European Culture

Overview

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

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