European History For Dummies 2E

The rich variety of Europe's history rolled into one thrilling account. This book 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 Renaissance, World Wars and Eurovision, European History For Dummies packs in the facts alongside the fun and brings the past alive.

• Accompanied by access to a value-add timeline and 'Who's Who in European History' section on dummies.com
• This new edition contains an 8-page colour insert so you can see who, what, and where the ensuing historical action takes place.

 

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.

Introduction.

Part I: Origins of a Continent.

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

Chapter 2: The Stone Age Rocks.

Part II: Europe of the Ancients.

Chapter 3: You’re Ancient History!

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

Part III: Middle Ages.

Chapter 5: Dancing in the Dark Ages.

Chapter 6: Gold, Murder, and Frankish Sense.

Chapter 7: Knock, Knock, Knocking Heads at Heaven's Door.

Chapter 8: Don't Call Us Medieval!

Part IV: New Ideas, New Worlds.

Chapter 9: Back to the Future: The Renaissance.

Chapter 10: Reformation Ruckus.

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

Chapter 12: Tsar Wars.

Chapter 13: Absolute Power: The Sun King Rises.

Part V: Europe Rules the World.

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

Chapter 15: Seeking Enlightenment.

Chapter 16: France Catches a Cold – and We're All Still Sneezing.

Chapter 17: Grime Wave: Europe Gets Industrial.

Chapter 18: Building Nations.

Part VI: Europe Tears Itself in Two.

Chapter 19: Europe's Age of Empire.

Chapter 20: The War to End All Wars – Doesn't.

Chapter 21: Revolution in Russia.

Chapter 22: Europe Goes to Extremes.

Chapter 23: World War to Cold War.

Chapter 24: Eurovision.

Chapter 25: New Millennium: New Europe.

Part VII: The Par t of Tens.

Chapter 26: Ten Europeans Who Dominated the Continent.

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

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

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

Index.