Dennis Hupchick and Harold Cox pack a whole lot of information into their slim Palgrave Concise Historical Atlas of Eastern Europe. In 52 annotated maps, they deliver a well reasoned guide to the broad movements in Eastern European history from the end of the classical era to the start of the 21st century.
European history is a huge topic. Covering every aspect would result in a massive volume, so the authors limited themselves to only the essential information for their purpose. Everything about their book is intended to focus attention on the salient details of geopolitical history. The maps are intentionally sparse of details. Instead of lots of colors, the authors opt for a two color scheme that has the added benefit of forcing the reader to focus just on the specific items under discussion. The accompanying text explains the key points and offers a broad perspective on each individual map, describing important details related to political, physical, demographic and cultural developments.
The contents are divided into five historical periods:
- Early Medieval (3rd-13th centuries)
- Late Medieval (13th-15th centuries)
- Early Modern (16th-18th centuries)
- Period of Nationalism (19th century-1918)
- Modern and Contemporary (1918-1995)
Macedonian nationalists will be disappointed by the sparse attention given to their people prior to the 19th century, when the Macedonian question first steps into the spotlight. There is a brief mention of the 11th century Macedonian imperial dynasty, as well as of Samuil, the warrior-aristocrat, but the bulk of historical events and personalities claimed by today’s republic are attributed to Bulgaria instead.
Discussion of the Ottoman era and its various pressures and intrigues is especially useful for a better understanding of the basis for distrust and confusion in the region today. National aspirations, shifting borders and war alliances all play a role in the development of contemporary Macedonia. The maps describing Balkan issues, the Balkan Wars and the World Wars provide insights into how history has shaped the relationships we observe in the region today.
Includes a useful English bibliography and an index organized by both page and map numbers.
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The Palgrave Concise Historical Atlas of Eastern Europe: Revised and Updated
Contents:
Preface
General Key to the Maps
INTRODUCTORY MAPS
1. Eastern Europe – Political, 2001
2. Eastern Europe – Physical
3. Eastern Europe – Demographic
4. Eastern Europe – Cultural
Part I: EARLY MEDIEVAL PERIOD (to the 13th century)
5. The Division of the Roman Empire, Late 3rd Century
6. The Barbarian Migrations, 4th-6th Centuries
7. The Eastern Roman Empire under Justinian I, Mid-6th Century
8. Slavic and Turkish Invasions, 6th-8th Centuries
9. Eastern Europe, Mid-9th Century
10. The Rise of Bulgaria, 8th-10th Centuries
11. Constantinople, 10th-12th Centuries
12. The Balkans, Early 11th Century
13. The Rise of Hungary, 10th-13th Centuries
14. The Rise of Poland, Late 10th-13th Centuries
15. Eastern Europe, Mid-11th Century
16. The Balkans, Late 12th Century
Part II: LATE MEDIEVAL PERIOD, (13th-15th Centuries)
17. The Latin Empire of Constantinople, 1214
18. The Rise of Serbia, 13th-14th Centuries
19. Eastern Europe, Mid-13th Century
20. Eastern Europe, Mid-14th Century
21. Prague, Mid-14th-15th Centuries
22. The Rise of the Ottoman Empire, 13th-15th Centuries
23. The Expansion of Poland, 14th-15th Centuries
Part III: EARLY MODERN PERIOD (16th-18th Centuries)
24. Apex of the Ottoman Empire in Europe, Mid-16th Century
25. Istanbul, 16th-17th Centuries
26. Apex and Decline of Poland, 16th-17th Centuries
27. The ?Rise of the Hapsburgs, 16th-17th Centuries
28. Ottoman Decline, 17th-18th Centuries
29. The Partitions of Poland, 1772-1795
Part IV: PERIOD OF NATIONALISM, (19th Century-1918)
30. Eastern Europe, 1809
31. Eastern Europe, 1815
32. The Balkans after the Serb and Greek Revolutions, 1830
33. Revolutions in the Austrian Empire, 1848-1849
34. The Austro-Hungarian Ausgleisch, 1867
35. The Balkans, 1878-1885
36. The Macedonian Question
37. The Balkans, 1908
38. Bosnia-Hercegovina, 1908-1914
39. The Balkan Wars, 1912-1913
40. Eastern Europe, 1914
41. Eastern Europe during World War I
Part V: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY PERIODS (1918-1999)
42. Eastern Europe, 1923
43. Independent Poland, 1920-1922
44. Hungary after Trianon, 1920-1939
45. Romania after Trianon, 1920-1938
46. The Transylvanian Question
47. Versailles-Created Yugoslavia, 1921-1941
48. Czechoslovakia and Munich, 1920-1939
49. Eastern Europe during World War II, 1938-1944
50. Eastern Europe, 1948-1991
51. Wars of Yugoslav Succession, 1991-1995
52. The Kosovo Crisis, 1999
Selected Bibliography
Index
