European History - E-book - ePub

Europe's relationship with culture, even at the most basic level, dates back to at least 20, 000 BCE. The Venus of Willedorfand the cave paintings of Altamira and Lascaux are examplesof the presence of civilization in Europe thousands of yearsago. By 5000 BC, evidence proves that areas of Europe hadbegun to show hierarchical societies and a firm agriculturalbackground had been formed by many of these societies. While a clear division of boundaries did not exist back then, the history of Europe if we go back to thousands of years ago, during the Neolithic age, can be mainly traced through theirsettlements and tools. A strong political and social era did not emerge before theRoman and Byzantine period.
Thus, Europe's history began totake form when the Roman's empire rose to its glory. Europehas undoubtedly seen different periods of settlement before theRoman Empire as well, but evidence, clear dates andarchaeology is at its minimal during these periods. While many people completely believe that history is somewhatsimilar to story-telling, the only thing that makes a difference isthe presence of facts and evidence when it comes to history.
Every historian has to comb through each fact closely beforechoosing what actually happened from what is being purportedas may have happened. The facts of European history have been put together in thisbook. The chapters are named primarily after an event thatmay have been the most prominent one during a period, butevery chapter will cover more than just that event. It will coverthe things that led to the event and the ones after the eventas well. Every era had some striking events that changed the wayEuropeans led their lives.
From periods of anarchy to goldenrules and back to chaos again, Europe, from the time it hasknown power and politics, has been controlled and ruled bymany powerful people. The boundaries within which these events happened may nothave been recognized as what is considered Europe today. Atthat time, rulers knew their empires and they knew the regionsacross which their powers lay, and as historians try to gatherevidence today, we can finally put the pieces together tounderstand and study the great European history.