The Rise of the Roman Empire Origins of Rome The roots of the Roman Empire go back to the origins of the city of Rome. The traditional date for this was 753 BCE, and archaeological evidence indeed points to an origin around the Eighth century. The city was located in central Italy. Early Rome grew […]
European history
Medieval Europe
The medieval period in Europe was a time of ignorance, superstition and violence, but also one of great change, when many of the foundations of the modern world were laid down. With all its contradictions, it is one of the most fascinating periods of world history.
The Soviet Union
The Russian Revolutions of 1917 By 1917, the people of Russia were heartily sick of World War I, with its terrible casualties at the front, economic hardships at home and no military successes to speak of. The mismanagement of the war effort had utterly undermined confidence in the tsar and his government. Mutinies were spreading […]
Nazi Germany
Section I: Historical background The roots of Nazi Germany go back to the beginnings of Germany as a united country, in the late 19th century. Germany before and during World War I The German Empire, 1871-1914 In 1871, the whole of Germany had been united under the new German Empire. It was ruled by an […]
Imperial Russia
Origins The Russian nation began to take shape in the 8th and 9th centuries CE, when Norse traders established settlements along the great rivers of Russia. In the 10th and 11th centuries these gave rise to a state, the Grand Principality of Kiev, which converted to Christianity at the start of the 11th century. This […]
Early Modern Europe
Overview From the early 15th century, Medieval Europe began to morph into early modern Europe. In the later Middle Ages trade had expanded, towns had grown in number and size, and a new, more sophisticated society had emerged. In large parts of western Europe feudalism, with its fragmented power-structures, had begun to give way to […]
Modern Europe
Map of Europe in 1960 CE The French Revolution The example of the American Revolution acted as a powerful stimulus to critiques of traditional forms of hereditary monarchical government back in Europe, and, combined with internal problems within France itself, led to the outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789. The revolution challenged the very […]
Western Civilization
The modern West is the most extraordinary civilization that has existed in world history (so far). It has risen to become a globe-spanning industrial society espousing democracy and the rule of law.
The Byzantine Empire
Introduction The word “Byzantine” comes from the name of the ancient Greek city of Byzantium; it was this that the Roman emperor Constantine (reigned 324-37) expanded and remodeled as his new capital. Constantinople. The great city of Constantinople stood at the heart of the Byzantine Empire. Its official name was New Rome (Constantinople was its informal name […]
The Etruscans
History Time Map of the Etruscans Overview Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to a civilization of ancient Italy. Its homeland was in the area of central Italy, just north of Rome, which is today called Tuscany. In ancient times there was a strong tradition that the Etruscans had emigrated from Lydia, […]
Minoan civilization
The Minoans were the first Europeans to have literate civilization