European history

Recognizing the "Other Renaissance" of Northern Europe

by Paul Strathern

From Copernicus to Shakespeare, the intellectual transformations of northern Europe have seldom been understood as a world-changing ferment akin to those taking place in Italy. 

An American Witness to the European Movement Against the Iraq Invasion

by Brian Sandberg

The European Social Forum, held in Florence in November 2002, didn't stop the US invasion of Iraq. But it did usher in an era of pan-european civic action that remains powerful today. 

The Secrets of Bog People

Scholars have released a comprehensive survey of bodies discovered in bogs, including a database of more than 1,000 bodies from 266 sites spanning approximately 7,000 years of northern European history.  

What, Exactly, Is Fascism?

by Ruth Ben-Ghiat

Are you confused about the meaning of Fascism? If so, you're not alone. Benito Mussolini, the creator of Fascism, famously did not define it until 1932.

Study: Ashkenazi Jews Have Become More Genetically Similar over Time

Analysis of remains from a medieval Jewish cemetery in Germany suggests that two distinct populations of Jews that remained largely separate before merging about 1,000 years ago. 

Eastern Europe Brought Soccer Into the Modern Age. Why is it a Wasteland Now?

A legacy of innovation spurred by Hungarian clubs in the 1930s and 1950s sustained high quality soccer in eastern Europe through the fall of communism, but changing economic and social currents have diminished the competitiveness of former eastern bloc countries in today's big-money game. 

Melting European Glaciers Yielding Artifacts Faster than Archaeologists Can Keep Up

Artifacts trapped in glacial ice are valuable because they are preserved; for archaeologists, climate change means both glaciers and artifacts are at risk. 

Poland Seeking $1.3 Trillion in World War II Reparations from Germany

The Polish government referenced a recently completed report documenting the costs to Poland of war, and argued that reconciliation between the nations could best be served by a payment. 

The Danger of Encouraging Americans to Inform on Each Other

by Christine Adams

Governors like Virginia's Glenn Youngkin are repeating a tactic of despots throughout history: encouraging the public to denounce individuals to the authorities. Whether its witches or teachers, this is a formula for intimidation and conformity. 

Review: What Took Freud So Long to See the Danger of Remaining in Occupied Austria?

by Patrick Blanchfield

"If Freud himself, so attuned to the dark undercurrents of human behavior and so critical of our wishful illusions, proved unable to think clearly even as his country became unrecognizable around him and as nightmare after nightmare became real, what are our chances now?"

Cassandra Calls from the Age of Metternich

by Niels Eichhorn

The European reaction against the French revolution and the Napoleonic wars shows the insecurity of liberty. 

The Secret of Successful Royal Marriage? History Says it's a Mistress

by Kate Lister

The transactional nature of royal marriages meant that bonds of affection or attraction between parties was an afterthought, making royal paramours (for kings, at least) commonplace. 

Do Europe's Ex-Royals Have Anything to Offer in the 21st Century?

"They are royal but not royal, monarchs without thrones, caught between the past and the future. A surprising number of them have gone into politics. What do their countries want from them?"

What Happens When Kids Get Their History from Video Games?

Bret Devereaux is trying to lead fellow historians to understand the influence a number of popular strategy games have for students understanding of both historical fact and the "mechanics" of historical change. 

Brexit and European War Mark Another Chapter in the Saga of Reinventing Britishness

by Dominic Selwood

The good news for Brits struggling with national identity in the wake of Brexit and under the threat of war? Britishness has been a constantly negotiated and evolving idea for centuries. 

Can Volodymyr Zelensky Follow the Footsteps of 19th Century Hungarian Liberal Lajos Kossuth?

by Tim Roberts

In 1851, Hungarian liberal and anti-imperialist Lajos Kossuth caused a sensation with an ultimately unsuccessful appeal to Congress for aid. What will the effects of Ukrainian President Zelensky's appeal be? 

How Four Interwar American Journalists Saw the Rise of European Totalitarianism

by Karin Wulf

Deborah Cohen's new book looks to the stories of four American journalists to understand what the world saw clearly about the rise of Hitler and Stalin and what they missed. 

Too Much Reality: Putin's Invasion Inevitably Surfaces Europe's Dark Past

by Jim Sleeper

Responses to the Russian invasion of Ukraine can't turn away from the possibility of mass atrocity like those visited on Eastern European Jews and resistance fighters by Nazis and Stalinists. 

Mary Elise Sarotte on the Buildup to the Ukraine Invasion

The School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) professor discusses the post-Cold War paths of Ukraine and Russia as the context for this week's invasion, and argues that reviving lapsed treaties on intermediate nuclear forces and troop levels in Europe could support a cease-fire. 

Why Putin is Outfoxing the West

by Walter Russell Mead

Containing Russia's ambitions isn't impossible, but requires both acknowledging Putin's imperial goals and developing a coherent strategy beyond defusing each successive crisis and moving on.