• Fascinating, fact-filled writing that delivers hundreds of years in the life of the European continent • Terrific supplementary reading for AP History students

Presents a history of the European nations, from the time of their emergence from the Middle Ages in the thirteenth century and the Renaissance to the French Revolution, the period of industrialization, and the wars of the twentieth century.

Puts world events in a context that is relevant for today's students and casual readers Updated to include the significant events from the past several years

Read about the world's smallest continent's incredible history: From Greek gods and mad Roman emperors to kings, queens, Visigoths, and Normans You meet Visigoths in Africa and Normans in Sicily; an Italian who talked to his books and another who conquered a kingdom and gave it away; Roman emperors who weren't Roman; and Holy Roman Emperors who weren't holy (or Roman). This is the story of Europe's rich history rolled into one thrilling account in plain English. European History For Dummies takes you on a fascinating journey through the disasters, triumphs, people, power, and politics that have shaped the Europe we know today - and you'll meet some incredible characters along the way! From Roman relics to the Renaissance, World Wars, and Eurovision, this accessible guide packs in the facts alongside fun tidbits and brings the past alive. You meet the two Catholic kings of Spain (one was a woman) and the Spanish king who never smiled. You discover a German monk who split Europe in two because he was so afraid of going to hell. And what about the great European war that started when two nobles were thrown out of a window onto a dungheap? Well, at least they had a soft landing. If you don't remember much of what you learned about European history at school, if you didn't like those dry school textbooks, if you think European history sounds a bit hard, but you're interested anyway, this is the book for you. Inside you'll discover: The varied history of the world's smallest continent, its origins, and its huge impact on the world How the Romans shaped the ancient world, what they learned from the Greeks, and what they lost to the barbarian tribes The many battles of the Middle Ages and the leaders who waged them The medieval people's great achievements in building and learning Europeans' world explorers, including Columbus and Vasco da Gama Unfortunate religious wars and the persecution of witches Europe's world domination in the 18th and 19th centuries The world wars of the 20th century European life today Get your own copy of European History For Dummies to learn all of that and more -- including the ten Europeans who dominated the continent, ten unforgettable dates, and ten European locales you'll absolutely want to visit.

Shed some light on one of history’s darkest periods. The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to the Middle Ages gives readers the beginning, middle, and end of the era, starting with the fall of the Roman Empire in the year 550 and ending with the Renaissance in 1500—and covers some uncomfortable similarities between the so-called “Dark Ages” and today’s “modern world.” - A fascinating, fact-filled book that delivers more than a thousand years of history in easy-to-understand chapters. - Many AP European History students are urged to read an overview of medieval Europe to aid in their understanding of modern Europe, and a number of high schools have adopted elective courses in medieval history. - Complete with a timeline, a who’s who, and guides to further reading and the Middle Ages in film.

A fun, informative guide to Europe’s past and present. The history of Europe is rich, complex, vibrant, and at times violent; it has influenced many countries throughout the world and has itself been influenced by many countries. In the light-hearted European History For Dummies, historian Sean Lang explores the countries, conflicts, people, institutions, disasters, and triumphs that have helped shape modern-day Europe, packing in tons of facts alongside the fun. Chapters range from "Celts without Kilts" and "What a Way to Run a Republic!" to "I Capture Quite a Few Castles," "Reformation Ruckus," and "The War to End All Wars." Sean Lang, the author of British History For Dummies (0-7645-7021-8), is also a history lecturer, examiner, and writer.

Ethics are more than a personal philosophy From the crimes of Bernie Madoff to the accusations of war crimes and torture to the massive greed-inspired fraud perpetrated by the financial institutions around the world, this new edition of The Complete Idiot's Guide® to Understanding Ethics, Second Edition, helps clarify the history and evolution of ethics and their application to real life in the twenty-first century. • Covers ethics in such hot button topics as politics, war, medicine, and business and finance • Features up–to–date ideas on ethical behavior on the Internet when dealing with privacy issues • Discusses the personal ethics surrounding reproductive issues