Login Get started

The ENTIRE History of Europe (4K Documentary) [Ancient, Middle Ages, Modern Civilization]

Beginning To Now・82 minutes read

Europe's historical highlights show the evolution of civilizations, cultures, and conflicts over millennia, shaping the continent into what it is today. Key events like the rise and fall of empires, technological advancements, and ideological shifts have left a lasting impact on Europe's past and present.

Insights

The Minoan civilization on Crete and the Mycenaeans in Greece played crucial roles in the development of European languages through systems like Linear A and Linear B.
The Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta in 431 BC significantly altered the Greek landscape, lasting nearly three decades and resulting in Athenian surrender under Spartan General Lysander's siege.
Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC led to the rise of Octavian, who became the first Roman Emperor Augustus, ushering in the Pax Romana and Roman expansion into Britannia.
The Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 had profound social and political impacts in Europe, leading to the evacuation of Pripyat, widespread radioactive fallout, and a loss of confidence in the Soviet regime, ultimately contributing to the end of communist rule in Eastern Europe.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

What architectural marvels appeared in Europe from 4000 to 2000 BC?
Megaliths like Stonehenge and dolmans showcased ancient marvels.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

European Civilization: From Settlement to Conflict

Europe, once a forgettable land mass, witnessed remarkable progress as Homo sapiens settled and developed civilizations.
The people of Cirokisia in 7000 BC on Cyprus paved the way for agriculture, living off wheat, barley, lentils, and peas.
Megaliths like Stonehenge and dolmans appeared across Europe from 4000 to 2000 BC, showcasing ancient architectural marvels.
The Minoan civilization on Crete created the roots of European languages with Linear A, based on symbols.
The Mycenaeans in Greece simplified Linear A into a language system of 87 symbols, creating city-states ruled by warrior kings.
The Trojan War, though its historical accuracy is debated, showcased Greek unity against external threats.
The decline of the Minoan city-states post-Trojan War was marked by internal conflicts and attacks from the mysterious Sea People.
The Phoenicians established colonies across Europe from 1100 BC, enhancing trade networks and spreading their alphabet.
The Hallstatt culture in Austria during the Iron Age revolutionized warfare, agriculture, and craftsmanship with the mastery of iron.
The Peloponnesian War in 431 BC between Athens and Sparta marked a significant conflict, lasting nearly three decades and changing Greek lands forever.

18:20

Ancient Battles and Empires: A Historical Overview

Battles in Sibota, Padia, and Delium resulted in numerous casualties, leading to Athenian surrender in 404 BC under Spartan General Lysander's siege.
Alexander the Great's focus on Greece's control led to the destruction of the city of Thieves and his subsequent conquests across the Persian Empire.
Herodotus and Pus of Melia's detailed explorations and maps of the ancient world showcased extensive geographical knowledge.
Rome's evolution from a tiny Republic to a dominant power involved military reforms, battles with the Samnites, Greeks, and Carthage, and the rise of Julius Caesar.
The Gallic Wars saw Julius Caesar's military prowess against Gallic tribes like the Helvetii, Nervii, and Arverni, culminating in the surrender of Vercingetorix.
Julius Caesar's assassination in 44 BC led to Octavian's rise, eventually becoming Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, ushering in the Pax Romana.
Roman expansion under Emperor Claudius into Britannia led to harsh treatment of native tribes, sparking Queen Boudica's rebellion and the Battle of Watling Street.
Emperor Vespasian initiated the construction of the Roman Coliseum in 72 AD, a monumental structure utilizing advanced engineering techniques.
Emperor Trajan's reign marked the Roman Empire's greatest territorial extent, spanning from modern-day Britain to the Persian Gulf.
The decline of the Roman Empire, as noted by historian Edward Gibbon, was attributed to bureaucratic struggles, loss of military spirit, and a decline in genius, leading to Emperor Diocletian's tetrarchy and eventual Christian influence under Emperor Constantine.

35:31

"Rise and Fall of Roman Empire"

Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire under Constantine, who was baptized as a Christian on his deathbed.
The Huns, seeking to pillage Europe, targeted Gothic civilizations such as the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, and Gits.
Theodosius, the Roman Emperor, kept the Huns at bay, leading the Goths to seek refuge in Rome after his death.
Theodosius' death in 395 resulted in the split of the Roman Empire between Arcadius in the East and Honorius in the West.
The Visigoths, led by King Allic, conquered Rome in 410 but were unable to hold it.
Attila the Hun, after failing to conquer Constantinople, reached a peace treaty for an annual tribute of 2,100 lb of gold.
Theodoric the Great, King of the Ostrogoths, overpowered Oder in 493, establishing peace and prosperity in Italy.
Clovis I of the Frankish Kingdom converted to Christianity after a victory in the Battle of Tolbiac in 496.
Justinian I of Byzantium led successful military campaigns to reclaim lost territories and sponsored architectural projects like the Hagia Sophia.
Feudalism emerged in Europe after the division of the Carolingian Empire, with landowning nobles enlisting knights and serfs for protection and labor.

53:10

Medieval Europe: Wars, Plague, and Revolts

France attempted to capture Jerusalem, but Richard was captured, Frederick died, and Philip left, leading to a disastrous outcome.
The Fourth Crusade in 1202 aimed to recapture Jerusalem but instead attacked Constantinople, resulting in failure.
King John of England was notorious for arbitrary rule, heavy taxation, and disregard for subjects' rights, leading to discontent.
Rebel leaders, led by Robert Fitzwater, negotiated rights against King John, resulting in the Magna Carta in 1215.
The Mongol invasion of Europe began in 1223, with raids in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, and Central Europe.
The Mongols faced resistance in Europe, failing to exert real influence or overthrow major cities.
The Mongol withdrawal in 1241 was attributed to the death of Genghis Khan's son, leading to their return to Mongolia.
The Hundred Years War began in 1337 between King Edward of England and King Philip VI of France.
The Black Death emerged in 1347, causing widespread death, economic collapse, and societal changes in Europe.
The English forces, led by Edward III, achieved victories in the Hundred Years War, culminating in Joan of Arc's emergence and the French victory in 1453.

01:10:46

Religious conflicts and power struggles in Europe.

Child levying was common during Ottoman rule in Europe, offering power to second-rate citizens but also leading to discontent.
Scanderbeg defected against Ottoman rulers, leading a 25-year revolt in Serbia against conquerors, contributing to the demonization of Islam in the West.
Spain took issue with Ottoman expansion, leading to a multi-continental religious war against Christianity and Islam.
Spanish Armada, representing the Catholic Church, fought against the English Navy in a religious struggle.
European powers embarked on quests for new lands and riches in the early 1600s.
Emperor Ferdinand II's actions sparked the Bohemian Revolt, a conflict between Protestants and Catholics.
The conflict expanded beyond the Empire's borders, with Ottoman Empire soldiers fighting alongside the Bohemians.
The Protestant Gustavus Adolphus led Sweden against Catholic forces, with victories and setbacks.
The war ended in a stalemate, with approximately 8 million casualties, leading to questioning of religion's power.
The Industrial Revolution began with James Watt's steam engine invention in 1769, revolutionizing travel.

01:29:12

"Russian Revolution and World War I"

Russia faced chaos after disastrous military campaigns, leading to the abdication of Zar Nicholas and the end of Romanov rule.
The new provisional government failed to appease the people, leading to the rise of the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, promising peace, land, and bread.
The Bolsheviks overthrew the provisional government in the October Revolution, sparking the Russian Civil War between Reds (Communists) and Whites (liberals, monarchists).
The Red Army was established, land was redistributed, and Zar Nicholas and his family were murdered during the Civil War.
The Bolsheviks emerged victorious in 1923, leading to the birth of the USSR and the spread of communist ideology.
World War I began with the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand, escalating into a global conflict fueled by territorial ambitions.
Germany's invasion of Belgium triggered Britain's entry into the war, leading to a long and brutal conflict on the Western Front.
The war extended to the Eastern Front, Balkans, Italy, and the Middle East, with shifting alliances and battles.
The war's turning point came in 1917 with the US entry, fresh troops, and resources bolstering the Allied cause.
The war ended in 1918 with the Armistice on the Western Front, leading to the Treaty of Versailles and Germany's economic collapse, paving the way for Hitler's rise and the events leading to World War II.

01:47:12

"Chernobyl Disaster: Impact on Cold War"

The division between East and West during the Cold War led to the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on April 26, 1986, when reactor 4 suffered a catastrophic failure, causing a steam explosion and the release of radioactive energy into the atmosphere.
The disaster resulted in the evacuation of the city of Pripyat and establishment of a 30 km exclusion zone by the Soviet government to protect people from radiation exposure.
The Soviet government initially tried to keep the incident a secret, but abnormal radiation levels detected in Sweden forced them to admit the accident, leading to widespread radioactive fallout across Europe.
The Chernobyl disaster had significant social and political impacts in Europe, prompting some nations to phase out nuclear energy programs and leading to a loss of confidence in the Soviet regime.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked the beginning of the end of communist rule in Eastern Europe, with several Soviet states declaring themselves free and independent democratic nations, ultimately leading to the reunification of Germany and the formation of the European Union in 1992.

Try it yourself — It’s free.