European History
Explore the wars, battles, leaders, civilizations, regimes, prominent figures and major events from the continent that encompasses 2 percent of the Earth’s surface. From Stonehenge to the Great Awakening to the French Revolution to the rise and fall of Communism in Russia, discover how Europe’s often tumultuous history unfolded.
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The monarch’s chaotic love life led to an unstable succession, foreign policy changes and a break with Rome.
More than 35,000 volunteers from 52 countries poured into Spain to help fight fascist-backed Nationalists led by Francisco Franco.
These people played integral roles in the uprising that swept through France from 1789-1799.
The Soviet Union, founded in 1922 on Marxist-socialist principles, became one of the biggest and most powerful nations in the world—before its fall and dissolution in 1991.
Brutal Execution of the Romanovs
Brutal Execution of the Romanovs
The brutal violence of the Russian Revolution culminated in the execution of Tsar Nicholas II and his entire family, ending 300 years of Romanov rule over the Russian Empire.
3 Facts About British Royal History
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Louis XIV, the Sun King, ruled France for 72 years. He built the opulent palace of Versailles, but his wars and the Edict of Nantes left France drained and weak.
Here are five things you may not know about the iconic monarch.
The original dye was prized because of supply and demand: It came from the mucous of an exceedingly rare sea snail shell.
The Nazis and Soviets were mortal enemies. Why did they sign a nonaggression pact—and why didn't it last?
The Illuminati began as a secret society with Enlightenment ideals. Its legacy has since taken on a life of its own.
Shrouded in secrecy, both orders were founded on Enlightenment principles, but only one still exists.
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military leader and emperor who conquered much of Europe in the early 19th century.
James I, Charles I and Charles II of the Stuart dynasty were known for their excesses.
Gone are the days of absolute monarchy. Today, the ruler’s duties are merely ceremonial.
The world-famous playwright invented scores of new words and phrases. Here are 10 that have become part of the popular lexicon.
The French Revolution was a watershed event in world history.
The Russian Revolution was a series of uprisings from 1905 to 1917 led by peasants, laborers and Bolsheviks against czarist Romanovs.
Eerie rumors surround the murder of the 'mad monk.'
