Good books recommendations

[jglazier]

I know far too little about the time period EUIV covers, and would love to hear some recommendations on good books to help me learn more.

Yes, I realize this is way too broad a subject, with so much history and countries to cover. But, anything you found excellent I am interested in hearing about.

Western European history, Eastern European history, Holy Roman Empire, Venice and the trade powers, etc.

So . . . let me know what you enjoyed reading. I have a lot to learn.

 

[Raen]

A Military History of the Western World by J.F.C. Fuller, in 3 volumes. As it says, it's just the western world (i.e., Europe and Near East, no Asia). It picks significant battles and devotes a chapter to each, with a preliminary chapter giving a broad outline of the period, so it's not exclusively military history. You could buy just volume 2, which covers from the Spanish Armada to Waterloo, but volume 1 also has material relevant to the EU time period.

I'm also enjoying The Hundred Years War and The Wars of the Roses, both by Desmond Seward. He's an engaging writer, but neither book is for the faint of heart, you have to really be interested to wade through the hundreds of pages on each subject.

 

[Tufto]

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?666740-EU3-Time-Period-Books should give you plenty.

"Pursuit of Glory" by Tim Blanning is meant to be a good overview, but I haven't got around to reading it yet.

"Empires of the Sea" is a good read about the 16th century conflict in the Med. The guy who wrote that also did a good one on the fall of Constantinople. Not particularly academic, but they read well and give you a good overview.

For some more specific stuff, try Colin Imber's book on early Ottoman institutions from 1300-1650. And there's plenty of stuff written at the time which is good- The Prince, Leviathan, Don Quixote and so forth.

For historical fiction: "My Name is Red" (set in 1590s Constantinople), "Leo the African" (and anything else that Amin Maalouf has written set in the time period, that particular one being set in many places across the 16th century), "The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet" (that might be just past the end date, I can't remember when this one ends, it's set in Japan in 1799/1800).

And Shakespeare, of course. Any Shakespeare, though specifically Richard III (and Henry VI 1/2/3, but they are B-list Shakespeare). His histories set just before the start of the game are the best of his histories, though, so check them out too. The Merchant of Venice is another important one.

 

[jglazier]

Great recommendations so far, folks! Keep them coming. Shakespeare . . . oh my. I think I want to read some books that I will understand. Someday I will work up the energy to give Shakespeare a try. :blink:

 

[Morwys]

How Chance and Stupidity Have Changed History: The Hinge Factor, by Erik Durschmied. It describes several battles through history, many occuring in EU time period and how minor details changed them (about how Napoleon lost Waterloo because of a bunch of nails, for example).

The Sharpe Stories, by Bernard Cornwell. The series tells the adventures and battles of an officer of the british army during the napoleonic wars, fighting all over the world. It gives detailed and some of the best battle descriptions I've ever read. Actually, I recommend you google 'Bernard Cornwell' and buy everything the man ever wrote, it's all awesome.

EDIT: In some nations (like mine), Durschmied book is named only The Hinge Factor.

 

[General Baker]

Empires of the Sea: The Siege of Malta, the Battle of Lepanto, and the Contest for the Center of the World by Roger Crowley

For an Ottoman/Malta/Mediterranean game, this book should give you a good backdrop to play against.

"In 1521, Suleiman the Magnificent, Muslim ruler of the Ottoman Empire, dispatched an invasion fleet to the Christian island of Rhodes. This would prove to be the opening shot in an epic clash between rival empires and faiths for control of the Mediterranean and the center of the world. In Empires of the Sea, acclaimed historian Roger Crowley has written a thrilling account of this brutal decades-long battle"

 

[Bard of Reveran]

If you can find a translated version, you should get the Books of Travels of Evliya Çelebi.

 

[Hootieleece]

Dr. Paul Kennedy, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, First third to half of the book is Relevant. Talks about China and Habsburgs Bankruptcies.

John Darwin, After Tamerlane, 1400-2000. tries to explain why Empires fail in general. Also tries NOT to be Eurocentric.

 

[jglazier]

Excellent, excellent. I have some purchasing or renting from the library to do now. Some folks in my local military boardgaming group have recommended Empires of the Sea also.

I love Bernard Cornwell. I have only read the first three Sharpe novels, but I love them. I have to get more. I also want to read his other series (serieses? )

 

[angier]

My suggestion (especially if you tend to play England in EU IV ):
You could read (like PDR1987 already mentioned) Cornwells Grail-Quest-Trilogy first, which takes you straight into the Hundred Years' War.

Afterwards try: Niall Ferguson: Empire. How Britain Made the Modern World.
It's basically about the rise (starts somewhere in the 16th century if i remember correctly) and fall of an Empire. Forming an empire through colonization, globalization and trade; clashing other nations etc.
So it actually deals with quite a lot EU IV features, which comes in pretty handy.

Another interesting primary source: Philippe de Commines: Mémoires. He is considered to be the first modern (and critical) 'historian' writer.
In the mid to the late 15th century, he started his 'career' as a squire at the court of Burgundy but a few years later, he changed allegiance and attended the court of France, Burgundy's enemy, to become a influential diplomat.
You will learn a lot about how 'politics' worked in a feudal system, from an eyewitness of that time.

 

[Cheeks]

Nn

 

[Cheeks]

hhh

I’m currently reading “City of fortune; how Venice ruled the seas” by Roger Crowley. I highly recommend this book. It reads incredibly well and it hits the time frame exactly in-line with EU4.

 

[Tufto]

My suggestion (especially if you tend to play England in EU IV ):
You could read (like PDR1987 already mentioned) Cornwells Grail-Quest-Trilogy first, which takes you straight into the Hundred Years' War.

Afterwards try: Niall Ferguson: Empire. How Britain Made the Modern World.
It's basically about the rise (starts somewhere in the 16th century if i remember correctly) and fall of an Empire. Forming an empire through colonization, globalization and trade; clashing other nations etc.
So it actually deals with quite a lot EU IV features, which comes in pretty handy.

Another interesting primary source: Philippe de Commines: Mémoires. He is considered to be the first modern (and critical) 'historian' writer.
In the mid to the late 15th century, he started his 'career' as a squire at the court of Burgundy but a few years later, he changed allegiance and attended the court of France, Burgundy's enemy, to become a influential diplomat.
You will learn a lot about how 'politics' worked in a feudal system, from an eyewitness of that time.

Don't read Ferguson. Regardless of whether or not his views are correct, he is a very controversial author. If you do read him, read some opposing views too (like Guns, Germs, and Steel) to get a more balanced picture of events.

 

[BrawijayaV]

Can we exploit you as a history expert for our mods then?

 

[thebigj_a]

I was just about to buy Crowley's Empires of the Sea for my Kindle when I realized it seemed very familiar.

Sure enough, going through my piles, shelves, and boxes of books, I found I already have it..... because I borrowed it from the library... about four years ago, in another state.

Oops.

 

[Morwys]

Don't read Ferguson. Regardless of whether or not his views are correct, he is a very controversial author. If you do read him, read some opposing views too (like Guns, Germs, and Steel) to get a more balanced picture of events.

Jared Diamond is not a historian and his book is far from recommend in any serious history course. I'd advise against it, insofar as historical accuracy is concerned. As standard literature, sure, I guess it's okay.