Crash Course European History Preview

Summary

In this Crash Course History episode, John Green explores the complex history of Europe, emphasizing its interconnectedness with the world. He discusses the arbitrary nature of Europe's definition and its historical significance, starting from the Middle Ages to the modern push for unity. Green highlights the continent's cultural, political, and economic developments, while stressing the importance of viewing history through a global lens, acknowledging the continent's influence and the impact of external forces on its trajectory.

Takeaways

• 🌏 Europe is a made-up idea with varying definitions and borders, such as the Ural Mountains dividing Russia into European and Asian halves.
• 🏙️ The history of Europe cannot be viewed in isolation; it has always been connected and influenced by other parts of the world.
• 📚 The script emphasizes the interconnectedness of the world's history and warns against the risk of regional history becoming isolated.
• 🖌️ Ancient cave paintings, like those at Lascaux, were created over thousands of years and represent a deep human connection to the land.
• 🎨 The discovery of the Lascaux cave paintings by Marcel Ravidat and his friends highlights the long-standing human fascination with art and history.
• 🕰️ The history of Europe covered in the series spans around 700 years, which is a relatively short period compared to the entirety of human history.
• 😔 The Black Death, a devastating pandemic, significantly impacted Europe and reshaped the relationship between peasants and lords.
• 🏛️ The role of the Catholic Church in political life was a significant aspect of Europe's history, with the Church being extremely powerful at times.
• 🌳 The script mentions the spread of ideas and technologies, such as gunpowder from China and the spread of Christianity from the Middle East.
• 🌍 The history of Europe is part of the larger story of human connection and exchange across the Afroeurasian landmass.
• 🔍 The script encourages a zoomed-out perspective on history, reminding us that the study of any region is part of the broader human story.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the Crash Course History series presented by John Green?

The main theme of the series is to explore the history of Europe, starting from the closing years of the Middle Ages and ending with Europe's recent political and economic unity.

Why does John Green mention the debate over the Eurocentric nature of his previous world history series?

He brings up the debate to acknowledge different perspectives on his past work and to set the stage for a series that will delve into European history, while also emphasizing the interconnectedness of the world.

What does John Green argue about the concept of Europe being a 'made-up idea'?

He argues that Europe, as a concept, is not universally agreed upon. It's a construct, and its geographical boundaries, such as the Ural Mountains or the status of Turkey, are often debated.

How does John Green connect the history of Europe to the rest of the world?

He emphasizes that Europe's history cannot be viewed in isolation due to its long-standing contact and cultural exchange with other parts of the world, such as the spread of Christianity and the introduction of gunpowder.

What historical event does John Green mention as having reshaped early modern Europe?

He refers to the great disease pandemics that originated from Asia and had a significant impact on the population and society of early modern Europe.

What significant find did Marcel Ravidat and his friends discover in 1940?

Marcel Ravidat and his friends discovered a cave with walls covered in paintings, some of which were at least 17,000 years old.

Why were two of the boys who found the cave so moved by the artwork that they camped outside to protect it?

The profound impact of the ancient artwork, representing thousands of years of human history, compelled them to protect the site from potential damage or vandalism.

What does John Green suggest about the uniqueness of European cave paintings?

He suggests that while European cave paintings are not unique, as similar finds have been made in other continents, what is fascinating is the longevity of the art, often created over thousands of years by many generations.

How does John Green frame the timeline of the European history series in relation to the entirety of human history?

He frames the 700-year span of the series as a significant but relatively short period when compared to the entirety of human history, emphasizing the importance of perspective in understanding history.

What humorous note does John Green end on regarding the center of the Earth?

He ends with a playful note that the center of the Earth changes every week and that this week, it's yet another Earth, making a joke about the fluidity of concepts and ideas.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Introduction to the Eurocentric History of Europe

The script introduces the series on European history with John Green, noting the debate over the Eurocentric nature of world history education. It emphasizes that Europe is a conceptual construct, with its borders and identity being fluid and debated. The script also highlights the interconnectedness of Europe with the rest of the world, challenging the idea of studying its history in isolation. The history to be covered spans from the Middle Ages to the recent push for political and economic unity, with a focus on significant political, economic, military, and cultural developments.

05:01

🖌️ The Timeless Art of Ancient Cave Paintings

This paragraph delves into the significance of ancient cave paintings in Europe, such as those found at Lascaux, which were created over thousands of years by multiple generations. It contrasts the 700-year span of European history to be covered with the vast expanse of human history, reminding viewers of the relative brevity of the period in focus. The script uses humor to ponder the ever-changing theories about the Earth's core, suggesting a playful take on the fluidity of knowledge and understanding.

Keywords

💡Eurocentric

Eurocentric refers to a perspective or approach that is centered on or heavily influenced by Europe and its history, culture, or values. In the video, John Green humorously discusses the concept of Eurocentricity, noting that while the series is about European history, it will also emphasize the interconnectedness of the world and the influence of other regions on Europe's development.

💡Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is a historical period that lasted from the 5th to the 15th century, bridging the gap between the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Renaissance. The video mentions the closing years of the Middle Ages as the starting point for the exploration of European history, indicating a time of significant transition and transformation.

💡Political and economic unity

Political and economic unity refers to the state of being unified in terms of governance and economic systems. The script mentions Europe's recent move toward such unity, likely referring to the European Union, which is a political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe.

💡Eurasia

Eurasia is the combined landmass of Europe and Asia, forming a single continuous landmass. The video discusses the concept of Eurasia to challenge the idea of distinct continents, as it is physically and geopolitically inseparable from Africa, and also discusses the debate over what constitutes Europe.

💡Continent

A continent is a large, continuous landmass. The script explores the concept of continents, questioning the commonly accepted number and boundaries, particularly in relation to Europe and its geographical and historical connections to other landmasses.

💡Cultural developments

Cultural developments refer to the evolution and changes in a society's cultural aspects, such as art, religion, and social norms. The video promises to introduce viewers to the significant cultural changes in Europe, which are part of the broader historical narrative.

💡Interconnectedness

Interconnectedness refers to the state of being interconnected or linked together. The script emphasizes the interconnectedness of the world, especially in relation to Europe, highlighting that Europe's history cannot be studied in isolation due to its continuous contact and exchange with other regions.

💡Black Death

The Black Death, also known as the Bubonic Plague, was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe in the 14th century. The video mentions the Black Death as a significant event that brought about major changes in European society.

💡Catholic Church

The Catholic Church is the largest Christian church, headed by the Pope. In the script, the Catholic Church is mentioned as a powerful entity during the Middle Ages, with its role in political life being a subject of discussion and change over time.

💡Lascaux

Lascaux refers to a complex of caves in southwestern France known for their Paleolithic cave paintings, which are among the best-known examples of Upper Paleolithic art. The video uses Lascaux as an example to illustrate the long-term cultural continuity and the deep history of human presence in Europe.

💡Perspective

Perspective refers to a particular attitude, way of regarding, or analyzing something. The video script ends with a reminder about the importance of perspective in understanding history, suggesting that as the series zooms in on Europe, viewers should keep in mind the broader context of human history.

Highlights

Introduction to the Crash Course History series by John Green.

John Green's acknowledgment of the Eurocentric perspective in his previous world history series.

The concept of Europe as a made-up idea, with its geopolitical and physical boundaries being debated.

Discussion on the Eurasian landmass and its inseparable connection with Africa and North America with South America.

The ambiguity of the Ural Mountains as the dividing line between Europe and Asia.

Questioning whether western Kazakhstan and Turkey are considered part of Europe.

The historical context of the Roman Empire's capital influencing its European identity.

Emphasis on the interconnectedness of Europe with the rest of the world throughout history.

The historical significance of the spread of Christianity and the Islamic Caliphate of Cordoba in Europe.

The introduction of gunpowder from China to Europe around 1300.

The impact of disease pandemics from Asia on early modern Europe.

John Green's approach to emphasize the world's interconnectedness in the series.

The historical starting point of the series around the year 1300, with central Europe's political landscape.

The upcoming significant historical events such as the Black Death, peasant-lord relationships, and the role of the Catholic Church.

The story of Marcel Ravidat discovering the Lascaux cave paintings with his dog Robot in 1940.

The age and preservation of the Lascaux cave paintings, some being at least 17,000 years old.

The emotional impact of the cave paintings on the discoverers and their decision to protect the site.

John Green's reflection on the relative brevity of the 700-year span of European history in the series compared to the entirety of human history.

The humorous postscript about the center of the Earth changing weekly to another Earth.

Transcripts

Hello and welcome to Crash Course History.

I’m John Green; you may know me because I once hosted a series of Crash Course videos

on world history, which depending on your perspective was either far too Eurocentric

or not nearly Eurocentric enough.

Well, we’re about to get rather Eurocentric, because over th...

Mr. Green Mr. Green!

Yeah, you’re retired, Me from the Past.

I can’t play seventeen anymore.

Anyway, starting today, we’re going to explore the history of Europe, beginning with the

closing years of the so-called Middle Ages and ending with Europe’s recent, and possibly

temporary, great turn toward political and economic unity.

But here at the start, I want to note two things.

First, that Europe is a made-up idea--like, in parts of eastern Europe, students learn

there are six continents, not seven, because Eurasia is treated as a single landmass, on

account of it being, you know, a single landmass.

But then, Eurasia is both physically and geopolitically inseparable from Africa, just as North America

is from South America.

And Australia is more an island than a continent, and don’t even get me started on Antarctica,

so in some ways there are two continents.

We don’t even completely agree what constitutes Europe--the dividing line is often constructed

as the Ural Mountains, which would mean that half of Russia is European and the other half

Asian.

And is western Kazakhstan Europe?

The Southeastern border of Europe is also problematic--is Turkey Europe?

And if not, was the Roman Empire a European Empire only when its capital was Rome and

not for the many centuries in which its capital was Constantinople?

But of course, like many made up ideas, Europe is also real, and in these videos, we’ll

attempt to introduce you to the big political, economic, and military, and cultural developments

in recent European history.

The second thing I want to say is that one cannot look at the history of Europe in isolation,

because as part of the Afroeurasian landmass, Europe has long been in contact and conversation

with other parts of the world, and so it’s impossible to examine its history in isolation,

because it was never isolated.

In early human history, when bands of hunter-gatherers rarely reached populations of larger than

a few dozen, people were relatively independent from those who lived far away from them.

But the story of humans is in some ways a story of growing connection--like, three thousand

years ago, everything most humans used had been made within their community--from clothing

to tools to weapons to jewelry to ideas.

Over time, though, our trade networks and cultural connections expanded.

More of us began to live in cities, and to travel between communities.

By around a thousand years ago for instance, Christianity--which was born in the Middle

East-- had become the dominant religion in Europe,

and the Catholic Church was extremely powerful, but there were also other religions being

practiced.

Like, most of the Iberian peninsula, for instance, was controlled by Islamic Caliphate of Cordoba,

which had arrived from northern Africa.

Gunpowder, which was first developed in China, began being utilized in Europe around 1300.

And the great disease pandemics that reshaped early modern Europe also came from Asia.

What I’m saying is that even Europe isn’t really Eurocentric.

We’re going to try to emphasize the world’s interconnectedness in this series, but any

regional history risks isolating itself.

So throughout, I hope you’ll remember that Europe is a made-up idea, and that it is nonetheless

real, and that the lives of humans in Europe have long been shaped by the lives of humans

elsewhere.

Our history will begin around the year 1300, with central Europe a tangle of kingdoms and

city-states, and the continent in a purportedly Dark Age.

Big changes are coming--the absolute devastation of the Black Death, a reimagining of the relationship

between peasant and lord, and questions about the role of the Catholic Church in political

life.

But before we get there, I want to flash forwards and backwards.

In September of 1940, with Europe roiled by the second world war, an 18-year-old car mechanic

named Marcel Ravidat was walking his dog Robot in the countryside of southwestern France

when the dog disappeared down a hole.

The next day, Marcel went to the spot with three friends to explore the hole, and after

digging for a while, they found a cave with walls covered with paintings--paintings of

handprints and horses and bison.

It would eventually be established that some of these artworks were at least 17,000 years

old.

Two of the boys who found the cave were so profoundly moved by the artwork they saw that

they camped outside the cave to protect it for over a year.

Now, there’s nothing unique to Europe about very old cave paintings--they’ve been found

in the Americas, in Indonesia, in Africa, in Australia.

They have not been found in Antarctica, another argument against its continenthood.

And don’t tell me that continents are about geology not humans.

Who do you think invented continents?

Rocks?

I will confess to being a little human-centric when it comes to history.

Right, but cave paintings aren’t unique to Europe.

But what I find fascinating about ancient cave paintings is that they were often made

over the course of many thousands of years, as hundreds of generations of humans lived

in the same caves.

Like, the paintings at Lascaux, for instance, were likely created over a span of around

two thousand years.

For two thousand years, a community of humans lived in this cave.

Two thousand years.

Two thousand years ago, Tiberius was the Emperor of the Roman Empire.

Our history of Europe will span around 700 years, which is a long time, but it also isn’t

a long time, as it represents less than one half of one percent of human history.

History, like so much else, changes as our perspective changes.

And so as we zoom into the history of Europe, let us not forget that we are zooming in.

Thanks for watching.

I’ll see you next time.

P.S.

Have you ever wondered what’s at the center of the Earth?

Well, it turns out, it changes every week but this week, it’s yet another Earth.

It’s Earths all the way down, you see.