A Brief History of Europe

1. A Brief History of Europe

2. 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

5. 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

7. 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.

8. 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 andAge of Enlightenment

10. Neuschwanstein Castle

12. Castle Torija Spain Tower of London

13. 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

14. 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

15. Napoleon Bonaparte 1812 Overture

16. 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

17. British Empire

18. 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...

19. WWI • 1914 – 1918 • Germany & Austria/Hungary vs. United Kingdom, France and Russia (with late U.S. help) • Germany defeated

20. 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)

23. 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

26. Cold War • Military/political stand-off between US & USSR • Began right after WWII • NATO formed to guard US & Western Europe against USSR

27. Warsaw Pact formed to counter NATO Eastern European Communist countries (except Yugoslavia) Also called the “Eastern Bloc” Ended in 1991 when USSR fell apart

28. Eastern Europe East Germany Czechoslovakia Yugoslavia These no longer exist

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

33. NATO

34. 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

36. € 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

39. Nor Est Swe Rus Lat Den Lit Rus Bel Pol E. Ger Ukr W. Ger Czech Aus Pol Mol Rom Yugo Bul Itl Alb Gre Turk

40. Slovakia Austria Estonia Hungary Luxembourg Slovenia Belgium Finland Ireland Malta Cyprus TheNetherlands Spain Italy France Germany Latvia Czech Republic Poland Sweden Lithuania Denmark Portugal UnitedKingdom Greece