European History

Previously divided into West Germany and East Germany until reunification in 1990, Germany — officially known as the Federal Republic of Germany — has 16 federal states. Its federal system allows the individual German states to maintain authority over areas like education, policing and cultural activities, while the federal government oversees issues like defense and economic affairs.

By Yara Simón

The Balkan states (sometimes colloquially referred to as simply "the Balkans") are a diverse and historically rich set of countries that span across southeastern Europe.

By Mack Hayden

Ever wondered how the British royal family finds nannies fit to change royal nappies? The answer is a nanny college called Norland.

By Kate Morgan

CPR Annie has been called "the most-kissed face in the world." But the doll's look was improbably inspired by the famous death mask of a beautiful, unknown drowning victim in Paris.

By Dave Roos

Point d'Alençon Lace is a needlepoint lace that originated in Alençon, France. It's delicate and rare and takes years to master. Why is it so different from other lace?

By Carrie Whitney, Ph.D.

Hunger stones in European rivers mark periods of drought that lead to famines. They have begun to reappear in 2022, so what does that mean for the near-term health of the European economy?

By Patrick J. Kiger

As King Charles III assumes the throne, he faces numerous challenges both at home and abroad. How he handles them could very well determine the future of the monarchy itself.

By Tobias Harper

Today Paris' best-known attractions are perhaps the Eiffel Tower and Champs-Elysées. In the 19th-century, it was the morgue.

By Dave Roos

Helmets, battles, Leif Erikson Day - our Viking quiz has it all. Grab some mead and let's get started!

By Mark Mancini

The ghost city of Pripyat in Ukraine is one of the casualties of the Atomic Age and a warning to us all about the dangers of improperly managed nuclear power.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Yeah, yeah, everyone knows that Emily just loves Paris. But what about some of the other 40-plus capital cities in Europe? Take our quiz to find out more.

By Alia Hoyt

Is it the country with the smallest land area? Or the fewest people? Either way, you get the same answer.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus & Sascha Bos

The pronunciation of "Kyiv" goes far beyond personal preference. It actually has geopolitical significance.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

University of Michigan historian Ronald Suny answers some questions and corrects some falsehoods about the Ukrainian and Russian history that helped lead up to the current events.

By Ronald Suny

A roughly crescent-shaped region encompassing modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, and parts of Turkey and Iran, the Fertile Crescent was home to the world's first settled agricultural communities.

By Dave Roos

Despite a pending scandalous court case and the loss of all his military titles and royal patronages, Prince Andrew still retains his place in line to the British throne. Here's why.

By Dave Roos

Named the happiest country in the world for the past three years in a row, Finland is considered a Nordic country. But is it part of Scandinavia?

By Mark Mancini

Scattered around Tuscany in Italy, you'll still find beautiful little windows through which wine was passed during the plague - an early social distancing measure that's back in use today.

By Katy Spratte Joyce

This sprawling garden of a landscape cemetery sits in the middle of Paris and holds the remains of some of its most famous, and infamous, citizens.

By Nathan Chandler

The tin or lead pins medieval pilgrims wore on their hats or cloaks, some playfully risqué, were meant to protect against plague.

By Jesslyn Shields

Lots of things contributed to Napoleon's loss at Waterloo - including bad weather, superior British defense tactics and perhaps a bad case of hemorrhoids.

By Patrick J. Kiger

This wealthy banking dynasty of Florence rubbed shoulders with Michelangelo, Botticelli and Galileo. They counted two popes and two queens in their clan. How did they get so powerful, and how did they lose it all?

By Dave Roos

The modern city of Istanbul, Turkey, has a long and tumultuous history. Once known as Constantinople, it was the capital of the Ottoman Empire, the center of cultural and religious activity and a hub for trade in Eurasia.

By Tara Yarlagadda

Göbekli Tepe is thought to be a possible archaeological bridge between nomadic hunter-gatherer societies and stable, settled agricultural communities that built temples and produced art.

By Jesslyn Shields

Before the advent of gunpowder, enemy combatants used a powerful siege weapon called a trebuchet to forcefully launch projectiles - sometimes a large stone, a decapitated human head or a dead horse - at intended targets.

By Dave Roos