These volumes are the fruits of a major European Science Foundation project and offer the first comprehensive study of republicanism as a shared European heritage. Whilst previous research has mainly focused on Atlantic traditions of republicanism, Professors Skinner and van Gelderen have assembled an internationally distinguished set of contributors whose studies highlight the richness and diversity of European traditions. Volume I focuses on the importance of anti-monarchism in Europe and analyses the relationship between citizenship and civic humanism, concluding with studies of the relationship between constitutionalism and republicanism in the period between 1500 and 1800. Volume II is devoted to the study of key republican values such as liberty, virtue, politeness and toleration. This 2002 volume also addresses the role of women in European republican traditions, and contains a number of in-depth studies of the relationship between republicanism and the rise of a commercial society in early modern Europe.

‘Unlike the usual collections of essays representing various tangents taken from a more or less common theme, the articles gathered together in these volumes can be read as an almost seamless text. Credit goes to both the single authors and the editors who have shown great skill in assembling a set of texts which canvases a wide array of questions without ever losing sight of its central theme, thus providing not only a broad overview of early modern republicanism, but at the same time one which is both rich and extremely useful.’

Source: Thomas Kirk in History

‘Skinner and van Gelderen faced a demanding task in editing this two-volume set and achieved the fruitful completion of a grand project. This publication offers some outstanding contributions to the study of European republicanism and stimulates further research and investigation. Republicanism is a vibrant intellectual tradition whose significance is not exhausted in the history of political thought - on the contrary, its vision of political freedom, civic virtue and the common good can enrich substantially our political praxis and understanding of politics and put forward a robust idea of citizenship and good government.’

Source: Journal of Moral Philosophy

'The two volumes of essays edited by Martin van Gelderen and Quentin Skinner offer the latest word on current scholarship of republicanism in early modern Europe … The editors have managed to gather together many of the leading scholars of early modern European political thought (themselves included), and have produced a collection that will b e of use to specialist and non-specialist readers alike.'

Source: European Journal of Social Theory