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Historic events

  • The Fall of Constantinople in 1453 was a major turning point in European history: a fierce battle in this crucial trading city ended with the demise of the Byzantine Empire and the ascendency of the Ottoman Empire, which dominated the region in the following centuries. This transfer of power is essential for understanding the modern era in Western Europe, and is seen by...
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  • The fall of the Berlin Wall put an end to almost 30 years of physical and ideological separation between the two halves of the German capital. Constructed at the height of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall symbolized the hostility between the capitalist powers in the West and the Communist powers in the East. Its fall saw people flood across...
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  • The Hundred Years’ War was one of the most significant conflicts of the Middle Ages and spanned several generations. Known in particular for its scale (it involved many different factions and five generations of kings), the war marked the height and the decline of chivalry. It had a considerable impact on Europe, bringing European monarchies into the age of modernity...
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  • The Industrial Revolution was a period of modernization which began in Great Britain before spreading to the rest of Europe. It was during this period that many countries in the Western world changed from being primarily agricultural to being more mechanized, thereby accelerating demographic growth and leading to unprecedented economic change. In just 50 minutes, you will find out how...
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  • The Iran-Iraq War, which took place between 1980 and 1988, was one of the deadliest conflicts since the Second World War. It involved two ambitious and headstrong leaders: Saddam Hussein, who wanted to make his Republic of Iraq a powerful force in the region, and Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, who planned to export his Islamic Revolution beyond the borders of Iran....
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  • The Korean War was an internal war which led to a major confrontation between the Western Bloc and the Communist Bloc. The conflict lasted for three years and ended with no real winner, so the Korean Peninsula was divided into two states. In just 50 minutes, you will gain an understanding of why the war broke out and find out...
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  • The voyage of the Mayflower has been enshrined in popular culture as the founding myth of the United States of America. This ship carried a group of Puritans to the Massachusetts coast, where they established the colony of Plymouth, aided by the local Wampanoag population, as commemorated by the modern American tradition of Thanksgiving. In just 50 minutes, you will...
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  • On 6 June 1944, Allied forces, carried on ships along with weapons and tanks, landed on the beaches of Normandy. The Normandy landings, also known as the D-Day landings, were one of the major operations of the Second World War and paved the way for the Allied victory on the Western Front. In the largest seaborne invasion in history, some...
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  • The Nuremberg trials were the first international military tribunal in history and aimed to make key figures in the Third Reich answer for their crimes. They took legal action against 24 Nazi leaders, including Herman Göring, and 8 different organizations on charges of conspiracy, war crimes, crimes against peace and crimes against humanity. In just 50 minutes, you will find out how these trials...
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  • The Protestant Reformation was a religious movement that began in the 16th century in response to the perceived abuses and excesses of the Catholic Church, such as the sale of indulgences. Protestantism quickly gained a foothold in numerous countries and principalities throughout Northern Europe, in spite of the increasing threat of religious persecution. In just 50 minutes, you will find...
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  • The Six-Day War in 1967 was a major crisis in the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and caused outrage across the Arab world. After a tense period in which the Israelis and Egyptians exchanged threats, Israel launched a pre-emptive strike and destroyed the Egyptian air force in a matter of hours. The Israeli forces then continued their advance, and by the...
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  • The sinking of the Titanic during its maiden voyage on 14 April 1912 was one of the greatest maritime tragedies in history and sent shockwaves around the world, as the ship was previously believed to be unsinkable. In many ways a symbol of the optimism, boundless confidence and technological progress of the Belle Époque, this luxury liner welcomed over 2000 people from all...
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