The modern state, however we conceive of it today, is based on a pattern that emerged in Europe in the period from 1100 to 1600. Inspired by a lifetime of teaching and research, On the Medieval Origins of the Modern State is a classic work on what is known about the early history of the European state. This short, clear book book explores the Europ "A distinguished book. . . . The elegant and fastidious style should not blind the reader to the lifetime of learning; in some ways the book is deceptively simple, but actually it is a profound and carefully thought out treatise."