Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Balance of power
(2,438 words)

1. Definition

Concepts of powers or forces in balance were found in the early modern period in many spheres of life, e.g. economics (balance of trade), medicine (balance of humors), philosophy (balance of passions), physiology (nutritional balance, kinematics), astronomy (balance of attraction and repulsion), and politics (balance of power). This wide range is reflected in the German terminol…

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Strohmeyer, Arno, “Balance of power”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_020274>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160321



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