a brief history of europe way, way back when (500 – 300 bc) … ancient greece advanced...
TRANSCRIPT
A Brief History of Europe
Way, way back when (500 – 300 BC)…
Ancient Greece• Advanced civilization
– First ‘modern’ governments– Citizenship, politics, education, democracy
• Centered around Sparta, Athens• Mt. Olympus = center of religion
• Started the idea of the Olympics – 776 BC
Romans• Centered in Rome, Italy
– Very strong– Leader: Caesar/Emperor
• Julius Caesar: father of first emperor, Caesar Augustus• Roman Empire eventually stretched across the
continent• Persecuted Christians and others, very powerful• 500 AD: Fall of Rome
– Huns (from Central Asia) invaded and other internal problems
– Roman Empire ended
Middle Ages• From 500 – ~1500 AD
– Also known as Medieval times– Began with fall of Roman Empire
• First half = Dark Ages• Second half = High Middle Ages
– 1348 = Black Death (Bubonic Plague), 25 – 50 million deaths
– No dominant national power• Sweden, Norway and Denmark: Vikings
• Feudalism takes over– Lords, serfs/peasants, castles, knights
• Lots of fighting between small groups– Barbarians, Huns, Goths, Franks, Saxons, etc.
• Germanic groups grow in central Europe• Christianity grows as well• Holy Roman Empire:
– A Catholic attempt to revive the old Roman Empire idea; controlled central Europe (Germany/Austria) from 800s – 1400s
• Followed by the Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment
Neuschwanstein Castle
Castle Torija Spain
Tower of London
Colonialism
• Spain and Portugal were early strong powers– Explore and colonize the western hemisphere
• By 1500s: France, Netherlands and England join in colonization efforts
Why?• Want to overtake other groups, gain new land,
expand trade and resources
France• Grows into a strong nation after 1500• Biggest power in Europe• Monarchy• July 14, 1789: French Revolution, “Bastille Day”
– People behead King Louis XVI a few years later• Napoleon Bonaparte = self proclaimed emperor
– Sells Louisiana Territory to US in 1803, $25 million– Russians beat him in 1812 (he was trying to take Moscow)
– British beat him in 1815 at Waterloo– Exiled from France; democracy eventually takes over
Napoleon Bonaparte
1812 Overture
England
• After Napoleon is defeated, United Kingdom grows into a big European power
• Becomes a HUGE colonial power– Covered 1/5 of the world’s land area– “Sun never sets on the British Empire”
• Becomes a major military strength– Lots of fights with France throughout years
British Empire
Germany• Became a unified nation in 1871 from smaller
independent states (Prussia, Saxony, etc.)– Kaiser = Emperor
• Strong militarily and politically• Wanted to take over Europe a few times...
WWI
• 1914 – 1918• Germany & Austria/Hungary vs. United
Kingdom, France and Russia (with late U.S. help)
• Germany defeated
WWII• 1939 – 1945• Hitler takes over control of Germany
– Wants a united Europe– Wants a purified race
• Targets Jews, Roma (Gypsies), others
• US brought in Dec. 7, 1941– Pearl Harbor
• Allies: US, UK, USSR• Axis: Germany, Italy, Japan• D-Day: June 6, 1944 - Allied invasion of northern
France• Holocaust: Killed 6 million Jews (2 out of 3 in Europe)
Post-WWII• Germany cut into two pieces
• Berlin (inside E. Germany) was divided as well– Both divided between USSR and Allies (US, UK, France)
• USSR takes East Germany/East Berlin = Communist• Allies help West Germany/West Berlin = free/democracy
• Europe divided between the two sides as well– Western Europe = free, supported by US, UK– Eastern Europe = Communist, controlled by USSR
– “Iron Curtain” = border between E and W Europe
Cold War• Military/political stand-off between US & USSR
– Began right after WWII• NATO formed to guard US & Western Europe
against USSR
• Warsaw Pact formed to counter NATO– Eastern European Communist countries (except
Yugoslavia)– Also called the “Eastern Bloc”
• Ended in 1991 when USSR fell apart
CzechoslovakiaYugoslavia
East Germany
These no longer exist
Communist Governments in Eastern Europe
• Technically, Eastern Bloc countries were independent from USSR
• Reality...– Everything was controlled by USSR
• Especially the economy, military and government – All governments were made to be communist– Most took orders from Moscow– Got various levels of support from USSR
• Travel was limited to within Eastern Bloc or USSR; outside travel was nearly impossible
• Communist governments had to be overthrown by the people for them to gain independence
NATONorth Atlantic Treaty Organization
• Formed in 1949 to defend W. Europe from USSR and Eastern Bloc countries
• 28 countries– US/Canada and several European
• Military alliance and cooperation– “An attack against one is an attack against all”– Peace keeping/humanitarian missions– Today, some former Bloc countries are members
The European Union
Formal alliance of 27 European nations Creating a united Europe Focuses on economic, environmental, social issues,
and European citizenship Easier travel, free trade between countries
Criteria: Stable democracy that respects human rights and
rule of law Market economy that can compete within EU Accept EU law
Euro
€ Jan 2002, created the euro, the common currency for 16 of the 27 EU nations€ Not all EU countries are participating
€ UK, Sweden, Denmark and 9 new countries are not using it now
€ Some non-EU countries also use it
€1 = $1.35£1 = $1.59
Pol
Rus
Bel
Ukr
Lit
Lat
EstSwe
Nor
E. Ger
W. Ger
Czech
Aus
Yugo
Pol
Rom
Mol
TurkGre
AlbItl Bul
Rus
Den
Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Spain
Portugal
Luxembourg
Italy
Ireland
Greece
Sweden
TheNetherlands
UnitedKingdom
Cyprus
CzechRepublic
Estonia Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Poland
Slovakia
Slovenia
