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Witenagemot
Witenagemot , in Anglo-Saxon England, the council that advised the king. It was a predecessor of the British Parliament.
GLOSSARY
Our European glossary contains important terms that will help you understand the development of European history. Consult this channel to learn important terms.
What's the real story?
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How Cave Dwellers WorkHairy, heavy-browed, dim-witted: This is our vision of a caveman. But the cavepeople created amazing art -- and cave dwelling didn't stop with the Neanderthals. See more »
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How Dictators Work
Hitler, Kim Jong-Il, Saddam Hussein: Dictators come hand-in-hand with violence and controversy. But what makes a dictator different from any other leader? See more »
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How did the East India Company change the world?
The East India Company didn't just cause the Boston Tea Party -- it forged new nations and established drug trade. So why is it the basis for modern corporations? See more »
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How Fascism Works
In fascism, the state is all that matters, and constant conquest is necessary to glorify that state. But how do you convince people to support a philosophy that denies their personal value? Is fascism really still alive today? See more »
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How the Berlin Wall Worked
The Berlin Wall splintered a city and divided a country, but it may also have prevented nuclear war. Why block off a city with concrete, barbed wire and land mines? See more »
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How the Enlightenment Worked
The Age of Enlightenment was based on reason and science and featured some very heavy hitters: Voltaire, Descartes and Kant among them. But it took two Revolutions to truly test its principles. See more »
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How the Great Train Robbery Worked
In 1963, criminals pulled off the largest train robbery in Britain's history. How did 15 men stop a train, and why did it take a Monopoly board to catch them? See more »
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How the Spanish Inquisition Worked
Did anyone expect the Spanish Inquisition? It began with religious intolerance and ended with torture, with false accusations and unfair trials in between. How did this period of cruelty come to be? See more »
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What was the impact of the Age of Enlightenment?
The ideas of the Age of Enlightenment turned to action when the U.S. broke from King George III and British rule. How did 18th century intellectual ideals incite revolution? See more »
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Renaissance
Renaissance, in a broad sense, the culturally fruitful period of transition from the medieval era into the beginning of modern civilization in Europe. See more »
