European Culture Overview

History is a subject with no future. Right? Why should we study history? History is a subject with no future. Right?

“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana (1863 – 1952)

History Helps Us Understand: People and Societies (i.e. the world we live in) How Today’s Society Evolved from the Past History: Contributes to Moral Understanding Provides Identity Studying History is Essential for Good Citizenship

What Skills does a Student of History Develop? The Ability to: Analyze and Evaluate Evidence Judge Conflicting Interpretations Experience in Assessing Past Examples of Change Previous two slides are adapted from Why Study History, by Peter M. Stearns, http://www.historians.org/pubs/free/WhyStudyHistory.htm

I didn’t realize that it affected so much of the world! Why should we study European history? I didn’t realize that it affected so much of the world!

Why should we study European history? It has significant impacts on political, religious, economic, and social aspects of the world. Consequently, it is crucial to understanding the contemporary world. Since English is part of the Indo-European Language tree, you may gain some insight into English words and expressions through studying European history and culture.

Where is Europe? Europe is one of the seven continents. Europe is part of the same land mass as Asia, so some people say it’s not really a continent. The Ural mountains in Russia form the main border between Europe and Asia. In the Mediterranean region, the Turkish city of Istanbul is considered the border between Europe and Asia.

The Themes of European History Usually, we talk about themes in the context of literature or art. But history can have themes, too – over-arching ideas, motifs or threads that weave their way back and forth through time. These themes show connections, helping us understand why things happened in the course of European history.

Geography The history of a country is closely connected to its geography. Position relative to neighboring countries Topography (physical features of the land) Seacoast / Location of Major Rivers Natural Resources Climate

Geography What do you know about the geography of Russia? Because of its extremely bitter winter temperatures, Russia was able to defeat French invaders in 1812 and German invaders in 1941.

Geography What do you know about the geography of Germany? Germany is in the center of Europe almost completely surrounded by other nations. This can make it vulnerable to attack, but also in a strategic position to attack others.

Geography What do you know about the geography of England / The United Kingdom? Because it is detached from the continent, it was never invaded during the early modern period. Not until fighter planes were developed in the 20th Century did Britain become vulnerable.

War The desire for territorial expansion often leads to war. Sometimes expansion is for the purpose of acquiring more natural resources, controlling trade routes, or securing borders. “Might Makes Right” – the nations with the strongest military and best weapons almost always win.

Balance of Power When one nation becomes too dominant, the others unite to put down the aggressor. 19th Century France under Napoleon tried to conquer Europe but failed when other nations banded together. 20th Century Germany under Adolph Hitler tried to create an empire but was crushed.

Religion Religion is a powerful force than can either unite or divide people. The Catholic Church The Crusades The Reformation

Rank / Class Throughout most of European history, social class was an important factor in deciding the quality of a person’s life. The rise of literacy and improved educational systems gave people more opportunities for a good life.

Themes Geography War Balance of Power Religion Rank / Class