme is the growth of the state, from the disorderly aftermath of the Thirty Years War to the end of the ancient regime, Geoffrey Treasure provides an excellent introduction to seventeenth and eighteenth century history.
