Introduction
Joachim Whaley|Len Scales
This special issue is devoted to a subject that has experienced remarkable transformation during the last sixty years. In 1960s, as work on virtually every period in German history after 1800 flourished English-speaking world, almost no attention was paid Holy Roman Empire. As Tim Blanning recently recalled, when he became interested before student at Cambridge there body of English-language research and little interest creating one.1 That true particularly early modern period, but medieval fared better. The comments found most popular surveys history, A. J. P. Taylor’s Course History Geoffrey Barraclough’s Origins Modern Germany, were not encouraging.2 Blanning’s study Mainz eighteenth century very much pioneering it appeared 1974.3 can publish Empire editors find themselves spoilt for choice selecting contributors testimony extraordinary profusion now being pursued. publication three major works by U.K.-based historians since 2012 also underlines its significance topic world.4 all unfolded context important changes attitude among scholars. Since been done world both reflects responds scholarship some account those essential.
German History|Durham Research Online (Durham University)|Durham Research Online (Durham University)