Category Archives: History of the Western World

Reframing Treaties Published

Posted on August 4, 2025 by briansandberg

Reframing Treaties in the Late Medieval and Early Modern West, edited by Isabella Lazzarini, Luciano Piffanelli, and Diego Pirillo (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2025) has been published. I contributed an essay on “Peacemaking in the Context of Religious Violence: The … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Conflict, Current Research, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern France, European History, European Wars of Religion, French History, French Wars of Religion, History of the Western World, international relations, Italian History, Mediterranean World, Political Culture, Reformation History, Religious Politics, Religious Violence, Renaissance Art and History, Strategy and International Politics, Warfare in the Early Modern World | Leave a comment

The American Revolution Began 250 Years Ago

Posted on April 20, 2025 by briansandberg

Today is the 250th anniversary of the first shots of the American Revolution at the battles of Lexington and Concord on 19 April 1775. The 250th anniversary celebrations of the War of American Independence (1775-1783) have begun. Prepare for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Conflict, Civilians and Refugees in War, Early Modern World, Empires and Imperialism, European History, Historical Re-enactment, History in the Media, History of the Western World, Museums and Historical Memory, Political History of the United States, Revolts and Revolutions, United States History and Society, War, Culture, and Society, Warfare in the Early Modern World, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

On the Technocratic and Fascist Ideology of Elon Musk

Posted on April 4, 2025 by briansandberg

Elon Musk may exhibit highly erratic and volatile behavior, but he espouses a coherent Technocratic and Fascist ideology that was articulated in the 1930s. Jill Lepore, Professor of History and Law (Harvard University), traces the history of Elon Musk’s grandfather, … Continue reading →

Posted in Authoritarianism, Civil Rights Issues, Cultural History, Higher Education, Historiography and Social Theory, History in the Media, History of Race and Racism, History of the Western World, History of Violence, Human Rights, Humanities Education, Information Management, Information Revolutions, Intellectual History, Italian History, Museums and Historical Memory, Political Culture, Political History of the United States, Political Theory, United States History and Society, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Religious Wars and Climate Change

Posted on March 5, 2025 by briansandberg

Jérémie Foa (Maître de conférences habilité à diriger des recherches à Aix-Marseille Université) and I are co-organizing a workshop on Guerres de Religion et Changement Climatique at the IMéRA in Marseille, France, on 11 mars 2025. Jérémie Foa has definitely … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Comparative Revolutions, Conferences, Current Research, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern France, Early Modern World, Empires and Imperialism, Environmental History, European History, European Wars of Religion, French History, French Wars of Religion, History of the Western World, History of Violence, Languedoc and Southern France, Little Ice Age, Mediterranean World, Religious Violence, Revolts and Revolutions, Warfare in the Early Modern World, World History | Leave a comment

Cold War Still Shapes Elections in Germany

Posted on February 26, 2025 by briansandberg

The Cold War continues to shape current German society and its voting patterns over 30 years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the beginning of German Reunification. This past weekend’s German Elections demonstrate that the frontiers … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural History, European History, European Studies, European Union, History of the Western World, Political Culture, Political Parties and Organizations, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Apocalypse Hier et Demain at the BnF in Paris

Posted on February 25, 2025 by briansandberg

The Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris) has organized an exhibition on Apocalypse Hier et Demain (Apocalypse, Yesterday and Tomorrow), which is on display from February through June 2025. The exhibition explores the Book of Revelation and apocalyptic visions, before turning … Continue reading →

Posted in Art History, Atrocities, Civilians and Refugees in War, Cultural History, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern France, Early Modern World, European History, European Wars of Religion, French History, French Wars of Religion, History of the Western World, History of Violence, Italian History, Material Culture, Medieval History, Mediterranean World, Museums and Historical Memory, Reformation History, Religious History, Religious Violence, Renaissance Art and History, War, Culture, and Society, Warfare in the Early Modern World, Women and Gender History, World History | Leave a comment

Three Years of War in Ukraine

Posted on February 24, 2025 by briansandberg

Today, we are remembering the Russian invasion of Ukraine and marking the third anniversary of the start of the current Russian – Ukrainian War. The war began with a major Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that sought to … Continue reading →

Posted in Empires and Imperialism, European History, European Studies, European Union, History of the Western World, Strategy and International Politics, United States Foreign Policy, War, Culture, and Society, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Europe in Trumplandia

Posted on February 22, 2025 by briansandberg

Europeans are in shock after the recent Munich Security Conference, an annual meeting of European diplomats and international security officials in Germany. Academic colleagues and friends across Europe have been contacting me to ask what exactly the Trump administration is … Continue reading →

Posted in Arms Control, Authoritarianism, Contemporary France, Democracy, European History, European Studies, European Union, History in the Media, History of the Western World, Italian History, Political Culture, Political History of the United States, Political Parties and Organizations, Security Studies, State Development Theory, Strategy and International Politics, United States Foreign Policy, United States History and Society, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Trump Declares Himself King

Posted on February 21, 2025 by briansandberg

President Trump has declared himself king, opposing himself to the legitimately elected representatives of the State of New York over a congestion pricing law. The White House issued a post on X stating that “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic World, Civil Conflict, Comparative Revolutions, Democracy, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, Empires and Imperialism, European History, History in the Media, History of the Western World, Legal history, Monarchies and Royal States, Noble Culture and History of Elites, Political History of the United States, Political Theory, Public History, Republicanism, Revolts and Revolutions, State Development Theory, United States History and Society, Warfare in the Early Modern World, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Governor Pritzker on Defending the Constitution

Posted on February 21, 2025 by briansandberg

Governor J.B. Pritzker delivered a powerful Illinois State of the State Speech this week, arguing that Illinois representatives and citizens must act to defend the U.S. Constitution and oppose tyranny in the United States. After discussing Illinois policy issues and … Continue reading →

Posted in Authoritarianism, Democracy, European History, Genocides, Globalization, History in the Media, History of the Western World, History of Violence, Legal history, Political Culture, Political History of the United States, Strategy and International Politics, United States History and Society, World History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment