Abstract Louis XIV (1638-1715), was known as the 'Sun King'. By the time Louis took up the reign of the government in 1660, France had turned into the most powerful nation of Europe. At this time many of France's neighboring countries had been weakened both by revolts within their own countries ...

First to Worst? Downfall of Spain and France "Critics who claim that Europe's wealth was built on the exploitation of people overseas have some justification, but the experiences of Spain and France demonstrate that exploitation alone was not enough. To build and sustain wealth, count...

Why Were the French Armies Eventually Defeated by 1815? Up until 1807, the grande armée of France was very successful, never losing on land. They defeated the Austrians and Prussians at Austerlitz in 1805, the Prussians at Jena in 1806, and the Russians again in 1807 at Friedland, follow...

A Decade of Uneasy Peace World War II was the worst war that was fought in the 20th Century, and perhaps the worst war in the history of man. The loss of lives in World War II was a staggering 50-60 million dead (Mitchner, Tuffs Global Forces of the 20th Century 130). World War II also ushered in t...

The Effects of Nationalism from the Napoleonic Era The period of 1799-1815, otherwise known as the Napoleonic era, was one of great change both physically and ideologically. The entire continent of Europe and many of its colonial holdings were completely reshaped and/or united against ...

A booming economy along with the communes desire to obtain political power led to the formation of a new class in society which ultimately lead Europe into a period simply known as the Renaissance. Northern Italy's thriving economy was a result of great advances in shipbuilding. Their ships we...

Nationalism is a popular sentiment that places the existence and well-being of the nation highest in the scale of political loyalties. In political terms, it signifies a person's willingness to work for the nation against foreign domination, whether political, economic, or cultural. Nationalism al...

Napoleon Bonaparte was a significant man who was regarded as a person who was responsible for many historic events that would reshape France and Europe during the late 18th and early 19th century. He has been portrayed as a merciless leader, fearing little that stood in his way. Napoleon led his a...