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verdunbeach's review against another edition
4.0
Davies does a wonderful job of tying together loose ends frequently ignored by conventional historians. Particularly in the first parts, I learned a great deal about the Greek presence in Italy, the hellenisation of Romans and its link to Syracuse, the transition from the Western Empire to the "barbarians", from the Eastern Empire to Byzantines, whether 15th century European kingdoms really had any resemblance to the nation states we know today, the Schisms, how the Holy Roman Empire worked, the transition from the French Revolution to Napoleon, etc.
The downside of this work is undoubtedly the sections of which one already already has a decent knowledge - a high-level overview brings little satisfaction in these parts when broader links aren't being made. Secondly, as Davies approaches contemporary times, you can feel him become overwhelmed with the more thorough historical sources as certain sections become overloaded with lists of important people and little information about their impact.
Overall however, this is a very well-put together book. A great read for anyone interested in learning more about European history.
The downside of this work is undoubtedly the sections of which one already already has a decent knowledge - a high-level overview brings little satisfaction in these parts when broader links aren't being made. Secondly, as Davies approaches contemporary times, you can feel him become overwhelmed with the more thorough historical sources as certain sections become overloaded with lists of important people and little information about their impact.
Overall however, this is a very well-put together book. A great read for anyone interested in learning more about European history.
nelsonminar's review against another edition
2.0
True confession; I only read the first chapter of this book. Didn't quit out of frustration, that was all I was interested in. I probably shouldn't be writing a review.
But I found the book readable enough. My main complaint is he reports a bunch of things which are fanciful, taking the most extreme interpretation of a limited historical record to tell the most entertaining story.
Specifically quibbling with his account of the "Anemospilia sacrifice", an archaeological find, where if you take the most breathless account an earthquake crushed the room right in the middle of a blood sacrifice aimed at stopping the destruction. Perfectly preserving two sacrificial victims, the high priest, and another temple attendant. It's a great story, one National Geographic reported. It's also probably not true and is not supported by further evidence; there's a zillion competing interpretations of what was actually found. It makes a good story, but I'd rather read a sober and careful review of evidence.
Maybe that's a minor quibble or not relevant to the rest of the book. On a quick skim I also worry about the book staying coherent for 1400 pages. Or rather, maybe too coherent, more so than real human history is.
But I found the book readable enough. My main complaint is he reports a bunch of things which are fanciful, taking the most extreme interpretation of a limited historical record to tell the most entertaining story.
Specifically quibbling with his account of the "Anemospilia sacrifice", an archaeological find, where if you take the most breathless account an earthquake crushed the room right in the middle of a blood sacrifice aimed at stopping the destruction. Perfectly preserving two sacrificial victims, the high priest, and another temple attendant. It's a great story, one National Geographic reported. It's also probably not true and is not supported by further evidence; there's a zillion competing interpretations of what was actually found. It makes a good story, but I'd rather read a sober and careful review of evidence.
Maybe that's a minor quibble or not relevant to the rest of the book. On a quick skim I also worry about the book staying coherent for 1400 pages. Or rather, maybe too coherent, more so than real human history is.
picky_04's review against another edition
5.0
I bought this for $13 USD with about $20 USD postage. Can't remember what that was in AUD but it has been one of the best purchases of my LIFE so I could've spent $100 USD and it still would've been an absolute bargain.
I used this book for nearly every single one of my history topics at university. As a student-teacher I used it for high school history classes as well. It's a great resource to get a quick overview on what an event was, who was involved, where it sits in the timeline, what influenced it and what it came to influence in turn.
It is a fantastic, comprehensive, and highly accessible work on Europe's immense history. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.
I used this book for nearly every single one of my history topics at university. As a student-teacher I used it for high school history classes as well. It's a great resource to get a quick overview on what an event was, who was involved, where it sits in the timeline, what influenced it and what it came to influence in turn.
It is a fantastic, comprehensive, and highly accessible work on Europe's immense history. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.
myles4329c's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Brilliant history primer. It has good scope for a single volume trying to cover so many key points from European History. Was good in creating a very useful structure for understanding the context of European history, and opening the door for further study