European History Book Recs

[Biscuits and Gravy]

Looking for European history book recommendations. I’ve almost finished Les Misérables, and it’s not lost on me that a good third of this novel was lost on me because of my subpar knowledge of European history. Would like to read a broad-stoke, textbook-like overview first and then any micro books that y’all found fascinating and elucidating. Thanks!

[chenda]

Norman Davies 'Europe, a history' is a well regarded overview, from prehistory to the 1990s.

He also wrote an interesting book called 'Vanished kingdoms' about long lost countries of Europe, such as Litva and Alt Clud.

[Biscuits and Gravy]

Thanks, chenda! It looks like NewBlood may have read Europe, A History. Found this in their journal:

I started reading “Europe, a history”. I love the way it’s written, but man, it’s dense. It’s gonna take me a while. I’m amazed by how much I don’t know or don’t remember about European history and geography…

Did you finish it, NewBlood? Do you recommend it?

[NewBlood]

I did not. It was very dense but mostly it felt more like commentary on the history and if you don't know the basics (I didn't), you get lost very quickly...
It's like an advanced level overview full of inside jokes that were lost on me.
I'm still looking for a good basic overview as well...

[jayritchie]

Sort of agree with 'Europe a history' and have read most of it - but found that it does assume a reasonable level of prior knowledge. Perhaps it is intended more as a discussion of the history than an introductory textbook.

I think googling for a 300 to 400 page introductory overview might be the way to go. There is a Penguin History of Europe which is widely recommended but seems to be around 600 pages.

[Biscuits and Gravy]

@NewBlood Excellent, that’s the kind of insight I’m looking for, thanks. I have an average American level of knowledge here, which means I’m pretty sure there were some kings, a plague or two, and a thing called the Magna Carta in 1215.

@jayritchie Thanks for the input! I did a Google search, but then realized that this forum full of erudite Europeans could probably do better.

[jacob]

[...] but then realized that this forum full of erudite Europeans could probably do better.

I can't speak for all of us. The history education I received was very country specific, so I know about as much about the Magna Carta as you do. I'm not even sure what kind of history you're looking for? Wars? Kings? Economy? Religion? Politics? Culture? Philosophy? Social?

Take a look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY9P0QSxlnI ... it's really complicated and still ongoing. Of note is that very few countries have persisted and the nation-state situation is a lot more fluid than commonly assumed. Yet this map only shows the evolution of various states, whereas Europe has (had) many more "nations" inside of and across those borders which is part of why the continent is constantly in conflict. In fact, the period after WWII has been rather remarkable for its stability. Of course there's been exceptions but nothing like how it used to be with people dying every time a pixel changes color.

[NewBlood]

The history education I received was very country specific, so I know about as much about the Magna Carta as you do.

Same. I'd love to go back to "Europe, a history", someday. But I need some very comprehensive multi-country remedial stuff first.

[zbigi]

I'm not even sure what kind of history you're looking for? Wars? Kings? Economy? Religion? Politics? Culture? Philosophy? Social?

Norman Davies' book is largely wars, kings and politics, but is also giving societal and economic context where necessary and is constantly mixing in interesting tidbits from the "everything else" category - stuff like evolution of European music, witch hunts, sports, major trends in science, religion, arts etc. If one just wants a single title to get some basic grips on the subject, I think it's a good book (that's how I used it). Bonus points for a good coverage of Eastern Europe history as well, which (at least according to the author) is often covered poorly by other Western authors.

[Biscuits and Gravy]

Well, as an Asian Studies major, I realize it takes years of wide reading to develop a solid foundation of knowledge on the history of a region, but I could also point an interested layperson to a book like Jonathan Spence’s The Search for Modern China as a thorough and yet broad primer for China and the region. I was kinda hoping for something similar for Europe, but after watching Jacob’s link I see how naïve my assumption was. I love how the Finns were just hanging out in the corner for 2,000 years while Europe jigsaw’d together only to be dismantled and re-fused ad nauseam. So true to their introverted, stoic selves.

Welp. I guess have some Wikipedia’ing to do. And then some country-specific histories. And then Davies’ Europe, A History.

Thanks for that link, Jacob, that was really interesting and helpful.

[Western Red Cedar]

If it looks like Davies is too advanced, you might consider an AP European history text, or at least looking at their curriculum.

After getting a solid introduction, I found studying art history particularly helpful. My books are in storage, so I can't make any specific recommendations. Much of the art from the Renaissance onward depicted important political and historical moments, or was a response to social or philosophical moments at the time. It is a good avenue to add some depth as long as you have a very basic foundation. The only downside is that the textbooks are often very expensive because of the full-page color prints.

Philosophy might be another avenue towards building on a basic foundation.

In terms of micro books I enjoyed (not sure if this is what you are looking for):

The Invention of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt's New World. (Andrea Wolf)
A few by George Orwell - The Road to Wigan Pier, Down and Out in Paris and London, Homage to Catalonia
Confessions (St. Augustine)

[jacob]

For a more interesting experience of the historic dynamics, consider a detailed simulation/strategy game like europa universalis. You're essentially playing one of hundreds of nations trying to centralize and form a state (e.g. unify Germany, France, or Italy). You'll get a reasonably good understanding of the interplay between religion, technology, economy, and diplomacy. Obviously you wont get any historic details right but to I do think that it provides a better understanding of historical arches than reading any book can do. In particular, how conflicts arise and get won or lost by decisions made decades before even as you get to make decisions day by day. IOW, it makes it possible to think/plan in terms of lifespans/centuries as opposed to the typical human focus of "tomorrow" or five years from now. E.g. building a university is something that mainly begins paying off centuries from when it was built as the increase in innovation rate takes time to materialize and build up an advantage over the "less educated" nations. You also need a more complex understanding to play the game even halfway well than you do to simply read a book or a paper. You'll learn how to fabricate claims on other nations and how to use diplomacy to drag allies into wars and why vassalization is sometimes better than annexation and why countries don't easily give up their vassals even if it seems like a good idea. Once seen with this lens, it's hard to unsee, including how the world still works today.

Another bonus is that the game does include real world historical edicts and ideas ("Form East Indian Trading Company" --- in my game, this was done by me-Portugal, not England) ... they just don't happen at the time or place they did historically. As such the game is great from a perspective of unknown-knowns. You can dig deeper on any period or issue for the historical details. The focus in the game is more on how e.g. the concept of a trading company does for the economy, etc.

IIRC eu covers the time period between 1350 and 1820 or so. The most important lens here was that of religion (reformation, counter-reformation). The game includes dynamics that will make something akin to the 30 year war almost inevitable. However, you can play in a way where you try to take advantage of it, ... or try not to get run over by it... heck maybe even prevent it.

For other periods, other lenses are more important. Paradox Interactive has other equally detailed games that cover other periods.

[Jean]

I can vouch for paradox games.
crusader kings 2 is free to play (you can buy dlcs that give you the ability to play non christians). It covers the middle age (732 to 1450? kindof).
It made succession war much more evident as a concept to understand.

[delay]

After getting a solid introduction, I found studying art history particularly helpful

Can recommend The Story of Art. It is a surprisingly enjoyable read and has beautiful pictures of the art it discusses.

[7Wannabe5]

I think approaching European History through the reading of novels, general world history, and other approaches to history, such as "Salt: A World HIstory" , "Against the Grain: A Deep History of the Earliest States", "Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators", "An Edible History of Humanity", Energy and Civiliztion: A History", "For Profit: A History of Corporations", "Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues" would likely be more interesting. It has been my experience that every attempt I have made at reading a conventional modern history of all of Europe has required near constant access to maps, so a short course in the geography of Europe might be a helpful prerequisite. My DS36, who was a Spelling Bee and Geography Bee finalist at the state level, because he naturally has that sort of brain (trust me, I was not a Geography Bee Mom, just one among the audience of clueless parents), also started reading classical works such as "The History of the Peloponnesian War" at an early age and that might be another entry or approach to the topic.

Genealogy can also be a fun way to approach European history if you are of typical American Euro-Mutt heritage. My son and I have had many fun and interesting conversations on the topic, because I am better at the mathematical puzzle solving aspect of genealogical research and he is much better at the associated history and geography. For example, he will politely correct me when I say something stupid like "Not the Ukraine, Galicia." or make an easy leap to "Then we almost certainly also have some ancestors in France." You could even engage your young children in your studies with a large wall map and thumb tacks or stickers indicating the journeys of your ancestors. it is very easy to access a ton of interesting information these days that could lead to fun or important conversations with your children. For example, my genealogical research has intersected with the invention of the pop-up book, the Salem Witch Trials, and the adventures of Robin Hood.

[chenda]

A few more recommendations...Simon Schama wrote a history of Britain which is very readable and well illustrated. Sarah Foot's biography of Athelstan (the first English king) is a good introduction to Anglo-Saxon history. Philip Parker's The Norsemen's Fury is a comprehensive history of the Viking era, but similarly very accessible.

Goodbye Eastern Europe by Jacob Mikanowski gives a detailed history of the region. I've not yet read it, but the title is apparently making the point people there now prefer other identities.

[Biscuits and Gravy]

Thanks for all of the recs! I honestly would not have considered approaching history via art. I don’t know why my first inclination is “gimme a dense book!” when there are clearly different and probably more enjoyable avenues of approach. While I appreciate the gaming angle, I am happy to say I have no way of playing real video games right now. I enjoyed Age of Empires a little too much as a young adult, so I bet I would get sucked into (in a negative way) something like Europa Universalis.

@7 My sister just handed me her copy of Babel yesterday. I grumped at her that it’s scifi/fantasy and I don’t do that drug, but she insisted. Now yet another rec!

[loutfard]

You might enjoy Geert Mak's "In Europe". It's definitely not an encyclopedic overview and treats the last 100 years piercing inwards. Much more digestible though and complete in surprising ways.

I personally find an anthology approach to history very valid. Interesting also. I explore starting from intriguing factlets. If interested in European history, it's hard not to bump into things, especially when living in and travelling Europe. Things like:
- I live in the Baltics part of my time and have relatives there. How does local history there look?
- How did my wife's grandmother live through three occupations, seven currencies and hyperinflation?
- Oh, there's actually a link between the crusaders settling there in the 13th century and my native area!
- We visit friends in a small Baltic city and are looking for a parking spot. Wait a minute. We've just parked next to the jewish cemetery! How did jewish history look in our own small city?
- We have a pizza at the Livonian cultural centre. Finnugric language and culture exterminated by Soviet policy.
- etcetera
- Holiday with an old history and culture buff friend to southern France. Pays des Cathares. What happened there?
- Going to a conference in Sevilla. Visit to the Alhambra. Oh, some of the most intricate work at the Moorish palace was actually done by highly regarded jewish artisans. History of the crusades. Oh, so that's where the lion on the Flemish flag came from: from the middle east!
- Firenze. Just for the Baptisterium alone it is worth a visit. The birth of the renaissance. How can you go there without reading "Il principe" by Macchiavelli. Where did the de Medici build their fortune? Oh, popes and counter popes. I saw that as a child in Avignon too.
- Ypres, Belgium. My maternal grandparents grew up "in Flanders' fields", in the small strip not occupied by the German army. All the family's favourite aunt was a free-spirited catholic nun running a little monastery in the area, a stone's throw from France.
- Nevers, France. My mother's godmother - her father's oldest sister - lived to the age of 98. She told us of her time as a refugee in Nevers, France. We visited the place, and the little castle where she served as a maid.
- Visit to a relative in Hungary.
- A dilapidating art nouveau shopping centre from the Austro-Hungarian era.
- The European university is being closed, and my relative's Budapest EU institution is being relocated. What is happening?
- Visit to a local history museum. Hm, some of that seems to be rather incongruous with what I heard before.
- Normandy. Little me visits as a child.
- We're on the beach and there is this huge WWII landing barge anchored there.
- We visit a small museum in a Sainte-Mère-Église.
- Norway. A day in Oslo on our way to Sweden for a canoe trip. More than enough time to discover the incredible viking ships recovered from the harbour. Hm. A street near where I live is actually called "Noormannenstraat" because the Norman/Vikings ransacked the city through here.
- Sweden. Visit to a Hembygdsgård and an excellent small education museum. The Saab factories have just been taken over by GM and we visit Trollhättan. And a Nobel museum near Karlskoga.
- Poland. An extremely long layover in Warsaw is so incredibly much cheaper on my way back from the Baltics. Reading up on the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth. Did you know that apart from 35 days in 1812 by Napoleon's armies, Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth troops were the last to occupy Moscow, 1610-1612?

You seem to have an excellent starting point for an European history anthology with "Les misérables".

If ERE already, have you considered actually bumming through Europe for some time? Another, less demanding way to explore might simply be bumming through wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category: ... _in_Europe can be a surprinsingly good starting point.

[OutOfTheBlue]

For medieval history, I highly recommend books by Jacques Le Goff (historian of the famous and influential École des Annales).

And for the 19-20th century, Eric Hobsbawm's The ages of Revolution (1789-1848), Capital (1848-1875), Empire (1875-1914) and Extremes (1914-1991).

About Norman Davies' book, unless you intend to read it in a log cabin with no internet access, why not give it a go and fill any lacunae ad hoc with the help of web search and IA?

[jacob]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_Civilization is probably not a bad place to start. I haven't read it, but Durant rarely disappoints.