Western Europe

In this short essay, Mark Twain discusses the patriot William Tell, the city of Interlaken, and the Jungfrau mountain. He describes the beauty of the landscape with great admiration.

The Age of Atlantic Revolution was a defining moment in western history. Our understanding of rights, of what makes the individual an individual, of how to define a citizen versus a subject, of what states should or should not do, of how labor, politics, and trade would be organized, of the relationship between the church and the state, and of our attachment to the nation all derive from this period (c. 1750-1850).

Prepare for success on the CLEP Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present exam with this comprehensive study guide. Covering key topics from Absolutism and Constitutionalism to contemporary Europe, this guide offers a thorough review of essential historical events, developments, and themes. Inside, you'll find: Absolutism and Constitutionalism, 1648–1715: Explore the rise of absolute monarchies, the balance of power in Europe, and the emergence of constitutional governments. Competition for empire and economic expansion: Learn about the age of exploration, colonialism, and the economic...

Experience the best of Rome in 72 hours! Many travelers who have limited time in a big city like Rome, make one big mistake. They try and see everything Rome has to offer in three days. The problem with this approach is that they end up burned out and tired. The good news is that with the right planning and approach you can have an awesome time in 72 hours. The key is not to try and see everything; rather try and see the best of the best Rome has to offer.

Margaret Thatcher was a British stateswoman and the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. From 1975 to 1990, she was the Leader of the Conservative Party. She was elected Prime Minister three times and served for 11 years, longer than any other British prime minister of the 20th century. Her political views, based on loose economics and individual self-realization, along with her policies, were referred to as Thatcherism, which for decades remained an influential political concept in the United Kingdom.

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Portugal with our comprehensive travel guide, meticulously crafted to enhance every step of your adventure. Whether you're drawn to the historic charm of Lisbon, the sun-kissed beaches of the Algarve, or the picturesque vineyards of the Douro Valley, our guide is your trusted companion, offering invaluable insights and expert recommendations to help you make the most of your visit.

Greater Than a Tourist: Kyiv, Ukraine offers the inside scoop on Kyiv. Most travel books tell you how to travel like a tourist. As part of the Greater Than a Tourist series, this book will give you travel tips from someone who has lived at your next travel destination. Travel like a local. Slow down, stay in one place, and get to know the people and the culture.

"Living in Italy" - A true story about life in Italy by Stef Smulders is an engaging and insightful memoir that takes readers on a journey through the author's experiences of relocating to Italy with his partner, Nico. From navigating the intricacies of Italian bureaucracy to adapting to the country's vibrant culture, Smulders shares his candid observations and amusing anecdotes about life as an expat in Italy. Through his vivid storytelling, Smulders paints a vivid picture of the joys and challenges of living in a foreign country.

Ob als scharfer Beobachter, zielstrebiger Spaziergänger, oder als Anekdoten erzählender Flaneur - in diesem Hörbuch nimmt der Autor Fritz Hessel den Hörer mit auf eine Reise in das facettenreiche, sich kolossal zu wandeln beginnende und vor Kontrasten nur so flimmernde Berlin der späten 20er Jahre. Staunend wie ein Kind und sammelnd wie ein Historiker lässt er die verschiedenen Welten und Zeiten dieser einzigartigen europäischen Metropole zusammenfließen ohne dabei grundlos ins Schwärmen zu geraten.

The war between the Protestant Netherlands, mostly led by William of Orange, and Catholic Spain was one of the marks in Dutch history. This war had determined the beliefs of many people who now lived along the three rivers that went through the country. Most of the people north of the rivers were Protestant, and most of the believers below them (even throughout Belgium as well) were Catholic. This was no coincidence. The war in the 1600s had become a symbol of Dutch resistance, independence, and the royal family (of Orange).

The dream of capturing and organizing knowledge is as old as history. From the archives of ancient Sumeria and the Library of Alexandria to the Library of Congress and Wikipedia, humanity has wrestled with the problem of harnessing its intellectual output. The timeless quest for wisdom has been as much about information storage and retrieval as creative genius. In Cataloging the World, Alex Wright introduces us to a figure who stands out in the long line of thinkers and idealists who devoted themselves to the task.

Conventional histories of the Great War have tended to focus on the terrible attritional battles of Ypres, of Arras and of the Somme. What they do not tell us is what life was like for the ordinary soldier, what mattered to him, and how he survived, both physically and mentally. Now for the first time, one of Britain's leading military historians, Richard van Emden tells the story of the Great War exclusively through the words and images of soldiers on the ground.

How did descendants of Viking marauders came to dominate Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East? It is a tale of ambitious adventures and fierce freebooters, of fortunes made and fortunes lost. The Normans made their influence felt across all of western Europe and the Mediterranean, from the British Isles to North Africa, and Lisbon to the Holy Land. In Empires of the Normans we discover how they combined military might and political savvy with deeply held religious beliefs and a profound sense of their own destiny.

In the wake of taking Constantinople, the Ottoman Empire would spend the next few centuries expanding its size, power, and influence, bumping up against Eastern Europe and becoming one of the world’s most important geopolitical players. It would take repeated efforts by various European coalitions to prevent a complete Ottoman takeover of the continent, and one of the most important battles among those efforts took place at Vienna in 1529.

A compact travel guide tailored for budget-conscious travellers - whether you are a solo adventurer, a couple or a family looking to explore the wonderful Spanish island of Mallorca.

The 20th century in Europe was an urban century: it was shaped by life in, and the view from, the street. Women were not liberated in legislatures, but liberated themselves in factories, homes, nightclubs, and shops. In Streetlife, Leif Jerram presents a totally new history of the 20th century, with the city at its heart, showing how everything distinctive about the century, from revolution and dictatorship to sexual liberation, was fundamentally shaped by the great urban centres which defined it.

Geert Wilders is a hunted man. He lives in a heavily protected safe house that is bombproof and bulletproof. Why? Because Geert Wilders is marked for death by Islamic extremists. In his new book, Marked for Death, Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders tells his never-before-published story about the jihad being waged against him—and the West.

In September 2000, 11 British soldiers were captured by a notorious militia gang in Sierra Leone. The so-called 'West Side Boys' had subjected their part of the country to a long reign of terror, murdering, kidnapping and mutilating anyone who stood in their way. Now British soldiers were at their mercy. Surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered, any resistance would have seen them all killed, yet their hopes of a quick exchange soon faded.

With travel tips and culture in our guidebooks written by a local, it is never too late to visit Verona. Greater Than a Tourist: Verona Veneto Region Italy offers the inside scoop on the city of love. Most travel books tell you how to travel like a tourist. Although there is nothing wrong with that, this audiobook will give you candid travel tips from someone who has lived at your next travel destination. Experience cultural, culinary delights, and attractions with the guidance of a local. Slow down and get to know the people with this invaluable guide.

The Dutch East India Company, officially the United East India Company (Dutch: Vereenigde Oost Indische Compagnie; VOC), was a megacorporation created in the early 17th century by a government-directed merger of many competing Dutch trade services. You might think that Amazon or Google is big, but the VOC is still thought to be the world's biggest corporation in documented history.