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.
Ancient Rome exercises a powerful grip on the imagination of modern man. It was a sophisticated and powerful civilization, which has had a profound influence on all later Western societies.
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 […]
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 […]
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.
Contents Introduction Discoveries Conquistadors Colonial Rivalries The Colonization of North America and the Caribbean The Seven Years War The Revolutionary Wars Industrialized Imperialism The Scramble for Africa (and other places) The High Imperial Age The Decline of European Empires Introduction This is an introductory article to an astonishing chapter in world history. It deals with […]
The civilization of Ancient Israel: Small nation, big impact
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 […]
