Eastern Europe! : everything you need to know about the history (and more!) of a region that shaped our world and still does

When the legendary Romulus killed his brother Remus and founded the city of Rome in 753 BCE, Plovdiv -- today the second-largest city in Bulgaria -- was already thousands of years old. Indeed, London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Madrid, Brussels, Amsterdam are all are mere infants compared to Plovdiv. This is just one of the paradoxes that haunts and defines the New Europe, that part of Europe that was freed from Soviet bondage in 1989 which is at once both much older than the modern Atlantic-facing power centers of Western Europe while also being in some ways much younger than them. Eastern Europe! is a brief and concise (but informative) introduction to Eastern Europe and its myriad customs and history. Even those knowledgeable about Western Europe often see Eastern Europe as terra incognita, with a sign on the border declaring "Here be monsters." This book is a gateway to understanding both what unites and separates Eastern Europeans from their Western brethren, and how this vital region has been shaped by, but has also left its mark on, Western Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Ideal for students, businesspeople, and those who simply want to know more about where Grandma or Grandpa came from, Eastern Europe! is a user-friendly guide to a region that is all too often mischaracterized as remote, insular, and superstitious. Illustrations throughout include: 40 photos, 40 maps and 40 figures (tables, charts, etc.) Eastern Europe! Is A Brief And Concise (but Informative) Introduction To Eastern Europe And Its Myriad Customs And History... This Book Is A Gateway To Understanding Both What Unites And Separates Eastern Europeans From Their Western Brethren, And How This Vital Region Has Been Shaped By, But Has Also Left Its Mark On, Western Europe, Central Asia, The Middle East And North Africa.--www.amazon.com. A Few Words About A Word ; A Note On Pronunciation -- A Word (or Two) About Time ; Languages ; Geography ; Religion -- A Prehistory ; History ; Classical Eastern Europe -- Setting The Stage, 500-800 Ce. Western Rome ; The Avars ; The Slavs ; The First Slavic States ; The Bulgars ; The Dacians And Vlachs ; The Khazars ; (a Bunch Of) Finns And Balts -- Special Insert : The Steppe -- The Origins Of States, 800-1242 Ce. The Franks ; Moravia Magna And Bohemia ; The Bulgarians ; The Rus ; The Magyars/hungarians ; The Slovenes And Croatians ; Duklja, Raška, And The Serbs ; The Poles ; The Pechenegs ; The Cumanians ; The Lithuanians ; The Finale : 1239-42 -- Special Insert : Peoples Of Eastern Europe : The Jews --^ The Medieval Years, 1242-1600 Ce. The Mongol Empire, The Golden Horde, And Tartars ; Bulgaria ; Serbia ; Montenegro ; Bosnia & Herzegovina ; Croatia ; The Republic Of Ragusa/dubrovnik ; Albania ; The Byzantine Empire ; The Ottoman (turkish) Empire ; Wallachia, Moldavia, And Transylvania ; Hungary ; Bohemia ; The Teutonic Knights And Schizoid Prussia ; Lithuania And The Eastern Slavs ; Livonia And The Balts ; Poland As Catalyst ; Novgorod, Muscovy, And The Russians ; Halych-volhynia : A Kingdom In Galicia -- Special Insert : Peoples Of Eastern Europe : The Germans -- The Dawn Of A New Age, 1600-1800. The Principality Of Transylvania ; Wallachia And Moldavia ; Montenegro ; The Swedish Empire ; The Polish-lithuanian Commonwealth ; The Ukrainians And Belarussians ; Ottoman Empire ; Russia ; Of Austrians And Habsburgs ; Prussia -- Special Insert : Peoples Of Eastern Europe : The Gypsies --^ The Very, Very Long 19th Century, 1800-1914. The Ottoman Empire As Doorstop ; Serbia's Front Row Seat ; Montenegro Hits The 19th Century ; Romania Is Born ; Bulgaria's Raw Deal ; Albania As Accident; The Italian Risorgimento And Irridentism ; Pan-germanism And How Fritz (and Helga) Got Their Mojo ; Pan-slavism And Pie In The Sky ; The Austrian Dilemma And Hungary ; Russia, The Hope And Prison Of Nations ; Dawn Of The Dead : The Poland That Just Won't Go Away -- Special Insert : Peoples Of Eastern Europe : The Muslims --^ The Great War, And A Magic Year, 1914-1939. The War ; Paris, 1919 ; The Ottoman Empire Goes Out In Style ; Austria-hungary As A Bug On The Windshield ; Serbia And History ; Montenegro Is Pushed Off The Cliff ; The Failed Superstates I : Yugoslavia ; Bulgaria Tries 1913 Over Again ; The Failed Superstates Ii : Romania ; Albania : Let's Try That Again ; Hungary Loses The War...again ; The Failed Superstates Iii : Czechoslovakia ; Ukraine : With Friends Like These ; Belarus Gets Its 15 Minutes...literally ; Libre Baltica : Lithuania, Latvia, And Estonia ; Russia And How Russians Do Change ; The Failed Superstates Iv : Poland --^ War! : 1939-1945. The War As You Probably Don't Know It ; About The Numbers Used In This Chapter ; An Overview Of The War ; Poland And The Art Of Not Being ; The Baltics And A Bad Neighborhood ; The Czech Lands Revert To The 17th Century ; Slovakia Is Born, Sort Of ; Hungary Embraces Its Inner Tar Baby ; Romania Guesses Wrong ; Yugoslavia, Serbia, And 1914 All Over Again ; Croatia's Dark Side ; Albania Tries To Keep Its Head Above Water ; Bulgaria : Third Time A Charm? ; The Soviet Union Wins By Knockout In The 9th Round ; The Holocaust -- Special Insert : Home Is Where The Border Is! --^ The Frying Pan, The Fire, Etc., 1945-92. The Cold War, Or This Town Isn't Big Enough ; The Warsaw Pact : The Farm Animals Unite ; Yugoslavia : Exit, Stage Left ; Albania As An Island ; Bulgaria Finally Gets Something In Return ; Romania Goes Off The Deep End ; Hungary And Its Food-based Ideologies ; Czechoslovakia, Just East Of Eden ; East Germany As The Runt Of The Litter ; Poland, The Perennial Pain In The Butt ; The Soviet Union, Keeping Up With The Joneses -- Easy Come, Easy Go : 1989-92. Ashes To Ashes, We All Fall Down ; Poland And The Ghosts Of 1980 : The First Steps ; The Hungarian Refolution ; East Germany Goosesteps Into Oblivion ; Elvis Is Dead, But Czechoslovakia Goes Velvet Anyway ; Bulgaria Knows Peer Pressure When It Sees It ; Asking For A Light In The Romanian Powderkeg ; Albania And Frost In Hell ; Playing Fiddle On The Deck Of The Titanic : The Soviet Union ; Libre Baltica, Part Ii --^ Reference. Musical Chairs, Or, Place Names In Eastern Europe ; Eastern Europe In Numbers ; Mrs. Jankowska's Homemade Pierogis. Tomek Jankowski. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 501-564) And Index. When the legendary Romulus killed his brother Remus and founded the city of Rome in 753 BCE, Plovdiv—today the second-largest city in Bulgaria—was thousands of years old. Indeed, London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Madrid, Brussels, Amsterdam are all are mere infants compared to Plovdiv. This is just one of the paradoxes that haunts and defines the New Europe, that part of Europe that was freed from Soviet bondage in 1989, and which is at once both much older than the modern Atlantic-facing power centers of Western Europe while also being much younger than them. Eastern Europe! is a brief and concise (but informative) introduction to Eastern Europe and its myriad customs and history.Even those knowledgeable about Western Europe often see Eastern Europe as terra incognito, with a sign on the border declaring “Here be monsters.” Tomek Jankowski's book is a gateway to understanding both what unites and separates Eastern Europeans from their Western brethren, and how this vital region has been shaped by but has also left its mark on Western Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. It is a reader-friendly guide to a region that is all too often mischaracterized as remote, insular, and superstitious.The book comprises three parts, The first sums up modern linguistic, geographic, and religious contours of Eastern Europe, while the second, main part delves into the region's history, from the earliest origins of Europe up to the end of the Cold War. Closing the book is a section that makes sense of geographical name references -- many cities, rivers, or regions have different names -- and also includes an'Eastern Europe by Numbers'feature that provides charts describing the populations, politics, and economies of the region today. Throughout are boxed-off anecdotes ('Useless Trivia') describing fascinating aspects of Eastern European history or culture. Eastern Europe! Is A Brief And Concise (but Informative) Introduction To Eastern Europe And Its Myriad Customs And History. When The Legendary Romulus Killed His Brother Remus And Founded The City Of Rome In 753 Bce, Plovdiv -- Today The Second-largest City In Bulgaria -- Was Already Thousands Of Years Old. Indeed, London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Madrid, Brussels, Amsterdam Are All Are Mere Infants Compared To Plovdiv. This Is Just One Of The Paradoxes That Haunts And Defines The New Europe, That Part Of Europe That Was Freed From Soviet Bondage In 1989 Which Is At Once Both Much Older Than The Modern Atlantic-facing Power Centers Of Western Europe While Also Being In Some Ways Much Younger Than Them. Even Those Knowledgeable About Western Europe Often See Eastern Europe As Terra Incognita, With A Sign On The Border Declaring Here Be Monsters. This Book Is A Gateway To Understanding Both What Unites And Separates Eastern Europeans From Their Western Brethren, And How This Vital Region Has Been Shaped By, But Has Also Left Its Mark On, Western Europe, Central Asia, The Middle East And North Africa. Ideal For Students, Businesspeople, And Those Who Simply Want To Know More About Where Grandma Or Grandpa Came From, Eastern Europe! Is A User-friendly Guide To A Region That Is All Too Often Mischaracterized As Remote, Insular, And Superstitious. Illustrations Throughout Include: 40 Photos, 40 Maps And 40 Figures (tables, Charts, Etc.) From The Trade Paperback Edition. While discussions of Eastern Europe have previously been confined to dry, scholarly works, Tomek E. Jankowski's Eastern Europe! is an entertaining account of this vital but oft-forgotten region. The book sums up modern linguistic, geographic and religious contours of Eastern Europe, providing a general background of the region's demographics. It also delves into the region's history, from the earliest origins of Europe up to the end of the Cold War and makes sense of geographical name references and changes throughout the years