European History For Dummies

Read about the world's smallest continent's incredible history: From Greek gods and mad Roman emperors to kings, queens, Visigoths, and Normans

You meet Visigoths in Africa and Normans in Sicily; an Italian who talked to his books and another who conquered a kingdom and gave it away; Roman emperors who weren't Roman; and Holy Roman Emperors who weren't holy (or Roman). This is the story of Europe's rich history rolled into one thrilling account in plain English. European History For Dummies takes you on a fascinating journey through the disasters, triumphs, people, power, and politics that have shaped the Europe we know today - and you'll meet some incredible characters along the way! From Roman relics to the Renaissance, World Wars, and Eurovision, this accessible guide packs in the facts alongside fun tidbits and brings the past alive.

You meet the two Catholic kings of Spain (one was a woman) and the Spanish king who never smiled. You discover a German monk who split Europe in two because he was so afraid of going to hell. And what about the great European war that started when two nobles were thrown out of a window onto a dungheap? Well, at least they had a soft landing.

If you don't remember much of what you learned about European history at school, if you didn't like those dry school textbooks, if you think European history sounds a bit hard, but you're interested anyway, this is the book for you. Inside you'll discover:

• The varied history of the world's smallest continent, its origins, and its huge impact on the world
• How the Romans shaped the ancient world, what they learned from the Greeks, and what they lost to the barbarian tribes
• The many battles of the Middle Ages and the leaders who waged them
• The medieval people's great achievements in building and learning
• Europeans' world explorers, including Columbus and Vasco da Gama
• Unfortunate religious wars and the persecution of witches
• Europe's world domination in the 18th and 19th centuries
• The world wars of the 20th century
• European life today

Get your own copy of European History For Dummies to learn all of that and more -- including the ten Europeans who dominated the continent, ten unforgettable dates, and ten European locales you'll absolutely want to visit.

Introduction 1

Part I: Origins of a Continent 7

Chapter 1: Not So Much a Continent, More a Way of Life 9

Chapter 2: The Stone Age Rocks 19

Part II: Europe of the Ancients 31

Chapter 3: You’re Ancient History! 33

Chapter 4: The Ups and Downs of the Roman Empire 49

Part III: Middle Ages 63

Chapter 5: Dancing in the Dark Ages 65

Chapter 6: Gold, Murder, and Frankish Sense 79

Chapter 7: Knock, Knock, Knocking Heads at Heaven’s Door 95

Chapter 8: Don’t Call Us Medieval! 109

Part IV: New Ideas, New Worlds 123

Chapter 9: Back to the Future: The Renaissance 125

Chapter 10: Reformation Ruckus 139

Chapter 11: Mass and Massacre: The Wars of Religion 153

Chapter 12: Tsar Wars 167

Chapter 13: Absolute Power: The Sun King Rises 181

Part V: Europe Rules the World 195

Chapter 14: The (Almost) Irresistible Rise of France and Russia 197

Chapter 15: Seeking Enlightenment 211

Chapter 16: France Catches a Cold – and We’re All Still Sneezing 225

Chapter 17: Grime Wave: Europe Gets Industrial 239

Chapter 18: Building Nations 253

Part VI: Europe Tears Itself in Two 267

Chapter 19: Europe’s Age of Empire 269

Chapter 20: The War to End All Wars – Doesn’t 283

Chapter 21: Revolution in Russia 297

Chapter 22: Europe Goes to Extremes 311

Chapter 23: World War to Cold War 325

Chapter 24: Eurovision 339

Chapter 25: New Millennium: New Europe 351

Part VII: The Part of Tens 365

Chapter 26: Ten Europeans Who Dominated the Continent 367

Chapter 27: Ten Days That Shook Europe – and the World 373

Chapter 28: Ten Places (apart from Naples) to See Before You Die 379

Chapter 29: Ten Things Europe (and the World) Could Have Done Without 385

Index 391

Seán Lang, PhD, is the author of the bestselling British History For Dummies, now in its third edition. He is a senior university lecturer in history and has been teaching history to school, college and university students for more than two decades.

Learn about:

• Battles and wars that divided Europe
• Kings, queens and an assortment of dictators
• Europe's growth as an industrial superpower
• The historical foundations of the European Union

A look through Europe's rich history, from the origins of a continent to the modern day

Whether you're a seasoned history buff or a complete novice, European History For Dummies is the perfect guide to the history of a continent full of passion, power and intrigue. From Roman relics and the Renaissance to World Wars and Eurovision, take a fascinating journey through the disasters, triumphs, power struggles and politics that have shaped the Europe we know today. Brimming with facts and stories to bring the past alive, this new edition provides updated information on Europe and its transformation in the 21st century. European History For Dummies packs in the facts alongside the fun and brings the past alive.

• In the beginning – a look into the origins of the continent, the first Europeans and Europe in the Stone Age
• Your ancient history – discover Greek city states and learn about the turbulent times of the Roman Empire
• A light at the end of the tunnel – tour through the Dark Ages and into medieval Europe with the Holy Roman Emperors, Popes and crusaders
• New ideas and new worlds – the Ottoman Empire, the Reformation, the Renaissance and the New World
• Rise to the top – watch on as Europe leads the industrial revolution and exerts its control and domination over the world
• Torn apart – revolutions and World Wars tear the continent apart at the seams

Open the book and find:

• Stone Age to Information Age coverage
• Greeks and Romans running amok
• Castles, knights and the Black Death
• The Reformation and the resulting ruckus
• Napoleon – of course
• The French Revolution and the rise of nationalism
• Europe and the Age of Empire
• Two World Wars and a revolution in Russia
• A colour section packed with historical images