Download 2 Brief overview of European history (before 1492) The peoples of

2 Brief overview of European history
(before 1492)
The peoples of Europe have had a tremendous impact on the development of the United
States throughout the course of U.S. history. Europeans "discovered" and colonized the
North American continent and, even after they lost political control over its territory, their
influence has predominated due to a common language, social ideals, and culture. Therefore,
when endeavoring to understand the history of the United States, it is helpful to briefly
describe their European origin.
2.1 Greece and Rome
See also: Ancient History/Greece
Figure 1
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and Ancient History/Rome2
The Roman Empire
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ancient%20History%2FGreece
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Ancient%20History%2FRome
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Brief overview of European history (before 1492)
The first significant civilizations of Europe formed in the second millennium BC. By 800
BC, the Greek city-states began to gain dominance over European civilization. By about
500 BC, the state of Athens had created a democracy, but one that difers from today's
democracies in certain respects. The city-states of Greece became provinces of the Roman
Empire in 27 BC.
Meanwhile, the city of Rome was founded (traditionally in the year 753 BC). Slowly, Rome
grew and built its empire, which at various points included most of present-day Britain (a
large part of Scotland never belonged to the empire), France (then known as Gaul), Spain,
Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Iraq, Palestine (including the territory claimed today by the
modern state of Israel), Northern Arabia, Egypt, the Balkans, and the entire north coast of
Africa.
By 180 AD, the Roman Empire began to disintegrate. The Emperors were overthrown and
anarchy resulted. But Diocletian (243 - 316) reinstated the Empire by 284. The Empire was
restored and continued to regain territory until 395, when the Empire was so large that it
had to be divided into two parts, each with a separate ruler. The Eastern Empire survived
until 1453, but the Western Empire fell quickly. In 476, Germanic tribes rebelled against
Rome and deposed the Western Roman Emperor, resulting in a long period of decline known
as the "Dark Ages."
2.2 The Roman Empire to the Holy Roman Empire
Figure 2
A mitred Adhémar de Monteil
carrying the Holy Lance in one of the battles
of the First Crusade
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