European History

Sometimes I forget exactly how young America is in comparison to the rest of the world’s nations.

In my readings of late I have become interested in the Great War (WWI) so I picked up a copy of “A World Undone” by G.J. Meyer. It’s a narrative history of the war and I have to say, so far (159 pages in) it has been a phenomenal read.

But, it has been very odd as an American who has studied primarily American history to read sentences like “for almost 1000 years the Ottoman Turks had ruled….” or “since the fall of Rome the British Isles…” and to suddenly realize the depth of European history in comparison to our own.

A good analogy would be that here in southern Georgia there aren’t any really tall buildings. So a kid growing up around here has no appreciation for height. They have no idea how massive something can be until they get next to a skyscraper and it blows their mind to go to someplace like Atlanta where there are a couple of skyscrapers. If they went to New York first they would probably enter a state of shock which is why you see people wandering New York looking up instead of where they are going. The height that New Yorkers take for granted is a new experience for these people.

Even the cursory study of European history found in the historical side notes of this book has done the same thing for me. Growing up in America, learning only those parts of European history that were part of American history, the sheer volume and expanse of history left untouched by my studies is mind boggling. We are a scant 233 years old if you count from the Declaration of Independence. If you count from the founding of Jamestown we’re only 402. If you count from Columbus we’re only 517. Some of today’s most powerful European nations were in their ascendency over 1000 years ago or longer.

The history that has shaped Europe and is (I’m sure) taken for granted by its people is nothing short of amazing when seen for the first time in this way.

And even though it remains to be seen whether it will hold my attention for any length of time, to suddenly have my mind’s eye glimpse and absorb a whole new world of history has been nothing short of a thrill.