Europe Books

About Europe

Europe has long been a central stage for global warfare, empire-building, and ideological revolutions. From the Roman Empire and medieval feudal conflicts to the two World Wars and the Cold War, Europe's military history has shaped not only its own political evolution but also the broader trajectory of global power. The continent was home to countless wars between nation-states, dynasties, and religious factions—such as the Hundred Years’ War, the Thirty Years’ War, and the Napoleonic Wars. The 20th century brought unprecedented devastation with World War I and World War II, where millions perished and entire regions were reduced to rubble. These global conflicts redefined borders, governments, and military doctrine. After 1945, Europe became the front line of the Cold War, divided by the Iron Curtain between NATO and Warsaw Pact forces. Proxy conflicts, espionage, and nuclear deterrence characterized this era, alongside peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Europe experienced new conflict in the Balkans during the 1990s, with ethnic violence and NATO interventions. Today, while Europe enjoys relative peace and cooperation through the European Union and NATO, tensions persist—particularly in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. The war in Ukraine has reintroduced large-scale conventional conflict to the continent and reignited debates over defense, deterrence, and European unity. Europe’s long history of conflict and reconciliation makes it a pivotal region in understanding both the destructiveness and the possibility of peace in modern war.