All serious historical inquiry constantly encounters these major questions: what are the forces of historical change? and are there any general patterns shaping historical development? Theories of revolution have figured large in historians' explanations, yet they have remained deeply controversial, not least because of the complexity - and often ambiguity - of such notions of revolution themselves. In this book fifteen contributors, leading historians and renowned experts in particular fields or periods, examine the interpretative value of ideas of revolution for explaining historical development within their own specialism, assessing the existing historiography and offering their own personal views. The book presents a conspectus of modern historical opinion, provides a sweeping historical overview, and offers students an invaluable introduction to major questions of historiographical interpretation and controversy.