"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. Written out of the experience of a lifetime of teaching and research in the field, this short, clear book is the classic work on what is known about the early history of the European state. Joseph Strayer comments, in particular, on the significance of institutional developments for the administration of justice and finance. Charles Tilly's foreword shows how Strayer's book set the agenda for a whole generation of historical analysts, not just in medieval history but also in the comparative study of state formation."--BOOK JACKET.