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EuropeanHistoryby Nathan BarberA member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

EuropeanHistoryby Nathan BarberA member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

For Christy, Noah, and EmmaALPHA BOOKSPublished by the Penguin GroupPenguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, U.S.A.Penguin Group (Canada), 10 Alcorn Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4V 3B2 (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, EnglandPenguin Ireland, 25 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd)Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd)Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd, 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, IndiaPenguin Group (NZ), cnr Airborne and Rosedale Roads, Albany, Auckland 1310, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd)Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South AfricaPenguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, EnglandCopyright 2006 by Nathan BarberAll rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic,mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. No patent liability is assumed withrespect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, thepublisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from theuse of information contained herein. For information, address Alpha Books, 800 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240.THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO and Design are registered trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.International Standard Book Number: 1-4362-9406-1Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2005937207Note: This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on thesubject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering professional servicesin the book. If the reader requires personal assistance or advice, a competent professional should be consulted.The author and publisher specifically disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred asa consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.Publisher: Marie Butler-KnightEditorial Director: Mike SandersSenior Managing Editor: Jennifer BowlesSenior Acquisitions Editor: Randy Ladenheim-GilSenior Development Editor: Phil KitchelProduction Editor: Megan DouglassCopy Editor: Ross PattyCartoonist: Richard KingBook Designer: Trina WurstIndexer: Angie BessLayout: Ayanna LaceyProofreading: John Etchison

Contents at a GlancePart 1:Part 2:Climbing Out of the Middle Ages (c.1300–1600)11 The End of the World as We Know ItIf you think only modern humans have ever considered theend of the world then think again. In this chapter you’ll learnhow Europe faced some major disasters and felt as though theworld was on the verge of destruction. Needless to say, theworld didn’t end then.32 Civilization RebornIn this chapter you’ll see how society was transformed by therebirth of ideas from ancient Greece and Rome. The progressand achievement in this chapter are among the greatest inEuropean history.213 Time for a Change in the ChurchThe emphasis on learning in the Renaissance and the inven tion of the printing press encouraged Europeans to think forthemselves. Here you’ll learn how the emphasis on learning,reading, and thinking changed religion and in fact the historyof the world.394 Time for an Alternative to the ChurchHere you’ll discover that there were many alternative reli gious ideas that grew out of cries for reform. Though reallydifferent in some ways, these new religious views all sharedanti-Catholic perspectives.575 The Catholic and Counter ReformationsIn this chapter you’ll see how the Catholic Church reacted tocalls for reform and to the mass exodus from Catholicism.75Might Makes Right, Right? (c.1450–1750)6 God, Gold, and GloryEveryone knows the rhyme about Christopher Columbus andthe ocean blue. Here you’ll find the rest of the story about himand the other explorers who risked their lives on expeditionsincluding why they went and what they hoped to find.89917 Our Religion Is Better Than Your Religion107In this chapter you’ll see firsthand how some Europeansreacted to the rise of new religious ideas. You may be surprisedwhat people did to other people in the name of religion.

ivThe Complete Idiot’s Guide to European HistoryPart 3:8 The Rise and Fall of the Holy Roman EmpireThe Holy Roman Empire was once one of the greatestpolitical powers in all of Europe. So what happened? Inthis chapter you’ll learn how a few guys getting tossed froma window eventually led to the fall of the Holy RomanEmpire.1239 Am I in Charge? Absolutely!Louis XIV ruled France longer than any other monarch inEuropean history. In this chapter you’ll see what measureshe took to keep order and what other rulers like him did tojustify their absolute reigns.13910 The Eastern AbsolutistsLouis XIV wasn’t the only absolute ruler. Eastern Europeanmonarchs tried their hand at absolute rule. In this chapteryou’ll find out how they stacked up against the Sun King.157Revolutions Galore (c.1500–1800)17311 Revolt of the ScientistsHere you’ll discover that much of our current scientificknowledge about the universe actually isn’t that old. Thischapter tells the story of a few individuals who questionedtraditional knowledge and practices and, in the process,made some amazing earth-shattering discoveries.17512 Enlightening the Public, Not the PeopleHave you ever heard of the philosophes? Not philosophers,philosophes. What’s the difference? You’ll find out here.18913 The Agricultural Revolution and an ExpandingEuropeWhat impact on European society could be made by a seeddrill and some turnips? You’ll find the answer to thatquestion in this chapter.14 The French RevolutionIn this chapter you’ll see what happens when hungry,oppressed people get mad. You’ll also see what happens whenabsolute power falls into the hands of the wrong people.Fasten your seatbelts for this one.205219

Contents at a GlancePart 4:You Say You Want More Revolution? (c.1776–1900)23515 A “Little” Guy Named Napoleon, a Big Wig NamedMetternich237Napoleon really wasn’t all that short. He was that important,though. So was a snobby aristocrat named Metternich. Hereyou’ll see how these two dominated Europe for half a century.16 The Industrial RevolutionJust like today, humans used machines to make their livesbetter two hundred years ago. In this chapter you’ll see whatinventions led to a fully-industrialized society and you’ll geta look at the underbelly of industrialization.25717 Intriguing New Ideologies275Intellectuals and workers alike saw industrialization aspotentially harmful for the working class people of Europe.They developed some theories about the working class andproperty that would have an effect even on modern Europeangovernments.18 Nineteenth-Century Growing PainsEurope hit a growth spurt in the 1800s and it wasn’t alwayspretty. In this chapter you’ll see what problems grew out ofthe desire for less oppressive governments. You’ll also experi ence the miracle of birth as two important nations are born.29119 What a Tangled Web307Some people say you can never have too many friends. In thischapter, you’ll find evidence to the contrary. You’ll also seehow Europeans competed to grab as much of the world’s landas possible out of a sense of competition with one another.Part 5:Big Wars and Big Bangs (Twentieth Century)32320 Turning the World Upside Down325The world did get turned upside down during the first 30years of the twentieth century. In this chapter you’ll see howa world war, a major revolution, and a depression left Europereeling.21 World War: Second Verse, Worse Than the FirstThis chapter will explain how the First World War neverreally ended but just got put on hold while a few ruthlessdictators rose to power. If you thought the First World Warwas rough, just wait till you read this.345v

22 The Cold War EraTwo unlikely sides cooperated to defeat the enemy in WorldWar II but the two sides weren’t friends. Here you’ll see howthe drama unfolds as the two sides give each other the coldshoulder for a generation.36523 Changing MillenniaWhoever said “All good things must come to an end” shouldhave said “All Communist things must come to an end.”That’s exactly what happens in this chapter as democracytriumphs over communism and then creates a whole new setof challenges for our children and grandchildren to sort out.383AppendixesA Major Events in European History401Everything that ever happened in European history is in thistimeline. Actually, that’s not true but many of the landmarkevents are here in order so you can see how the whole storyfits together.B Online Resources for Further ResearchHere you’ll find a collection of just a few of the best websitesavailable for the subjects covered in each chapter.Index407417

ContentsPart 1: Climbing Out of the Middle Ages (c.1300–1600)1 The End of the World as We Know It13Introducing the Middle Ages .4The Bubonic Plague .5Fleas and Rats .5Sicily First, Then All of Europe .5The Black Death .6After the Plague .6The 116 Years’ War .7The Original Hatfields and McCoys .7Chivalry Is Dead .8England’s Fleeting Victory .9Joan of Arc .10From Two Kingdoms to Two Nations .11The Church’s Black Eye .12The Crusades .13Babylonians in Europe? .14The Great Schism and the Conciliar Movement .15Why Didn’t God Stop the Madness? .16When Peasants Are Hungry and Taxed .17The Jacquerie .17The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 .182 Civilization Reborn21Introducing the Renaissance .21Why Italy? .23The Commercial Revival .24The Power of Banking Families .24Communes, Republics, and City-States .26Balance of Power Politics .27The Isms .27Humanism .27Secularism .29Individualism .30

viii The Complete Idiot’s Guide to European HistoryHow Great the Art .30Changes in Artistic Techniques .30The Changing Status of the Artist .31The Hall of Fame .32The Printing Press .33Gutenberg’s Invention .33The Effects of the Printing Press on Europe .34Better Late Than Never: Northern Renaissance .34Renaissance with a Twist .35The Christian Humanists .35Art in the North .363 Time for a Change in the Church39Introducing the Reformation .40Mumblings and Grumblings About the Church .40John Wycliffe and the Mumblers .41Jan Hus .43A Plethora of Problems .44The Monk with a Mission .46Luther’s Early Days .46Luther Struggles with Salvation .47Tetzel Ticks Him Off .48Luther vs. the Church .49Just the Beginning .50The Worms Diet and Its Undesired Results .51Protestant Thought vs. Catholic Dogma .52The Far-Reaching Effects of Luther’s Ideas .53Peasants Pick Luther .54Princes Pick Luther .55Luther and the Status of Women .554 Time for an Alternative to the Church57The Reformation Goes International .58Instituting a New Form of Protestantism .59Welcome to Geneva .59Another Would-Be Lawyer Chooses Religion .60Calvin’s Theocracy .60TULIP .61From Scotland to Geneva and Back Again .62Knox and Presbyterianism .62Becoming the Scottish National Church .63