Includes index.

Europe at the beginning of the eighteenth century -- Alberoni and Dubois, 1715-1723 -- The intrigues of Elizabeth Farnese, 1723-1733 -- The War of the Polish Succession -- The North and East of Europe, 1715-1740 -- Prussia and the War of the Austrian Succession, 1740-1742 -- The Austrian Succession War after the peace of Breslau, 1742-1748 -- The diplomatic revolution, 1748-1756 -- The Seven Years' Wars, 1756-1763 -- The fall of the Jesuits, 1759-1773 -- The partition of Poland and the Treaty of Kutchuk-Kainardji -- Europe and the war of American Independence, 1774-1783 -- Catherine II and Joseph II, 1783-1789 -- France before the Revolution, 1774-1789 -- Appendix A. The terroritories of the House of Hapsburg and the government -- Appendix B. Domains of the kings of Prussia, and their government after the reforms of Frederick William I -- Appendix C. Constitution of the empire in the eighteenth century -- Appendix D. Genealogy of the house of Romanov in the eighteenth century -- Appendix E. Table of contemporary sovereigns.