HIST 214 Contemporary Europe
The Second World War was catastrophic for Europe and produced a level of destruction unparalleled in European history. This has led some historians to describe 1945 as "Year Zero" for a new Europe that had to rebuild not just cities but governments, economies, and cultural mindsets. This course will explore Europe as it emerged from the ruins of 1945 and adapted to new global realities, from the political polarization of the Cold War to the end of Europe's colonial empires in Asia and Africa. We will also consider the challenges of European integration, from the creation of the European Union and the Eurozone to contemporary questions about Islam in Europe.