February 1, 2023
The European Experience brings together the expertise of nearly a hundred historians from eight European universities to internationalise and diversify the study of modern European history, exploring a grand sweep of time from 1500 to 2000. Offering a valuable corrective to the Anglocentric narratives of previous English-language textbooks, scholars from all over Europe have pooled their knowledge on comparative themes such as identities, cultural encounters, power and citizenship, and economic development to reflect the complexity and heterogeneous nature of the European experience. Rather than another grand narrative, the international author teams offer a multifaceted and rich perspective on the history of the continent of the past 500 years. Each major theme is dissected through three chronological sub-chapters, revealing how major social, political and historical trends manifested themselves in different European settings during the early modern (1500–1800), modern (1800–1900) and contemporary period (1900–2000). This resource is of utmost relevance to today’s history students in the light of ongoing internationalisation strategies for higher education curricula, as it delivers one of the first multi-perspective and truly ‘European’ analyses of the continent’s past. Beyond the provision of historical content, this textbook equips students with the intellectual tools to interrogate prevailing accounts of European history, and enables them to seek out additional perspectives in a bid to further enrich the discipline.
July 9, 2021
No country has enjoyed a greater influence on the English than Italy. Ahead of the European Championship final, Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland explore the history of Rome, Italy and England. A Goalhanger Films & Left Peg Media production Producer: Jack Davenport Exec Producer: Tony Pastor
Tom Holland, Dominic Sandbrook, Jack Davenport, Tony Pastor
June 4, 2024
The video "A Brief History of Window Glass" presents an overview of production and use of glass in architecture from the 1st to the 19th century. The first attempts to shape glass window panels were recorded as early as the 1st century BC, wider application began in the first half of the 1st century, while the glass blowing techniques were more intensively practiced only from the 3rd-4th century. Each historical period has its own specifics in terms of production, and especially the way window glass is used in everyday life. The video was produced by the Open GLASSroom project, in collaboration with the Museum of Ancient Glass in Zadar, Croatia. It is based on the exhibition "A Brief History of Window Glass" curated by Vedrana Jović Gazić, and the exhibition catalogue published by the Museum of Ancient Glass in Zadar. The original language of the video is Croatian. To view it with English subtitles and/or transcript, please follow the provided youtube link. The bilingual Croatian-English exhibition catalogue, as well as timecoded subtitles and video transcript in English and Croatian can also be separately downloaded. The creation of these resources has been (partially) funded by the ERASMUS+ grant program of the European Union under grant no. 2022-1-DE01-KA220-HED-000089750. Neither the European Commission nor the project's national funding agency DAAD are responsible for the content or liable for any losses or damage resulting of the use of these resources.
Vedrana Jović Gazić, Jagoda Cupać
October 7, 2024
This book was created as a result of the seminar Voorbij de Kaart: Beschrijvingen van de buiten-Europese wereld in Joan Blaeu’s Grooten Atlas [= Beyond the Map: Descriptions of the non-European World in Joan Blaeu’s Atlas Maior] which was lectured at the University of Groningen in the academic year 2023/24. During the seminar the students critically analysed the texts of non-European regions in the renowned Atlas by Blaeu. About their findings they also wrote short contributions, intended for a broader audience. These student contributions were used for a digital exhibition, hosted by the Special Collections department of the University of Groningen Library, and re-used here in this format as an open textbook. The book is available in Dutch and English About the book: Publisher Joan Blaeu (1599-1673) – following the example of other publishers of cartographic work – also provided his renowned Atlas with extensive accompanying texts. The Dutch-language edition of Atlas Maior, the Grooten Atlas, has nearly 4,000 pages of text. The texts of 20 selected non-European regions have been subjected to careful analysis by History students of the University of Groningen and presented in a beautiful digital exhibition.
Jeroen Bos
December 19, 2024
The Frankish king, Charlemagne the Great, is one of the titanic figures of European history, simultaneously renowned and shadowy. His rise to supreme power is a staggering story of warring religious empires, betrayal, battle, blindings and brutal conquest. How, then, did this one time Frankish interloper become the father of Europe, progenitor of a Holy Roman Empire whose descendants would rule right up until the time of Napoleon, and Emperor of the West? It begins in 741 AD when, following the death of the Frankish leader Charles Martel - ‘The Hammer’ - his two sons, Carloman and the pious by ruthless Pepin were forced to look to the Pope in Rome, then a subsidiary to the Byzantine empire, to buttress their authority. The Pope too was increasingly embattled at that time, struggling against invasions by the ferocious Germanic Lombards from the north of Italy. Desperate, he called upon Pepin for aid. So it was that, after his brother’s abdication, Pepin was officially anointed by the Pope as the sole King of the Franks, before crossing the Alps and smashing Lombardy. After his death, he would leave his kingdom the foremost power in Western Europe, and in the hands of to his own two sons: Carloman and Charles, later known as Charlemagne. A terrible power struggle would ensue… Join Tom and Dominic for this next instalment of their mighty series on the Franks and the rise of Charlemagne. How would Charles’ and Carloman’s battle for power play out? Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett Editor: Aaliyah Akude Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor
March 4, 2024
‘For if a person fatigued with long and hard labour, or with a violent agitation of the mind, takes a good dish of chocolate, he shall perceive almost instantly that his faintness shall cease, and his strength shall be recovered’ The Cacao tree was first domesticated by the Olmecs in Mesoamerica, possibly as early as 1500 BC, and was then first encountered by Europeans in the 16th century, when it is said that the Aztec Emperor Montezuma welcomed Hernan Cortes into his dominion with a mysterious dark drink. Indeed, Chocolate was originally consumed as a drink, and was a cornerstone of Aztec life, whether used as currency or as part of religious rituals. Brought back by the conquistadors to Europe, Chocolate slowly spread through the continent, particularly among the ruling classes, up until the industrial revolution of the 19th century, when technical advancements allowed for chocolate to be made into a food, at a far lower cost. This paved the way for Quaker families, such as the Cadburys or the Frys, keen to find an alternative to alcohol, to make the snack available to the masses… Tom and Dominic have partnered with Cadbury, in celebration of their 200th year anniversary, to explore the story of how chocolate, from its Mesoamerican origins, became a British favourite. Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor
February 4, 2022
How devastating were European arrivals to the Americas in terms of deaths and the introduction of new infectious diseases? Tom and Dominic are joined by Professor Kyle Harper from the University of Oklahoma to discuss the relationship between disease and colonial expansion, the origins of the Spanish flu and the spread of modern forms of infectious disease. Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Jack Davenport
Tom Holland, Dominic Sandbrook, Kyle Harper, Dom Johnson, Jack Davenport
December 9, 2024
The Rise of the Franks - a mighty host of warlords; forefathers of the western world and forgers of medieval civilisation, under the totemic leadership of history’s most glorious King: Charlemagne. It is a tale rich in fantasy and myth, transporting us into a distant age and the dark debris of a crumbling Roman empire; landscapes scarred by ruins, clashing queens, poisonings, sorcery, bloody battles, ice castles, and axe-wielding warriors, more reminiscent of King Arthur, Game of Thrones and the Lord of the Rings than real life. Once insignificant, terrifying barbarians from the peripheries of Gaul, with flaming red hair and formidable moustaches, they would emerge from the ashes of the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD, and become the heirs of the Caesars. But how? The answer lies in warring barbarian strongmen, the collision of old gods and the new, a mighty Christian martyr, a mysterious ancient bloodline born of perhaps Jesus Christ himself, the emperors of old, and a sea monster; and a battle to determine dominion of the West… Join Tom and Dominic as they launch into one of the greatest stories in all of European history: the rise the Franks. Europe’s mightiest warriors, warlords and kings, whose legacy would reshape the world forever. Producer: Theo Young-Smith Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor
October 2, 2025
The fourteenth-century is one of the most turbulent periods in European history. Famine, war, plague, royal depositions - you name it, this century's got it. This week, Danièle speaks with Helen Carr about how England fared in these wild times, what her take is on some famous Plantagenets, and why we need to take a fresh look at this calamitous century. You can support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/medievalists This podcast is made possible by the generous support of listeners like you! To find out how to help spread the joy of medieval history, please visit patreon.com/themedievalpodcast
Danièle Cybulskie, Helen Carr
November 14, 2023
The Regional Fictions Podcast is a series of podcasts stemming from the Redefining the Region project funded by the Dutch Research Council NWO at Radboud University (Project ID: VI.C.181.026; P.I. Prof. Marguérite Corporaal). In these podcasts, researchers bring listeners on a journey to discover lesser-known nineteenth-century regional books and media documents in conversation with fellow experts. Hosted by researchers who are part of the VICI project, each episode uncovers nineteenth-century regional literature and media and features an interview with fellow researchers as well as a reading of short extracts from the texts that are being discussed. The podcasts are aimed at researchers and students in the humanities who are interested in nineteenth-century regional identities and European regional or local-colour literature in transnational perspectives. Additional information on the Redefining the Region project can be found at https://www.ru.nl/en/research/research-projects/redefining-the-region
Marguérite Corporaal
Jochen Hung
Tom Holland, Dominic Sandbrook, Theo Young-Smith, Tabby Syrett, Aaliyah Akude, Jack Davenport, Tony Pastor
Tom Holland, Dominic Sandbrook, Theo Young-Smith, Tabby Syrett, Jack Davenport, Tony Pastor
Tom Holland, Dominic Sandbrook, Theo Young-Smith, Tabby Syrett, Aaliyah Akude, Jack Davenport, Tony Pastor