Technological Determinism and Debates about State Formation in Early Modern Europe

Abstract

This chapter addresses the question of technological determinism in war and politics and seeks to calibrate the relationship between technology, war and the state by situating it within the context of probably one of the most examined periods of military change, the early modern period within Europe. The principal argument here confirms the position taken by those who believe forces other than technology played an instrumental role in shaping war and politics in the period in question. The chapter explores these debates and its findings support the view that technology was one of several variables that precipitated a change in war and the process of state formation, but did not play a critical or defining role as has sometimes been assumed.