Major Events
- World War 1
- World War 1 was a quite extravagant war, involving many, many countries, the vast majority of which, residing in Europe. The cause of the war, to put it simple, was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, who was heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by Yugoslav nationalist Gravilo Princip in Sarajevo, capital of current Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some results of World War 1 were, the German Empire, Russian Empire, Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire stopping their existence. National borders were rethought and redrawn as well, with many independent countries being created or restored. The League of Nations was created as well, an effort to stop any future hostility between nations, this effort failed however, and a Great Depression of economic failure happened across the globe.
- World War 2
- World War 2 was possibly one of the most important wars to ever happen, many countries were involved, either by directly being involved or by being invaded. The cause of the war was Hitler invading Poland on the 1st of September 1939, but the Empire of Japan was already at war with the Republic of China in 1937. The two powers mainly involved were the Axis powers, Adolf Hitler of Nazi Germany, Hirohito of Japan, and Benito Mussolini of Italy, and the Allied powers, Joseph Stalin of the USSR, Franklin D. Roosevelt of the USA, Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom, and Chiang Kai-shek of the Republic of China. The United States only came in after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and after the US came in, the war ended soon after with Hitler killing himself and Germany being chased back into its previous borders. The effects of World War 2 were very long lasting, especially for the Jewish people, after the Holocaust the Jews who were still alive did not have an easy life ahead of them. Jews who were able to make it back home discovered that their homes were either bombed, or owned by someone else. Many Jewish women were raped, to such an extent that it has been called “The Rape of Europe.
- The Holocaust
- The Holocaust was a terrible genocide of 11 million people, 6 million of which, being Jews, while the other 5 million were either gypsies, gay, etc. There were many people arrested in all of Europe, simply for being Jewish or helping Jews. Many countries, like Italy, were known for having places of internment, where Jews were held against their will, like a prisoner. The cause of the Holocaust was Hitler believing that Jews had natural born privilege and controlled many facets of society, and were too powerful. Many believe he also used them as a catalyst to take power in Germany. The effects of the Holocaust were massive, millions of innocents killed, being displaced from their homes, some effects are still seen today.
- The fall of the USSR
- The fall of the USSR was the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The failure affected almost all of Europe, many saw the fall of the USSR as a coming of peace, especially the US, since the Cold War. The main reason for the fall of the USSR was radical reforms made by Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev during his 6 years in office. Effects were relations between the eastern world and US becoming better and less tense, and the end of the cold war.
- The Renaissance
- The Renaissance was a period of great cultural change and achievement for Europe, lasting from the 14th century to the 17th century. The Renaissance was technically first started in Italy, where many, many beautiful artworks and inventions came from, notably from Leonardo Da Vinci. In fact, many historians believe Florence, Italy was the starting point of the renaissance. The reason the renaissance happened was because of many things, political need for admiration and display, reintroduction of classical works, the bubonic plague, and development of renaissance humanitarianism. The effects of the renaissance are still lasting, with many artworks from that time period still being visible and some inventions and schematics inspiring future inventors to create other inventions, notable the Wright brothers with the invention of the airplane, inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci’s sketches of a “flying machine”, shown below
- The Crusades
- The Crusades were a series of Holy Wars called by popes, fighting against people who opposed the Christian church and people. The wars were fought because in the year 1095 the pope pleaded for the army to go to war with muslims in the Holy Lands. Major effects of the crusades are that the authority of kings increased and many Europeans learned things, either culturally or physically, about Muslims they encountered. Many peasants also went to die in the war, and the land they owned went to the king.
- The Syrian Refugee Crisis
- The Syrian refugee crisis is a problem that currently exists in Europe which involves millions of refugees from Syria fleeing Syria to come to Europe, and many don’t know where to send them. Germany has started to accept millions, but it's very much harming their nation, with the majority of people wanting to send them back. Syrians are also coming to countries in Southern Europe, but to a lesser extent. The cause of the Syrian refugee crisis is the current civil war in Syria, and ISIS presence in Syria. The effects of the Syrian refugee crisis is millions of people attempting to get into European countries, with many countries flat out refusing to take in refugees. The countries that do take in refugees however, have increased crime rates and an overall worse quality of life as opposed to those who didn’t take in refugees.
- The Cold War
- The Cold War was a state of heavy military and political tension between mainly the USA and the USSR. The Cold War was such a terrifying war because both the USSR and the USA had major weapons of mass destruction, nukes, that if fired upon the enemy, would cause total nuclear war, destroying the majority of the world. The main cause of the Cold War was political conflicts, Western ideologies and democracies have always conflicted with communistic and socialistic ways, creating great tension between the 2 states. The effects of the Cold War were very evident in former USSR countries, since military spending in these countries were cut very heavily, and 1 in 5 people used to be previously employed by the military, millions were left unemployed after the fall of the USSR.
- Fall of the Berlin Wall
- The fall of the Berlin wall was a monumental triumph for the entirety of Europe, it was a forecoming of the end of the Cold War. The cause of the fall of the Berlin wall was mainly President Ronald Reagan’s direct involvement working towards making the Berlin wall come down. Effects of the Berlin wall coming down was the city of Berlin being much more united and people fleeing from the east side can finally come to the western side. Additionally if foreshadowed the fall of the USSR and subsequently the end of the Cold War.
- The fall of the Berlin wall was a monumental triumph for the entirety of Europe, it was a forecoming of the end of the Cold War. The cause of the fall of the Berlin wall was mainly President Ronald Reagan’s direct involvement working towards making the Berlin wall come down. Effects of the Berlin wall coming down was the city of Berlin being much more united and people fleeing from the east side can finally come to the western side. Additionally if foreshadowed the fall of the USSR and subsequently the end of the Cold War.
- Brexit
- Brexit was the referendum for the UK to leave the EU, with the vote passing, thus signifying that the UK will leave the European Union. Other countries, notably Italy, are recognizing that the EU is failing and that they want to do their own exit from the EU. The causes for Brexit was mainly that the EU didn’t reflect the values and interests that most of the citizens of the UK had, thus creating a conflict of interests. The effects of Brexit are simply, now more current EU countries are looking to leave the EU due to the views that the EU holds not reflecting that of the individual countries.
Colonization History
Albania - Colonized by Italians, has not colonized any other country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bosnia was colonized by the Balkans, has not colonized any other country.
Croatia - Colonized by the Romans, has not colonized any other country.
Greece - Greece has colonized many cities, with their entire way of life being spread to Spain, France, Italy, the Adriatic, the Black Sea, and North Africa. They once had 500 colonies with 60,000 Greek citizen colonists.
Italy - Italy has colonized many, many countries, enough so that they were called an empire. They colonized countries in Africa and occupied the countries that surround them in World War 2.
Malta - Malta had one small colony called “Malta and Gozo” during the time period of 1530-1798.
Montenegro - Montenegro has not colonized any other countries but at one point was colonized by Turkey.
Portugal - Portugal has colonized many countries, mainly in South America, so much to an extent that they had an empire. The most notable colony is of course Brazil, which still speaks Portuguese.
Spain - Spain is one of the most notable colonizers in the world, they have colonized almost all of the Americas. They colonized every country in South America except Brazil and some smaller countries. They colonized Mexico and every country in Central America, even the majority of the current USA.
Slovenia - Colonized by Russia, has not colonized any other countries.
Andorra - Never colonized, has not colonized and other countries
San Marino - Colonized by Italy, never colonized any other countries.
Macedonia - Colonized by Romans, never colonized any other country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Bosnia was colonized by the Balkans, has not colonized any other country.
Croatia - Colonized by the Romans, has not colonized any other country.
Greece - Greece has colonized many cities, with their entire way of life being spread to Spain, France, Italy, the Adriatic, the Black Sea, and North Africa. They once had 500 colonies with 60,000 Greek citizen colonists.
Italy - Italy has colonized many, many countries, enough so that they were called an empire. They colonized countries in Africa and occupied the countries that surround them in World War 2.
Malta - Malta had one small colony called “Malta and Gozo” during the time period of 1530-1798.
Montenegro - Montenegro has not colonized any other countries but at one point was colonized by Turkey.
Portugal - Portugal has colonized many countries, mainly in South America, so much to an extent that they had an empire. The most notable colony is of course Brazil, which still speaks Portuguese.
Spain - Spain is one of the most notable colonizers in the world, they have colonized almost all of the Americas. They colonized every country in South America except Brazil and some smaller countries. They colonized Mexico and every country in Central America, even the majority of the current USA.
Slovenia - Colonized by Russia, has not colonized any other countries.
Andorra - Never colonized, has not colonized and other countries
San Marino - Colonized by Italy, never colonized any other countries.
Macedonia - Colonized by Romans, never colonized any other country.