What is the most important Event in European History

[Steppe Merc]

How were the Europeans influenced by the military Romans? I mean, they fought nothing like them. They fought like Sarmatians and Parthians.

[Redleg]

How were the Europeans influenced by the military Romans? I mean, they fought nothing like them. They fought like Sarmatians and Parthians.

A lot of it goes to the formations of units and ranks. Was it done throughout the history of Europe after the fall of Rome - not an expert enough to say - but when the gun armies started and rank structures were implemented - then I have to say that came from the Roman Military roots of most of Europe.

Take for instance the structure of the United States Army. In the history of the Non-Commissioned Officer - they trace the roots of the NCO back to the Roman Legions.

[Colovion]

The Fall of the Roman Empire.

[Steppe Merc]

Red, yeah, the gun armies I suppose would be.

[Gregoshi]

I'll take a shot and suggest an off-the-wall event: the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg. I'm foundering for the words to support this notion, but it had far reaching and broad impact on Europe (and the world) since its invention and up to this day.

[Adrian II]

I'll take a shot and suggest an off-the-wall event: the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg. I'm foundering for the words to support this notion, but it had far reaching and broad impact on Europe (and the world) since its invention and up to this day.

Why not? It was a huge leap, just like the 'invention' of the water wheel or gun powder. And what about -- now, don't laugh --the invention of spectacles in thirteenth century Italy?

In his book The Wealth and Poverty of Nations science historian David Landes makes a very convincing case that revolutionary changes came about or were made possible by this invention. The key to its revolutionary role was a multiplyer effect: corrective lenses made it possible for craftsmen to keep working and transmitting their accumulated knowledge and experience to the next generation for at least twenty years more than they used to. And the visual precision made possible by the lenses resulted in new inventions and the constant improvement of old ones such as telescopes, gauges, micrometers, microscopes, mechanical clocks and other precision tools including, of course, eyeglasses! In a sense, the very nature of the eyeglass enabled its own perfection over the course of the centuries.

After all, isn't history all in the eyeglass of the beholder?

Pisan eyeglasses, 13th century

[Meneldil]

The roman influenced (sp?) the law system, the language, and on a larger scale the culture of many modern country, but I don't think they had a huge impact on the modern military organisation.

On the other hand, the Napoleonic 'Code Civil' (written around 1809 I think)was written by roman law and germanic law experts. A lot of those laws were already being used under the roman rule in southern gaul.

Things are probably different in northern europe, where germanic laws and anglo-norman common law are probably the basis of the current law systems

[Hurin_Rules]

Exactly. For the same reason, I am sure that Hurin would agree with you that without the institutional inheritance of the Roman Empire, in particular Roman law, the long period of fragmentation that followed wouldn't have been nearly as fruitful.

Yes, indeed. The reason I chose the fall rather than the rise of the Empire is that European civilzation is usually seen as first arising AFTER Rome, in the period of Charlemagne. Before that, the civilization that dominated the area was that of Greece and Rome, centred on the Mediterranean rather than on Europe. So if you're talking about the birth of Europe, the first event really is the fall. Europe was heavily dependent on the heritage of Greece and Rome, but it was something quite different than both.

[eadeater]

The Russian Revolution(s). These two events of 1917 put a full stop to the old ways in Europe; the last completely autocratic ruler, Tzar Nicholas II was deposed. In October the Bolsheviks took power and this event would shape not only European but world history for most of the 20th century. It allowed the great struggle between two ideologies to take place, and helped to shape modern Europe.

[Knight Templar]

I think it would be fall of WRE, renaissance as big improvements in science and art, completely different view of the world, and crusades. When living next to Arabs, Europeans improved their science (medicine, chemistry and astronomy the most), started to grow many new plants (apricots), met their culture....

[Redleg]

I am liking the inventions of eyeglasses theory.

Which actually leads to more then I first thought when first reading it.

I wonder if anyone has taken a close look at the timeline of historical events along with when certain inventions or scientific discoveries were done to see if there is a corelation (SP)?

[VAE VICTUS]

i would argue that there is no sinlge most important event in european history.some events are more important,but each relies on the one before it to make it possible.something like that!

[Soulforged]

the law from now is actually napoleons, but before him romans and actually greek.

The law is not from napoleons. Roman law was taken by Feurbach who remade it so it would fit in the new absolutist state. An to talk about modern law is too abroad, but Feurbach is considered the father of modern law. Here for example law was influenced by german authors, who are probably the best voices on that subject. I think that in USA and England (being the system totally different, specially in trials) it was influenced by Von Lizst, but i'm not sure about that.
And the discipline, wich is the most important instrument to make loyal armies and society in general, was some way discovered by the greeks first (spartans took it too incredible limits), then Roman culture was expanded by Rome trought all Europe, and eventually the discipline became standard thing of all armies. The absolutism improved it by creating for the first time an national army totally loyal, mostly on Holland.

[Soulforged]

[QUOTE=AdrianII]After all, isn't history all in the eyeglass of the beholder?
[QUOTE]

No i think that it's beauty

[English assassin]

Is "the Enlightenment" an event? As much as the hundred years war, I suppose, so my vote goes for the Enlightenment. The end of superstition and the dawning of rationality. (yes yes, I know. That was the promise anyway.)

The legacy of the Enlightenment was and is huge, and with no disrespect to the fall of Rome, the Enlightenment ideas remain relevant and unfulfilled today. Indeed, they arein alarming retreat before the forces of superstition, which it seems, like fascism, has to be defeated afresh each generation.

[Gemenii XIII]

Battle of Zama outside of Europe

But there are so many other important European events