Introducing Austria

The historian Lonnie Johnson provides in compact form a comprehensive overview of Austria's rich past and present. Each chapter and subchapter approaches Austria's diverse, thousand-year-old heritage from a different perspective to illuminate its essential features. In detailing Austria's turbulent history from 1918 to the present, controversial issues are presented objectively and without oversimplification. Overall the book conveys a differentiated picture of the country and its people which gives readers a feeling for the continuity and change of the Austrian idea.

Austria, located in Central Europe, is a landlocked country that shares its borders with Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, and Switzerland. Its capital city, Vienna, is known for its rich culture, art, music, and architecture. The official language spoken in Austria is German, and the country has a total population of approximately 8.9 million people. Austria has a strong economy that is built upon a tradition of excellence in engineering and manufacturing. Industries such as electronics, machinery, and transportation are some of the key sectors that drive the Austrian economy. The country is also known for its tourism industry, attracting millions of visitors each year with its stunning Alpine mountains, scenic lakes, and historic cities. Austria has a rich cultural heritage, and its contributions to the world of music, art, and literature are noteworthy, with famous names such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gustav Klimt, and Franz Kafka hailing from the country.

Austria, located in Central Europe, is a landlocked country that shares its borders with Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, and Switzerland. Its capital city, Vienna, is known for its rich culture, art, music, and architecture. The official language spoken in Austria is German, and the country has a total population of approximately 8.9 million people. Austria has a strong economy that is built upon a tradition of excellence in engineering and manufacturing. Industries such as electronics, machinery, and transportation are some of the key sectors that drive the Austrian economy. The country is also known for its tourism industry, attracting millions of visitors each year with its stunning Alpine mountains, scenic lakes, and historic cities. Austria has a rich cultural heritage, and its contributions to the world of music, art, and literature are noteworthy, with famous names such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Gustav Klimt, and Franz Kafka hailing from the country.

Although vastly different in many ways, Austria, Croatia, and Slovenia together form the heart of Central Europe. Austria has historically been much more visible in European politics than either Croatia or Slovenia, but as with the latter two, it has also been a part of various alliances over the centuries. Despite that, however, all three have retained their own sense of national identity through it all, weathering the fall of Austria-Hungary, both World Wars, the collapse of Yugoslavia, and entry to the European Union over the course of one hundred years. This comprehensive volume traces the evolution of these countries, from their earliest civilizations to the present day.

The history of the Habsburg Monarchy and Austria in the early modern period continues to capture the interest of many scholars. This collection of essays by twenty leading authorities from the United States, Austria, Germany, Great Britain, and the Netherlands focuses on the interplay between the Habsburg government and a multiplicity of social aspects. As a whole, State and Society in Early Modern Austria reexamines and sometimes debunks old views about the Habsburg Monarchy and provides insight into the state of current historical thinking on the early modern state. Moreover, this broad focus will help the reader understand the complex cultural heritage of the turbulent nationalities of East Central Europe. Specific essays examine the ruling elite's attempts to establish cultural hegemony through its control over religious minorities, government patronage, and both literary and visual media. Other essays examine the interplay between economic and social policy; the tension between free enterprise and the Habsburg regime's attempts to meet the immediate needs of the masses of indigent; and the monarchy's interaction with German states and the Balkans. The volume is divided into five sections: Religion and the Counter-Reformation, Government and Culture during the Baroque, Government and Economy, Government and the People during the Aufklarung, and Foreign Policy.