A History of Eastern Europe

Eastern Europe has long been thought of as the "Other Europe," a region rife with political upheaval, shifting national borders, an astonishing variety of ethnic diversity, and relative isolation from the centers of power in the West. It has also been, and continues to be, pivotal in the course of world events. A History of Eastern Europe offers a sweeping 1,000-year tour with a particular focus on the region's modern history. In 24 insightful lectures, you'll observe waves of migration and invasion, watch empires rise and fall, witness wars and their deadly consequences - and come away with comprehensive knowledge of one of the world's most fascinating places. Explore the grand sweep of this epic history, from a series of early invasions to the rise of empires to the collapse of communism and into the new challenges of the 21st century. You'll also be introduced to brilliant poets, writers, artists, and other cultural figures who made an impact on Eastern European history. Breathtaking in scope and crucially relevant to today's world, this is a powerful survey of a diverse region and its people.

All Lectures:
1. The Other Europe: Deep Roots of Diversity
2. Formative Migrations: Mongols to Germans
3. Clashing Golden Ages, 1389 - 1772
4. The Great Crime of Empires: Poland Divided
5. The Origins of Nationalism, 1815 - 1863
6. The Age of Empires, 1863 - 1914
7. Jewish Life in the Shtetl
8. World War I: Destruction and Rebirth
9. From Democrats to Dictators, 1918 - 1939
10. Caught between Hitler and Stalin
11. World War II: The Unfamiliar Eastern Front
12. The Holocaust and the Nazi Racial Empire
13. Postwar Flight and Expulsion
14. Behind the Iron Curtain, 1945 - 1953
15. Forest Brothers: Baltic Partisan Warfare
16. Life in Totalitarian Captivity, 1953 - 1980
17. Power of the Powerless: Revolts and Unrest
18. Solidarity in Poland: Walesa's Union
19. Toppling Idols: The Communist Collapse
20. The Turn: The Post-Soviet 1990s
21. Yugoslav Wars: Milosevic and Balkan Strife
22. The New Europe: Joining NATO and the EU
23. The Unfolding Ukraine-Russia Crisis
24. Eastern Europe at the Crossroads