The developments in Europe from the late 15th till the end of the 18th century represented a crucial phase in the emergence of the modern world. Scholars refer to this period as "early modern" and this expression is often associated with the rise of the modern West. The pace of change gained momentum during this period undermining the roots of the feudal society. The economic transformation pushed Europe towards capitalism. The forces of change could be located in the diverse spheres of human activities although the scale of change varied from one region to another. The transformation of local economies into the larger European market economy, the geographical discoveries, and the new sea routes resulted in the creation of colonial empires based on new forms of exploitation. The rise of nation-states under absolute rulers replaced the decentralized feudal structure. Discoveries in arts and sciences and the religious movements opened up new mental horizons that gave birth to new social attitudes, cultural patterns, and scientific outlook. At the same time, the negative trends during this period such as the rise of slave trade, new forms of exploitation, and a wild craze for witch-hunting are also included in the discussion. This book adopts an interpretive approach and tries to explain what led to the dislocation of centuries-old social order and the emergence of new social classes.

Engineering systems such as an aircraft or frigate are highly complex and specifically designed to meet the customer's requirements. This important book provides the information necessary to acquire and support complex engineering systems expected to last for a long time. Chapters in the first half of "Engineering systems acquisition and support" examine the life cycles of these systems, their design, testing and certification, and the principles behind their acquisition. The second half reviews topics including operations support and logistics, systems maintenance, reliability and upgrades, and performance and risk analysis and ends with a discussion of the need for continuous improvements in these systems.