Introduction: The great powers of Europe -- The diplomacy of revolution, 1848 -- The diplomacy of revolution, 1849-50 -- The end of the holy alliance, 1852-3 -- The Crimean War, 1854-6 -- The Congress of Paris and its consequences, 1856-8 -- The Italian war and the disruption of the settlement of Vienna, 1858-61 -- The Polish crisis, and the end of the Franco-Russian Entente, 1861-3 -- Bismarck's wars: the defeat of Austria, 1864-6 -- The isolation of France, 1866-70 -- The end of French primacy, 1870-5 -- The great eastern crisis, 1875-8 -- Bismarck's alliances, 1879-82 -- The breakdown of 'the liberal alliance' and its consequences, 1882-5 -- The triumph of diplomacy: the Bulgarian crisis, 1885-7 -- The making of the Franco-Russian alliance, 1888-94 -- The abortive continental league, 1894-7 -- The era of 'world policy', 1897-1902 -- The last years of British isolation: the making of the Anglo-French entente, 1902-5 -- The formation of the triple entente, 1905-9 -- The years of Anglo-German hostility, 1909-12 -- The Balkan wars and after, 1912-14 -- The outbreak of war in Europe, 1914 -- The diplomacy of war, 1914-18.