The Shortest History of Europe

Uncover the decisive moments that shaped a world-changing continent. The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read.

Celebrated historian John Hirst draws from his own lectures to deliver this ultra-accessible master class on the making of modern Europe, from Ancient Greece through World War II. With over 600,000 copies sold worldwide, this brief history is a global sensation propelled by a thesis of astonishing simplicity: Just three elementsGerman warfare, Greek and Roman culture, and Christianitycome together to explain everything else, from the Crusades to the Industrial Revolution. Hirsts razor-sharp grasp of cause and effect helps us see with sparkling clarity how the history of Europethe crucible of liberal democracyshapes the way we live today. 74 B&W maps and images