Explore the history of Europe through the societies, states, conflicts and political changes that have shaped the continent from the medieval period to the modern era.
European History
European history encompasses a diverse range of societies and political traditions. The material on this site includes medieval Europe, the Viking and Norman worlds, the Crusades, the Hundred Years War, the Wars of the Roses, the development of modern Germany, Russia and the Soviet Union, and major conflicts that transformed the continent.
Medieval Europe
The Viking world stretched across northern Europe and beyond. The site’s existing material includes Viking raids and settlement, Lindisfarne, the Rhineland, Paris, Iberia, Hedeby and contemporary written sources.
The Norman world connected northern France with England, southern Italy and wider European politics. Explore the Norman Conquest and the development of Norman power.
The medieval period saw the growth of kingdoms, towns, trade networks and religious institutions, alongside frequent warfare and political change.
Crusades and Religious Conflict
The Crusades connected European powers with the eastern Mediterranean and brought together political, military and religious interests across Europe and the Near East.
The Hundred Years War
The Hundred Years War was a prolonged conflict involving England, France and a changing network of European allies and opponents. Its battles, diplomacy and political consequences affected much of western Europe.
For a dedicated study of the conflict, see the Hundred Years War specialist site.
The Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic conflicts over the English crown during the fifteenth century. The conflict is primarily part of British history, but its international connections form part of the wider European political context.
For a dedicated study of the conflict, see the Wars of the Roses specialist site.
Germany
Explore Germany from the aftermath of the First World War through the Weimar Republic and the rise of Nazi Germany.
The wider German material includes the unification of Germany, the Second Reich and the political systems that developed within it.
Russia and the Soviet Union
Explore the final years of the Russian Empire, revolution, the establishment of Bolshevik rule and the development and eventual collapse of the Soviet Union.
Europe and World Conflict
European history is closely connected with the major international conflicts of the twentieth century. The site contains extensive material on the First World War, the inter-war period, the Second World War and the Cold War.
These remain part of the site’s World History structure, while this page provides the European context and links into them.