Ancient Europe

It is hard to find an island on the map more central than Sicily. Located at the crossroads between Europe and Africa, and between the eastern and western Mediterranean, Sicily has rarely been governed as an independent, unified state. Nonetheless, the island has always occupied a front-row seat to some of the most important events in history.

There are hundreds of pyramid-shaped hills distributed in and around central Bosnia and Herzegovina, yet one in particular has achieved worldwide attention over the last decade. Found in the small town of Visoko, located about 30 kilometres northwest from Sarajevo, the hill is the tallest point in a landscape of tremendous historical importance for the country. The region has been occupied from prehistoric times.

They come in droves, busloads of tourists shepherded down through modern streets, shops and stalls, past souvenir stands and hordes of local guides offering insight and spectacle. From all across the world they come to the Italian region of Campania, to walk the cobbles of ancient streets, peer at frescoes, marvel at sculptures, and visit the remnants of historic villas, bath-houses and even brothels. In 2003, it was estimated these international visitors contributed some $35 million dollars to the Italian economy.

The concept of international trade was born in the ancient Mediterranean, which provided the perfect set of circumstances needed to produce an intricate trading system whose influence can still be seen in present-day economic practices.

Thanks to ancient Greece, we know more about philosophy, politics, the democratic system, mythology, art, the Olympics, and many, many lingual references imbedded in almost every European language. Ancient Greece has had a significant impact on many concepts we still hold true today.

You are in luck, because you are getting extra material out of this combo. The following topics are going to be addressed: the Akkadian Empire, one of the oldest civilizations we know of, dating back to a few thousand years BC; the Byzantine Empire, a vast empire that lasted for hundreds of years and has had a major impact on the world religions and politics even into the past century; the Mongolian Empire, which was not to be trifled with; and the Ottoman Empire, which was so big and lasted for so long, yet it is one of those empires that many common people have forgotten about.

What was life like in Ancient Rome? If your sixth grader has ever wondered what it’s like to live in the ancient times without technology, then this book should be listened to. Ancient history can be a wonderful, interactive listen, if you give your child the right learning tools. Learn about the early history, science, architecture, art, and government of ancient Rome. Start listening today.

Do you know whose culture outlasted the mighty Romans? The Celts! Their culture still sparks wonder today. But who were these incredible people, and how did their legacy shape the world we know? Journey Back to the Iron Age! Imagine a time over three thousand years ago in Western Europe, where the Celts lived vibrant lives long before the Romans and Anglo-Saxons stepped onto the scene. Discover a world where history is not just about dates but about astonishing tales of resilience and creativity.

Why do we run? To what end, all the effort and pain? Wherefore this love of muscle, speed, and sweat? The Greeks were the first to ask these questions, the first to suspend war, work, politics, to enjoy public celebrations of athletic prowess. They invented sport and they were also the first to understand how physical activity connected to our mental well-being.

„Das griechische Europa“ ist der siebter Teil von der spannenden Geschichte Roms von den Anfängen der Königszeit bis zur Alleinherrschaft Caesars und führt dabei in die Gesellschaft und die Verfassung des römischen Staates im Wandel der Jahrhunderte ein. Für dieses Werk erhielt Mommsen 1902 den Literaturnobelpreis, als erstes und einziges Geschichtswerk bislang überhaupt. Doch nicht nur politische und militärische Ereignisgeschichte, sondern ebenso auch Soziales wie etwa die Klassenkämpfe zwischen Plebejern und Optimaten und ökonomische Faktoren finden ihr angemessenes Gewicht bei Mommsen.

Mit der allgemeinen geistigen Entwicklung der Hellenen hatte die politische ihrer Republiken sich nicht im Gleichgewicht gehalten oder vielmehr die Überschwänglichkeit jener hatte, wie die allzu volle Blüte den Kelch sprengt, keinem einzelnen Gemeinwesen verstattet, diejenige Ausdehnung und Stetigkeit zu gewinnen, welche für die staatliche Ausgestaltung vorbedingend ist. Die Kleinstaaterei der einzelnen Städte oder Städtebünde musste in sich verkümmern oder den Barbaren verfallen; nur der Panhellenismus verbürgte wie den Fortbestand der Nation so ihre Weiterentwicklung gegenüber den stammfremden Umwohnern.

The Silk Road and the Incense Trade Route have been heavily investigated in recent decades, but the Amber Road trade network dominating northern Europe has been given far less attention. Perhaps even more interesting than the movement of the amber is regarding shifting trade operations from government controlled systems to private merchant enterprises to monopolies of guilds and orders, a return to government control, and finally, the selling of the trade to individual countries.

From the late eighth century to somewhere around the middle of the 11th century, the history of Europe was dominated by the people who have become known as the Vikings. The Vikings were among the first global explorers who established territory that stretched from North America in the west to Constantinople in the east, and from the frigid wastes of the Arctic in the north to the warm shores of the Mediterranean Sea in the south.

This wonderfully romantic tale is only found in the paper copies of The Eddas, an unnamed collection of Norse works. Snorri, an Icelandic historian and poet, doesn’t mention it elsewhere in his works. It is probably not much older than the 17th century. Being that we cannot trace its origin much further back than that, it is largely ignored. But I believe we do so at the risk of missing how these grand tales became what they are today.

From about the ninth to fifth centuries BCE, the population of Greece grew unprecedentedly large, expanding from about 800,000 people to as many as 13 million. About a quarter million of these lived in Athens. The average size of urban households during this period grew considerably, a fact that suggests that food was suddenly available in excesses sufficient to keep larger families healthy and alive much more effectively than just a millennium earlier. Bigger families meant bigger armies and larger communities that would eventually grow into the metropolises of Classical Greece.

Desde aproximadamente el siglo IX hasta el siglo V antes de Cristo, la población de Grecia creció sin precedentes, expandiéndose de aproximadamente 800.000 a 13 millones. Cerca de un cuarto de millón de estos vivían en Atenas. El tamaño promedio de los hogares urbanos durante este período creció considerablemente, un hecho que sugiere que los alimentos estuvieron repentinamente disponibles en excesos suficientes para mantener a las familias más grandes sanas y vivas mucho más eficazmente que solo un milenio antes.

A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history's most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors' Legends of the Middle Ages series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of the most important medieval men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.

While the Bronze Age is recognized as one of history’s most important phases, it’s been hard for historians to precisely date. The idea of the Bronze Age comes from a three-age system developed in the 19th century. These three ages are the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age, and the concept of the system stems from the simultaneous development of museums in Europe during that time.

Have you ever wanted to play the flute? Or have you seen a building with a domed ceiling? These things have roots in ancient Rome. More than 2,000 years ago, the Roman Empire was the most powerful civilization on Earth. It left behind tools and treasures that still shape our lives. Find out where the ancient Romans lived, what their lives were like, and what happened to them. Discover how they changed the world!

Have you ever watched the Olympic Games? Voted in a class election? Used an alphabet with 26 letters? All these things came from ancient Greece. More than 2,000 years ago, the ancient Greeks invented tools and treasures that still shape our lives. Find out where the ancient Greeks lived, what their lives were like, and what happened to them. Discover how they changed the world!