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Nauja Vidurio Europos istorija: nuo Romos imperijos žlugimo iki pokomunistinės erdvės
Vidurio Europa nuo senovės garsėjo kaip karų draskomas regionas, kuriame per amžius rungėsi įvairios imperijos, o moderniaisiais laikais kilo du pasauliniai karai. Šios šalys nuo pat Romos imperijos žlugimo buvo nuolatinis invazijų iš rytų taikinys. Jų gyventojai priešus iš rytų vadino šuniažmogiais ir šį vardą pritaikė hunams, mongolams-totoriams, turkams, paskui rusams ir sovietams, niokojusiems šiuos kraštus ir šeimininkavusiems juose kaip tinkami.
Apžvelgdamas dviejų tūkstančių metų Vidurio Europos istoriją autorius įrodo, kad ji nėra vien miglota Vakarų ir Rytų takoskyra, iš dalies saugojusi Vakarus nuo šuniažmogių antplūdžio. Karų varginamame regione formavosi vientisa tapatybė, o čia gyvavusių karalysčių konkurencija sužadino ne vieną kultūrinį proveržį: tai reformacijos lopšys, čia prasidėjo romantizmas, klostėsi parlamentarizmo sistemos. Šie kraštai – tai religinių ir politinių idėjų nuolatinio mūšio laukas. O drauge tai regionas, kur nemenkas vaidmuo teko jungtinei Lenkijos ir Lietuvos valstybei.
Tad Nauja Vidurio Europos istorija pabrėžia kintamumą ir kultūrines tendencijas, dėl kurių šie kraštai tokie saviti, o kartu skatina susimąstyti, nes „iš už horizonto braunasi nauja šuniažmogių karta, šį kartą ginkluota kalašnikovais. Jie paskiausi iš ilgos voros įsibrovėlių ir [...] dar kartą primena, kokia pažeidžiama regiono civilizacija.“
Apžvelgdamas dviejų tūkstančių metų Vidurio Europos istoriją autorius įrodo, kad ji nėra vien miglota Vakarų ir Rytų takoskyra, iš dalies saugojusi Vakarus nuo šuniažmogių antplūdžio. Karų varginamame regione formavosi vientisa tapatybė, o čia gyvavusių karalysčių konkurencija sužadino ne vieną kultūrinį proveržį: tai reformacijos lopšys, čia prasidėjo romantizmas, klostėsi parlamentarizmo sistemos. Šie kraštai – tai religinių ir politinių idėjų nuolatinio mūšio laukas. O drauge tai regionas, kur nemenkas vaidmuo teko jungtinei Lenkijos ir Lietuvos valstybei.
Tad Nauja Vidurio Europos istorija pabrėžia kintamumą ir kultūrines tendencijas, dėl kurių šie kraštai tokie saviti, o kartu skatina susimąstyti, nes „iš už horizonto braunasi nauja šuniažmogių karta, šį kartą ginkluota kalašnikovais. Jie paskiausi iš ilgos voros įsibrovėlių ir [...] dar kartą primena, kokia pažeidžiama regiono civilizacija.“
563 pages, Hardcover
First published May 2, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
April 27, 2025
This made me think of those giant jigsaw puzzles of yesteryear. Are they still around—the ones of famous paintings that used to come flat in a box—the Haywains and the Laughing Cavaliers?
I remember the easy bits here and there that I could snap together pretty well from memory. But then came the rest; all those empty spaces that connected everything up. No chance I could fill those in without the picture on the box. It can be startling, finding out how sketchy you are about something you thought you knew.
For the seriously giant puzzle of Central European history, The Middle Kingdoms supplies the indispensable picture on the box. And let’s be clear. The subject is not the Central Europe many of us grew up with―that tense, Cold War arc of real estate between West Germany and the USSR. Oh, no. This is a majestically wider take on place and time; the story of that grand historical Middle Europe that kept the Rhine for its western border (and so included Germany), stretched east at times to the Baltic states and Ukraine and then on southward into the Balkans. The Middle Kingdoms picks up the tale from a declining Roman Empire and continues with verve and pace through 500 or so pages to the more-or-less present (it was first published in 2023).
The synthesis and the accomplishment are staggering.
I remember the easy bits here and there that I could snap together pretty well from memory. But then came the rest; all those empty spaces that connected everything up. No chance I could fill those in without the picture on the box. It can be startling, finding out how sketchy you are about something you thought you knew.
For the seriously giant puzzle of Central European history, The Middle Kingdoms supplies the indispensable picture on the box. And let’s be clear. The subject is not the Central Europe many of us grew up with―that tense, Cold War arc of real estate between West Germany and the USSR. Oh, no. This is a majestically wider take on place and time; the story of that grand historical Middle Europe that kept the Rhine for its western border (and so included Germany), stretched east at times to the Baltic states and Ukraine and then on southward into the Balkans. The Middle Kingdoms picks up the tale from a declining Roman Empire and continues with verve and pace through 500 or so pages to the more-or-less present (it was first published in 2023).
The synthesis and the accomplishment are staggering.
August 21, 2023
Well researched and exceptionally readable, this is an excellent overview of the history of Central Europe.
Rady does a good job of creating a narrative that makes the information (of which there is a LOT) easily digestible and compelling, and he ranges around in a way that feels both approachable for those new to the subject and worthy for those who come in with a bit more background.
I do wish the distribution had been a bit different. Less time spent on Ancient Rome and WWI and WWII, as these are time periods for which there is plenty of information available elsewhere about the region. Since the book was created to shine light on a neglected area (geographically speaking) in the framework of western history, I would have preferred that more of the book was devoted to the time periods about which that is actually true.
We all know what was going on in this area during the World Wars, and it makes sense that this was included for completeness’ sake, but I would have preferred Rady allot more real estate in the book for the period of 1400 to 1900, which is where this area has truly suffered from a lack of attention compared to other parts of the western world when it comes to how history is taught.
The late HRE is particularly neglected in most historical curricula, and it’s a fascinating time period for the region. Rady certainly discusses it, but I would have liked to see more of this, as well as more of the fascinating situation unfolding in the area in the mid-late 1800s, which could easily have been achieved by including less from time periods which have been well-documented broadly.
Still, Rady has a lovely narrative nonfiction writing style, and the research is excellent.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Rady does a good job of creating a narrative that makes the information (of which there is a LOT) easily digestible and compelling, and he ranges around in a way that feels both approachable for those new to the subject and worthy for those who come in with a bit more background.
I do wish the distribution had been a bit different. Less time spent on Ancient Rome and WWI and WWII, as these are time periods for which there is plenty of information available elsewhere about the region. Since the book was created to shine light on a neglected area (geographically speaking) in the framework of western history, I would have preferred that more of the book was devoted to the time periods about which that is actually true.
We all know what was going on in this area during the World Wars, and it makes sense that this was included for completeness’ sake, but I would have preferred Rady allot more real estate in the book for the period of 1400 to 1900, which is where this area has truly suffered from a lack of attention compared to other parts of the western world when it comes to how history is taught.
The late HRE is particularly neglected in most historical curricula, and it’s a fascinating time period for the region. Rady certainly discusses it, but I would have liked to see more of this, as well as more of the fascinating situation unfolding in the area in the mid-late 1800s, which could easily have been achieved by including less from time periods which have been well-documented broadly.
Still, Rady has a lovely narrative nonfiction writing style, and the research is excellent.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
January 24, 2024
"The Middle Kingdoms" is an excellent history of the development of Central Europe.
It is a story that starts with the Roman Empire and the migrations caused by the Huns. This eventually morphs into Charlamange's Empire and, in time, the Avars and Slavs. Soon will come Germans and other invaders, ending with the toxic malignancy of Nazi and then Communist rule.
Rady's trip through history is engaging and very interesting. As with any good history, it teaches us new things and provides a different outlook on Central Europe. He argues the birth of the region started in 1000 CE with Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor. The rise of Christianity as a powerful religion and force is entrenched during this period.
During the 1500's there were many surprising progressive ideas fulminating in Central Europe. It launched the Protestant Reformation, and in time was the key driver of the explosion of diets, assemblies, self-governing communities, and local autonomies that uniquely guided the medeival development of the region.
From the 16th century onwards, Central Europe became the seat of the Hapsburg power base. This caused a great deal of future conflict in the way nations were created or partitioned. Eventually, wars like the Napoleonic and World War One will cause great upheavals in the established order. World War II would see the arrival of monstrous ideologies like Nazism and Communism. The long-term ethical, moral, societal, and political consequences of Communist misrule and cruelty are still on display.
The book ends on an uncertain note due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine which seems to have caught the Europeans with their pants down (never forget these idiots were giving hundreds of billions in gas money to Russia) and then realized their militaries were nothing to speak of in the face of Russian aggression. Gee..who could have seen that coming?
Excellent history of Central Europe for those interested in a look at the big events that shaped this complex part of the world.
It is a story that starts with the Roman Empire and the migrations caused by the Huns. This eventually morphs into Charlamange's Empire and, in time, the Avars and Slavs. Soon will come Germans and other invaders, ending with the toxic malignancy of Nazi and then Communist rule.
Rady's trip through history is engaging and very interesting. As with any good history, it teaches us new things and provides a different outlook on Central Europe. He argues the birth of the region started in 1000 CE with Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor. The rise of Christianity as a powerful religion and force is entrenched during this period.
During the 1500's there were many surprising progressive ideas fulminating in Central Europe. It launched the Protestant Reformation, and in time was the key driver of the explosion of diets, assemblies, self-governing communities, and local autonomies that uniquely guided the medeival development of the region.
From the 16th century onwards, Central Europe became the seat of the Hapsburg power base. This caused a great deal of future conflict in the way nations were created or partitioned. Eventually, wars like the Napoleonic and World War One will cause great upheavals in the established order. World War II would see the arrival of monstrous ideologies like Nazism and Communism. The long-term ethical, moral, societal, and political consequences of Communist misrule and cruelty are still on display.
The book ends on an uncertain note due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine which seems to have caught the Europeans with their pants down (never forget these idiots were giving hundreds of billions in gas money to Russia) and then realized their militaries were nothing to speak of in the face of Russian aggression. Gee..who could have seen that coming?
Excellent history of Central Europe for those interested in a look at the big events that shaped this complex part of the world.
May 8, 2025
Istorinės knygos būna dviejų tipų – tos, labiau tokios akademinės, kurias skaitant kankina tokia sausra, kad norisi alaus bokalo, ir kitos, labiau populiariai bandančios papasakoti tą patį. Ši – tokia, kaip ir nagrinėjamas objektas, per vidurį. Vis tik gal kiek labiau nusvyranti į akademinę pusę, bet ne tokia troškinanti.
Vidurio Europa – tas regionas tarp Rytų ir Vakarų (na, taip, ir patys iš pavadinimo galite susivokti), kurio istorija tampriai susijusi ir įtakojama abiejų tų pusių. Ir autorius nagrinėja, kaip ta įtaka veikė procesus Vidurio Europoje. Gal vietomis kiek per plačiai užsimota, pasistengta panagrinėti visais įmanomais aspektais – religiniais, ekonominiais, kultūriniais. Todėl neišvengta ir pasikartojimų.
Kaip ten bebūtų – skaityti buvo įdomu, bet ne tiek, kad praryčiau vienu ypu, tad vartojau tą patiekalą mažais kąsneliais.
Vidurio Europa – tas regionas tarp Rytų ir Vakarų (na, taip, ir patys iš pavadinimo galite susivokti), kurio istorija tampriai susijusi ir įtakojama abiejų tų pusių. Ir autorius nagrinėja, kaip ta įtaka veikė procesus Vidurio Europoje. Gal vietomis kiek per plačiai užsimota, pasistengta panagrinėti visais įmanomais aspektais – religiniais, ekonominiais, kultūriniais. Todėl neišvengta ir pasikartojimų.
Kaip ten bebūtų – skaityti buvo įdomu, bet ne tiek, kad praryčiau vienu ypu, tad vartojau tą patiekalą mažais kąsneliais.
February 14, 2024
Rady is a good introduction to the the history of Mitteleuropa. He begins with the Romans and the various migrations that swept across the continent. He includes Germany (and the western Rhinelands), which I don't typically include in Central Europe; perhaps that is post WWII thinking on my part. As is the way of such works, the coverage of more recent times gets a lot more ink. Rady is good at noting ways in which Mitteleuropa differed from the West and how they influenced each other. I learned a lot about the rise of the pernicious bureaucratic state, communism and its fall, Czech theatre and cinema, and much else. The book is very readable; my attention rarely flagged. Rady also has a good sense of humor and gets off a few zingers. If your knowledge of the area is spotty, like mine, this is an excellent way to fill gaps and get some recommendations for further reading.
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
July 18, 2024
An extra chonky overview of central Europe from the fall of the Roman empire through today.
Fantastically researched and with a strong narrative element throughout. It was enjoyable and informative, as I knew next to nothing about central Europe going in (aside from WWI and WWII and the interwar period) and knew quite a bit more going out.
Anywho, it's a good start. Rady provides a lot of necessary context, which I liked.
Fantastically researched and with a strong narrative element throughout. It was enjoyable and informative, as I knew next to nothing about central Europe going in (aside from WWI and WWII and the interwar period) and knew quite a bit more going out.
Anywho, it's a good start. Rady provides a lot of necessary context, which I liked.
April 25, 2023
First of all this has nothing to do with China. The Kingdoms that Rady writes about are those in Central Europe.
It begins with those provinces of the Roman Empire that were south of the Danube, After the fall of Rome, many of the countries that survived, such as parts of the Holy Roman Empire, Poland, Lithuania and later Prussia and the Hapsburg (Austria).
He then goes thru the history of how the different empires grew and disappeared until Austro-Hungary and the German Empire controlled most of the area that we think of as Central Europe. Well written and explained.
It begins with those provinces of the Roman Empire that were south of the Danube, After the fall of Rome, many of the countries that survived, such as parts of the Holy Roman Empire, Poland, Lithuania and later Prussia and the Hapsburg (Austria).
He then goes thru the history of how the different empires grew and disappeared until Austro-Hungary and the German Empire controlled most of the area that we think of as Central Europe. Well written and explained.
November 29, 2024
Labai reikalingas darbas aprašyti centrinės Europos istoriją, randant bendrus vardiklius šiam, ir mūsų, regionui.
Tačiau išpildymas nekoks. Galbūt per sunku vienoje knygoje apimti tiek daug istorinių gijų. Viskas per daug chaotiška ir gaunasi paviršutiniškai.
Tačiau išpildymas nekoks. Galbūt per sunku vienoje knygoje apimti tiek daug istorinių gijų. Viskas per daug chaotiška ir gaunasi paviršutiniškai.
March 12, 2025
Really impressive book that creates an easy to follow narrative of Central Europe over more than 1000 years. Feels like it shifts focus much more on art and culture post-WW1. I really liked those parts and would have loved to see it more throughout the book. They also might have been there but I wasn’t locked in enough and just forgot.
July 24, 2023
Rady’s history of Central Europe, in broad strokes covers the area from the post-Roman period to the end of political communism, and the region’s incorporation into the European Union.
The primary takeaways from the book are fourfold, but they are not exhaustive by a long shot.
1) Central European states defined by similar trends to Western European states in the post-Roman period: conversion to Roman Catholicism, embrace of a certain chivalric culture, a tension between the central ruler and the feudal hierarchy, religious conflict and the reformation (followed by the reimposition of Catholicism in the 17th century).
2) Central Europe broadly differs from UK (and post-Revolution in France) in its political developments post 1700. Central European states broadly (principally the German statelets of the HRE) begin to embrace a bureaucratic structure and focus on using rational means in order to achieve central aims determined from above (in the case of the Hapsburgs, the Banat of Timisoara is a prime examples). This trend, typically occurs in some states (where the tension between ruler and nobility is low due to lack of an ennobled class) but not in others (notably Poland where the Henrician settlement of the 1570s presages a complete subsumption of the state by the nobility until the final partition in 1795 and Poland’s erasure from the map for the next 123 years).
3) “The nation precedes the state” in Central Europe, where ethnic identity (based around culture, language, and religion) occurred in a looser, less centralized fashion than the imposition, for instance, of a “French” identity by Parisians on the subsidiary parts of France already within its orbit. Early causes of this diversity are fascinating in that some trace back to the Migrations Period (the Huns in the 9th century most prominently) and others due to land-use policy (the invitation by nobility east of the Elbe of Frisian and German immigrants to work the land in the 13th century for specific rights, similarly in Transylvania in their mini-Saxony). In contrast to say China, where the state preceded the nation (that is where unification occurred relative early or concomitantly with the emergence of a common culture embodied/propagated in the five classics), Central Europe saw ethnic and national identities—formulated and brewed in the 19th century under pressure—precede and presage the emergence of nation-states. Nation-states built on deportations, large-scale genocide and discriminatory practices (for instance, the exclusion of Jews from university altogether in 1939 Czechoslovakia).
4) The region exists on a (imperfect) east-west cline when it comes to development (something that is apparent in the population density difference of the German lands in the High Middle Ages of around 7 people per sq mile versus 2 for Poland/Poland iirc) to serfdom versus free holding farms. This gradient is imperfect and is complicated by the role of Ukraine as a place for escaping serfs (similar to the James C Scott’s conception of Zomia as a place, not of “backwardness” but where people intentionally chose to flee the state) and the eventual emergence of a unified German state under the auspices of Prussia and the Hohenzollerns.
The primary takeaways from the book are fourfold, but they are not exhaustive by a long shot.
1) Central European states defined by similar trends to Western European states in the post-Roman period: conversion to Roman Catholicism, embrace of a certain chivalric culture, a tension between the central ruler and the feudal hierarchy, religious conflict and the reformation (followed by the reimposition of Catholicism in the 17th century).
2) Central Europe broadly differs from UK (and post-Revolution in France) in its political developments post 1700. Central European states broadly (principally the German statelets of the HRE) begin to embrace a bureaucratic structure and focus on using rational means in order to achieve central aims determined from above (in the case of the Hapsburgs, the Banat of Timisoara is a prime examples). This trend, typically occurs in some states (where the tension between ruler and nobility is low due to lack of an ennobled class) but not in others (notably Poland where the Henrician settlement of the 1570s presages a complete subsumption of the state by the nobility until the final partition in 1795 and Poland’s erasure from the map for the next 123 years).
3) “The nation precedes the state” in Central Europe, where ethnic identity (based around culture, language, and religion) occurred in a looser, less centralized fashion than the imposition, for instance, of a “French” identity by Parisians on the subsidiary parts of France already within its orbit. Early causes of this diversity are fascinating in that some trace back to the Migrations Period (the Huns in the 9th century most prominently) and others due to land-use policy (the invitation by nobility east of the Elbe of Frisian and German immigrants to work the land in the 13th century for specific rights, similarly in Transylvania in their mini-Saxony). In contrast to say China, where the state preceded the nation (that is where unification occurred relative early or concomitantly with the emergence of a common culture embodied/propagated in the five classics), Central Europe saw ethnic and national identities—formulated and brewed in the 19th century under pressure—precede and presage the emergence of nation-states. Nation-states built on deportations, large-scale genocide and discriminatory practices (for instance, the exclusion of Jews from university altogether in 1939 Czechoslovakia).
4) The region exists on a (imperfect) east-west cline when it comes to development (something that is apparent in the population density difference of the German lands in the High Middle Ages of around 7 people per sq mile versus 2 for Poland/Poland iirc) to serfdom versus free holding farms. This gradient is imperfect and is complicated by the role of Ukraine as a place for escaping serfs (similar to the James C Scott’s conception of Zomia as a place, not of “backwardness” but where people intentionally chose to flee the state) and the eventual emergence of a unified German state under the auspices of Prussia and the Hohenzollerns.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2023
Really wonderful representation of a fairly unknown or misunderstood region.
In my experience, the viewpoint of many Americans or "westerners" is that Europe is a region that roughly ends at the eastern borders of Germany, Austria and Italy (aka the Iron Curtain). I have experienced and heard that many people who lived through or grew up during or relatively soon after the fall of communism don't know much about the lands east of that line until you reach Russia.
One of the main objectives of this book is to reintroduce the idea of Central Europe as a region, an idea that existed up until the end of WW2 but was overridden by the Iron Curtain. In doing this, the book shows repeatedly that Central Europe (loosely encompassing Germany, Austria, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, and sometimes the Baltic states, Ukraine, Romania and the Balkans) is a region with unified historical movements starting with the Roman Empire, all influencing trends toward further unique developments that lead to the modern day.
Rady's journey leads us through early medieval times, the foundation of the Holy Roman Empire, the intricacies of political states all across the region, religious reform, the affirming of imperial powers, all the wars in between and eventual collapse of authoritarian governments in modern times. Rady does an excellent job planting the seeds which affect later events and it becomes clear how these seeds grow to influence historical sweeps. Every chapter gives a historical chronology of the chapter's subject and includes specific case studies. I found this to be very effective at conveying the themes and points.
The only reason I give this 4 out of 5 is that the period from the Roman Empire to the reign of Emperor Otto III in the late 10th century is covered in a break-neck 50 or so pages. I would have liked a little more detail on the movements of the Huns and Slavs, and more about Charlemagne founding the HRE and the split of Frankia's regions. Would have been fine with 600 pages to fit those in instead of 515.
Overall highly recommend, and hope this accessible book leads to more people in the west becoming curious about the fascinating region.
In my experience, the viewpoint of many Americans or "westerners" is that Europe is a region that roughly ends at the eastern borders of Germany, Austria and Italy (aka the Iron Curtain). I have experienced and heard that many people who lived through or grew up during or relatively soon after the fall of communism don't know much about the lands east of that line until you reach Russia.
One of the main objectives of this book is to reintroduce the idea of Central Europe as a region, an idea that existed up until the end of WW2 but was overridden by the Iron Curtain. In doing this, the book shows repeatedly that Central Europe (loosely encompassing Germany, Austria, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, and sometimes the Baltic states, Ukraine, Romania and the Balkans) is a region with unified historical movements starting with the Roman Empire, all influencing trends toward further unique developments that lead to the modern day.
Rady's journey leads us through early medieval times, the foundation of the Holy Roman Empire, the intricacies of political states all across the region, religious reform, the affirming of imperial powers, all the wars in between and eventual collapse of authoritarian governments in modern times. Rady does an excellent job planting the seeds which affect later events and it becomes clear how these seeds grow to influence historical sweeps. Every chapter gives a historical chronology of the chapter's subject and includes specific case studies. I found this to be very effective at conveying the themes and points.
The only reason I give this 4 out of 5 is that the period from the Roman Empire to the reign of Emperor Otto III in the late 10th century is covered in a break-neck 50 or so pages. I would have liked a little more detail on the movements of the Huns and Slavs, and more about Charlemagne founding the HRE and the split of Frankia's regions. Would have been fine with 600 pages to fit those in instead of 515.
Overall highly recommend, and hope this accessible book leads to more people in the west becoming curious about the fascinating region.
July 20, 2025
Thorough, understandable and surprisingly fun! Manages to weave all the different threads of Central Europe convincingly into a cohesive history
December 6, 2024
"Pasak protestanto reformatoriaus Martyno Liuterio, turkai tuokdavosi su šunimis, ir iš šios sąjungos gimdavo mišrūnai. Kadangi pranašas Mahometas neva irgi buvęs šuo ir kartais vaizduotas su šuns galva, iš to radosi požiūris, kad visi musulmonai - galimi šuniagalviai."
"Šiuolaikinė valstybė gimė Vidurio Europoje - ten biurokratija pirmiausiai susilydė su ankstyvąja Apšvieta. Anglijoje, Prancūzijoje ir Šiaurės Amerikoje Apšvieta labiausiai skatino asmens laisvę, o Vidurio Europoje - valstybę ir valdžios teisę valdyti įsakais."
"Tacito aprašytos jaunatviškos gentys, vaikiškai besivaržančios tarpusavyje, atitiko romėnų stereotipus apie užsienio tautas: jų žmonės arba bjaurios išvaizdos, arba žaismingi, bet aikštingi nebrendėliai, reikalingi romėnų globos ir gero pavyzdžio. <...> Būtent romėnai pirmieji ir pavadino Vidurio Europos tautas germanais, mat jos pačios neturėjo savivardžio ar kokio nors bendros tapatybės suvokimo."
"Šiandien istorikai dažnai perdeda hunų stiprybę ir jų imperiją vaizduoja kaip valstybę, bet jokios valstybės nebuvo. Buvo padrikas hunų, germanų ir gotų genčių telkinys, kurio vienybę palaikė nuožmus ir ambicingas valdovas. Šio nelikus, jis suiro. <...> Hunų palikimas buvo ir plačios Vidurio Europos dalies kultūrinis bei ekonominis skurdas."
"Pirmasis jų karalius, apie kurį turime konkrečių žinių, buvo Childerikas (mirė 481 m. po Kr.), priklausęs vadinamųjų Merovingų valdovų dinastijai - jie buvo pavadinti vienos jūrinių gyvačių padermės vardu."
"<...> galima manyti, kad rytinėje Vidurio Europos dalyje (dabar apimančioje Čekiją, Vengriją, Lenkiją, Rumuniją ir Slovakiją) pirmame tūkstantmetyje gyventojų tankumas buvo mažesnis nei vienas žmogus kvadratiniame kilometre. O štai dabartinės Vokietijos teritorijoje galėjo būti aštuoni kvadratiniame kilometre."
"Pirmoji didelė valstybė, kuri subyrėjo ir paskui vėl atsikūrė, buvo Frankų imperija. Ji ėmė irti beveik tuoj pat po Karolio Didžiojo mirties."
"Jeigu tik regionai gali turėti gimimo liudijimus, tai Vidurio Europos gimimo liudijimas yra Otono III evangelijų knyga."
"Iš suirusios Karolingų imperijos ir vengrų proveržio gimė nauja Vidurio Europa, materialiai paremta vergų prekyba. Visai kaip hunai, kurie perbraižė Europos žemėlapį sugriovę Romos imperiją, vengrai permainė Vidurio Europos politinę geografiją."
"Tipiškas pono būdas kaupti savo galią buvo pažadant "apsaugą" - paprastai bažnyčioms ir vienuolynams. Toji apsauga dažnai būdavo gana reali, bet kartais jai apibūdinti labiau tikdavo žodis "reketas"."
"Pamarėnų prekyba su tolimąja šiaure Vidurio Europai davė Pomeranijos špicą. Iš pradžių tai buvo stiprus rogių šuo, panašus į haskį, bet ilgainiui veisiant žiauriai sumažintas."
"Jo akimis, vengrai esą kresni, stamantrūs, tamsiaodžiai ir aršūs; lenkai, nors gražesnės išvaizdos, gyvena tarp baisingų būtybių, kaip antai vienaragių, kentaurų ir tigrų; o čekai - vagys."
"Daugelyje Vidurio Europos kraštų karaliai ir valdovai savo lovose retai miegodavo ramiai, nes sosto siekė broliai bei sūnūs, dažnai pasiruošę griebtis smurto."
"Relikvijas Karolis vertino beveik taip pat kaip karūnas. Visą gyvenimą keliaudamas lauždavosi į kapus ir rankiojosi kaulus bei mumifikuotas palaikų dalis visoje imperijoje. "
"Kadangi Osmanai iš Krymo chanų atėmė pajūrio miestus, chanai vis labiau kliovėsi pajamomis iš vergų prekybos ir beveik netrukdė totorių gaujoms medžioti vergus. Dauguma vergų buvo grobiami iš Lenkijos - Lietuvos bei Rusijos, bet totoriai darbavosi ir Kaukaze ieškodami čerkesių dėl jų legendinio grožio, Pagrobtuosius parduodavo Krymo uostamiestyje Kafoje - jos turguose vienu metu kartais buvo prekiaujama net trisdešimčia tūkstančių vergų. Manoma, kad nuo 1500 iki 1700 m. totoriai pagrobė ir pardavė į vergiją maždaug du milijonus lenkų, lietuvių ir rusų."
"Vidurio Europoje niekada nebuvo homogeniškų gyventojų telkinių. Paribių srityje susiliedavo įvairios kalbinės ir kultūrinės grupės, be to, būta daug migracijos iš užsienio."
"Didelėje regiono dalyje valstybė suvirškino diduomenę. O Vengrijoje ir Lenkijoje diduomenė suvirškino valstybę."
"Kitaip buvo Lenkijoje ir Lietuvoje. Čia bajorija garsiai skelbė savo narių bendras šaknis su senovine sarmatų gentimi, per šimtmečius prieš Kristaus gimimą ir po jo atklydusią per stepę dabartinėje pietų Ukrainoje. Net tuo metu daugelis lenkų ir lietuvių bajorų žinojo, kad ryšys su sarmatais yra netiesa, bet bendra legenda padėjo jiems vienytis."
"Prūsijos valstybės tarnyba liūdnai pagarsėjo tuo, kad kokius keturis šimtus karo veteranų įdarbino "uostytojais" (Schnuffer), jų užduotis buvo aptikti, kas be licencijos mala kavą. Be to, keliasdešimt pareigūnų nutvėrę gatvėje ponus ir nutraukę peruką tikrindavo, ar jo viduje yra antspaudas, liudijantį, kad dėvėtojas už šį galvos apdangalą sumokėjo reikiamą mokestį."
"Tuo metu buvo kalbama, kad imperiją dabar valdo keturios armijos: "stovinti kareivių armija, sėdinti biurokratų armija, klūpanti kunigų armija ir šliaužianti informatorių armija"."
"Drabužiai buvo brangūs, tad Vengrijoje alternatyva tapo veido plaukai, ypač ūsai - vienas stropus stebėtojas šių suskaičiavo net dvidešimt tris įvairias formas. Pasak jo, kiekviena iš jų reiškė skirtingą tautinę priklausomybę, kaip antai "slaviškasis šamo" stilius."
"Publika muziką seniai siejo su tautiniai skirtumais - pasak seno prancūzų priežodžio, "Ispanija rauda, Italija aimanuoja, Vokietija mauroja, o Flandrija staugia."
"<...> Bismarckas visą likusį gyvenimą liko rajus, daug geriantis stuobrys - galiausiai net jo gydytojas atsisakė jį gydyti ir patarė kreiptis į veterinarą."
"Antisemitizmas buvo išankstinė nuostata, kuri tik ir laukė savo valandos. Per visą istoriją žydai buvo įsivaizduojami kaip svetimi kiti, nes jų kitokia religija, apranga, mityba ir užsiėmimai. O dabar jie tarsi tapo savi, tvirtai įsitaisė vidurinėje klasėje ir pelnė vietą ant olimpiados pakylos. Bet kaimo žydų antplūdis priminė, kad ir jie yra ateiviai, vos prieš vieną ar dvi kartas gyvenę visuomenės paribyje. Tačiau kaftanus dėvintys žydai bent jau krito į akis. O integravęsi žydai, neva slepiantys savo žydiškumą po verslo kostiumu ir nauja pavarde, buvo nematomi it todėl įsivaizduojami kaip dar pavojingesni. "Dviveidžiai", "slidūs", "sukti" ir "chameleoniški" - taip dažnai buvo vadinami karjeros laiptais kylantys Vidurio Europos žydai."
"Istorijoje antisemitizmas buvo toks daugialypis kaip ir jo taikinys - tai akcentuojantis žydų kitoniškumą, tai skelbiantis, kad grėsmę kelia žydų sukultūrėjimas. Vidurio Europoje buvo ne vientisas antisemitizmas, o keletas formų, besireiškiančių skirtingai pagal laiką ir vietą."
'Vidurio Europos lankytojai iš esmės susiformavo du vaizdinius. Vieną valstiečio nuskurusiais drabužiais, kuris elgiasi kaip stuobrys, bet vis tiek pataikauja tiems, kurios pats laiko viršesniais. Kitą pareigūno, amžinai reikalaujančio popierių."
"Iš viso maždaug trečdalį Vidurio Europos gyventojų sudarė tautinės mažumos, atsidūrusios valstybėse, kuriose vyravo ne jų tauta."
"Vidurio Europoje nemažai politinių partijų ir organizacijų turėjo savo sukarintas grupuotes."
"Neskaitant vokiečių, Vidurio Europoje buvo iškeldinta apie septynis milijonus žmonių, savo ankstesnio gyvenimo liekanas jie stūmė vežimėliuose ar vežėsi dviračiais arba su vieninteliu lagaminu buvo įmesti į sunkvežimio kėbulą."
"Vidurio Europai visada kildavo grėsmių iš visų pusių, bet istoriškai baisiausios buvo negandos iš rytų."
"Šiuolaikinė valstybė gimė Vidurio Europoje - ten biurokratija pirmiausiai susilydė su ankstyvąja Apšvieta. Anglijoje, Prancūzijoje ir Šiaurės Amerikoje Apšvieta labiausiai skatino asmens laisvę, o Vidurio Europoje - valstybę ir valdžios teisę valdyti įsakais."
"Tacito aprašytos jaunatviškos gentys, vaikiškai besivaržančios tarpusavyje, atitiko romėnų stereotipus apie užsienio tautas: jų žmonės arba bjaurios išvaizdos, arba žaismingi, bet aikštingi nebrendėliai, reikalingi romėnų globos ir gero pavyzdžio. <...> Būtent romėnai pirmieji ir pavadino Vidurio Europos tautas germanais, mat jos pačios neturėjo savivardžio ar kokio nors bendros tapatybės suvokimo."
"Šiandien istorikai dažnai perdeda hunų stiprybę ir jų imperiją vaizduoja kaip valstybę, bet jokios valstybės nebuvo. Buvo padrikas hunų, germanų ir gotų genčių telkinys, kurio vienybę palaikė nuožmus ir ambicingas valdovas. Šio nelikus, jis suiro. <...> Hunų palikimas buvo ir plačios Vidurio Europos dalies kultūrinis bei ekonominis skurdas."
"Pirmasis jų karalius, apie kurį turime konkrečių žinių, buvo Childerikas (mirė 481 m. po Kr.), priklausęs vadinamųjų Merovingų valdovų dinastijai - jie buvo pavadinti vienos jūrinių gyvačių padermės vardu."
"<...> galima manyti, kad rytinėje Vidurio Europos dalyje (dabar apimančioje Čekiją, Vengriją, Lenkiją, Rumuniją ir Slovakiją) pirmame tūkstantmetyje gyventojų tankumas buvo mažesnis nei vienas žmogus kvadratiniame kilometre. O štai dabartinės Vokietijos teritorijoje galėjo būti aštuoni kvadratiniame kilometre."
"Pirmoji didelė valstybė, kuri subyrėjo ir paskui vėl atsikūrė, buvo Frankų imperija. Ji ėmė irti beveik tuoj pat po Karolio Didžiojo mirties."
"Jeigu tik regionai gali turėti gimimo liudijimus, tai Vidurio Europos gimimo liudijimas yra Otono III evangelijų knyga."
"Iš suirusios Karolingų imperijos ir vengrų proveržio gimė nauja Vidurio Europa, materialiai paremta vergų prekyba. Visai kaip hunai, kurie perbraižė Europos žemėlapį sugriovę Romos imperiją, vengrai permainė Vidurio Europos politinę geografiją."
"Tipiškas pono būdas kaupti savo galią buvo pažadant "apsaugą" - paprastai bažnyčioms ir vienuolynams. Toji apsauga dažnai būdavo gana reali, bet kartais jai apibūdinti labiau tikdavo žodis "reketas"."
"Pamarėnų prekyba su tolimąja šiaure Vidurio Europai davė Pomeranijos špicą. Iš pradžių tai buvo stiprus rogių šuo, panašus į haskį, bet ilgainiui veisiant žiauriai sumažintas."
"Jo akimis, vengrai esą kresni, stamantrūs, tamsiaodžiai ir aršūs; lenkai, nors gražesnės išvaizdos, gyvena tarp baisingų būtybių, kaip antai vienaragių, kentaurų ir tigrų; o čekai - vagys."
"Daugelyje Vidurio Europos kraštų karaliai ir valdovai savo lovose retai miegodavo ramiai, nes sosto siekė broliai bei sūnūs, dažnai pasiruošę griebtis smurto."
"Relikvijas Karolis vertino beveik taip pat kaip karūnas. Visą gyvenimą keliaudamas lauždavosi į kapus ir rankiojosi kaulus bei mumifikuotas palaikų dalis visoje imperijoje. "
"Kadangi Osmanai iš Krymo chanų atėmė pajūrio miestus, chanai vis labiau kliovėsi pajamomis iš vergų prekybos ir beveik netrukdė totorių gaujoms medžioti vergus. Dauguma vergų buvo grobiami iš Lenkijos - Lietuvos bei Rusijos, bet totoriai darbavosi ir Kaukaze ieškodami čerkesių dėl jų legendinio grožio, Pagrobtuosius parduodavo Krymo uostamiestyje Kafoje - jos turguose vienu metu kartais buvo prekiaujama net trisdešimčia tūkstančių vergų. Manoma, kad nuo 1500 iki 1700 m. totoriai pagrobė ir pardavė į vergiją maždaug du milijonus lenkų, lietuvių ir rusų."
"Vidurio Europoje niekada nebuvo homogeniškų gyventojų telkinių. Paribių srityje susiliedavo įvairios kalbinės ir kultūrinės grupės, be to, būta daug migracijos iš užsienio."
"Didelėje regiono dalyje valstybė suvirškino diduomenę. O Vengrijoje ir Lenkijoje diduomenė suvirškino valstybę."
"Kitaip buvo Lenkijoje ir Lietuvoje. Čia bajorija garsiai skelbė savo narių bendras šaknis su senovine sarmatų gentimi, per šimtmečius prieš Kristaus gimimą ir po jo atklydusią per stepę dabartinėje pietų Ukrainoje. Net tuo metu daugelis lenkų ir lietuvių bajorų žinojo, kad ryšys su sarmatais yra netiesa, bet bendra legenda padėjo jiems vienytis."
"Prūsijos valstybės tarnyba liūdnai pagarsėjo tuo, kad kokius keturis šimtus karo veteranų įdarbino "uostytojais" (Schnuffer), jų užduotis buvo aptikti, kas be licencijos mala kavą. Be to, keliasdešimt pareigūnų nutvėrę gatvėje ponus ir nutraukę peruką tikrindavo, ar jo viduje yra antspaudas, liudijantį, kad dėvėtojas už šį galvos apdangalą sumokėjo reikiamą mokestį."
"Tuo metu buvo kalbama, kad imperiją dabar valdo keturios armijos: "stovinti kareivių armija, sėdinti biurokratų armija, klūpanti kunigų armija ir šliaužianti informatorių armija"."
"Drabužiai buvo brangūs, tad Vengrijoje alternatyva tapo veido plaukai, ypač ūsai - vienas stropus stebėtojas šių suskaičiavo net dvidešimt tris įvairias formas. Pasak jo, kiekviena iš jų reiškė skirtingą tautinę priklausomybę, kaip antai "slaviškasis šamo" stilius."
"Publika muziką seniai siejo su tautiniai skirtumais - pasak seno prancūzų priežodžio, "Ispanija rauda, Italija aimanuoja, Vokietija mauroja, o Flandrija staugia."
"<...> Bismarckas visą likusį gyvenimą liko rajus, daug geriantis stuobrys - galiausiai net jo gydytojas atsisakė jį gydyti ir patarė kreiptis į veterinarą."
"Antisemitizmas buvo išankstinė nuostata, kuri tik ir laukė savo valandos. Per visą istoriją žydai buvo įsivaizduojami kaip svetimi kiti, nes jų kitokia religija, apranga, mityba ir užsiėmimai. O dabar jie tarsi tapo savi, tvirtai įsitaisė vidurinėje klasėje ir pelnė vietą ant olimpiados pakylos. Bet kaimo žydų antplūdis priminė, kad ir jie yra ateiviai, vos prieš vieną ar dvi kartas gyvenę visuomenės paribyje. Tačiau kaftanus dėvintys žydai bent jau krito į akis. O integravęsi žydai, neva slepiantys savo žydiškumą po verslo kostiumu ir nauja pavarde, buvo nematomi it todėl įsivaizduojami kaip dar pavojingesni. "Dviveidžiai", "slidūs", "sukti" ir "chameleoniški" - taip dažnai buvo vadinami karjeros laiptais kylantys Vidurio Europos žydai."
"Istorijoje antisemitizmas buvo toks daugialypis kaip ir jo taikinys - tai akcentuojantis žydų kitoniškumą, tai skelbiantis, kad grėsmę kelia žydų sukultūrėjimas. Vidurio Europoje buvo ne vientisas antisemitizmas, o keletas formų, besireiškiančių skirtingai pagal laiką ir vietą."
'Vidurio Europos lankytojai iš esmės susiformavo du vaizdinius. Vieną valstiečio nuskurusiais drabužiais, kuris elgiasi kaip stuobrys, bet vis tiek pataikauja tiems, kurios pats laiko viršesniais. Kitą pareigūno, amžinai reikalaujančio popierių."
"Iš viso maždaug trečdalį Vidurio Europos gyventojų sudarė tautinės mažumos, atsidūrusios valstybėse, kuriose vyravo ne jų tauta."
"Vidurio Europoje nemažai politinių partijų ir organizacijų turėjo savo sukarintas grupuotes."
"Neskaitant vokiečių, Vidurio Europoje buvo iškeldinta apie septynis milijonus žmonių, savo ankstesnio gyvenimo liekanas jie stūmė vežimėliuose ar vežėsi dviračiais arba su vieninteliu lagaminu buvo įmesti į sunkvežimio kėbulą."
"Vidurio Europai visada kildavo grėsmių iš visų pusių, bet istoriškai baisiausios buvo negandos iš rytų."
May 30, 2023
The first hundred or so pages felt a bit of a slog -- not much more than a stream of Frankish kings, Slav dukes, and Turkic invaders from the Caucasus steppe. But around Chapter 6 or 7, Rady hits his stride, or perhaps finally gets to the point in history where there's enough content for him to work with. He does a good job of weaving together what's happening with the kings with what's happening with the peasants. Throughout it all, he continually tries to answer the question -- why did Central Europe turn out so different politically and socially from Western Europe. And in 9 pages, his concluding chapter does an excellent job of summarizing 2,000 years and 650+ pages of Central European history.
August 3, 2024
8My main feedback is that the book desperately needs maps. Graphic timelines would help in some parts where Rady jumps back and forth or covers a larger period of time too, as would clearer titles for the chapter. Even having read the book I would struggle to go back and find specific periods and events based on the chapter titles.
I do not feel that it does justice to the history of the 20th century do to necessary brevity. The book starts promising, but I found myself labouring to get through a big chunk of the early Middle ages - it is not my primary period of interest, and there is an awful lot of small kingdoms coming and going. For me, the best parts of the book are the parts that cover the 17th to 19th centry.
However, I was looking for an overview of central European history, and the book provides exactly that in a fairly accessible format (and just adding more and clearer maps would make it a far better reading experience, I believe).
I do not feel that it does justice to the history of the 20th century do to necessary brevity. The book starts promising, but I found myself labouring to get through a big chunk of the early Middle ages - it is not my primary period of interest, and there is an awful lot of small kingdoms coming and going. For me, the best parts of the book are the parts that cover the 17th to 19th centry.
However, I was looking for an overview of central European history, and the book provides exactly that in a fairly accessible format (and just adding more and clearer maps would make it a far better reading experience, I believe).
July 3, 2025
This book does a great job of condensing thousands of years into 500 pages but I felt that it just wasn’t written very well. I also thought he left out some key things- zero mention of Karl Marx?- and his analysis of communism in Central Europe felt shallow. He also skips over a lot of early history (which I thought was the most interesting part) but does a great job of connecting events from the early modern and modern periods, such as the events of the 18th and 19th century leading up to two world wars.
July 19, 2025
Dit boek is overduidelijk goed onderzocht en geeft een knap overzicht van de geschiedenis van Midden-Europa. Zoals bij veel boeken die zo’n groot gebied en lange periode willen behandelen, zit er wel een nadeel aan: we razen vrij snel door de tijd. Koningen, keizers en dynastieën volgen elkaar in hoog tempo op, waardoor het soms lastig wordt om te onthouden wie wie is en hoe alles precies samenhangt. Daardoor leest het minder vlot als ontspannend boek en voelt het eerder aan als studiemateriaal. Voor wie echt geïnteresseerd is in de feiten en het grotere plaatje, is het zeker de moeite waard, maar verwacht geen meeslepend verhaal waarbij je helemaal in de geschiedenis gezogen wordt.
November 3, 2023
ROYAL READS PROJECT 2023
October 25, 2023
"The Middle Kingdoms" was a whirlwind of beige with occasional, excellent highlights. It is an inoffensive history of Central Europe that lacks a compellingly unique view. While not a textbook, I often felt similarly disengaged. The best chapter, in my opinion, explained the interactions between unique Central European cultures (Jews, Romas, etc.) and the various governments. I also enjoyed Rady's chapter on Central European Communism. (I found it to be a palatable summary of Anne Applebaum's much denser "Iron Curtain.") While "The Middle Kingdoms" frequently struggled to maintain my interest, it always had another hook to bring me back in before I jumped ship.
I found Rady's book to be full of information about which I was ambivalent but totally lacking information about which I was interested. Sometimes he would tease me with a snippet that grabbed my attention but then quickly summarize the point he was making and move on to the next topic. I can't blame him for his brevity; he covers almost 2,000 years of history in just 516 pages. But I really would have loved to learn more about the conflict between the Ottomans and the Austro-Hungarians, or the collapse of the Soviet empire, for example.
In summary, I don't regret reading it. In fact, I think this book would be more engaging if read physically instead of listened to. The narrator was good, but I don't think I could properly absorb the material presented to me. Some books just don't translate well to the audio format, and this is probably one.
I found Rady's book to be full of information about which I was ambivalent but totally lacking information about which I was interested. Sometimes he would tease me with a snippet that grabbed my attention but then quickly summarize the point he was making and move on to the next topic. I can't blame him for his brevity; he covers almost 2,000 years of history in just 516 pages. But I really would have loved to learn more about the conflict between the Ottomans and the Austro-Hungarians, or the collapse of the Soviet empire, for example.
In summary, I don't regret reading it. In fact, I think this book would be more engaging if read physically instead of listened to. The narrator was good, but I don't think I could properly absorb the material presented to me. Some books just don't translate well to the audio format, and this is probably one.
May 17, 2024
I FINALLY FINISHED THIS BOOK.
It was my "on desk" book, ready for when I needed something to read while working the adult reference desk at my library. I could pick up right where I left off no matter where I was.
This is a fantastic comprehensive history of Central Europe, something I've been trying to find for awhile. It answered all of my questions and more. It was incredibly readable. While it would probably help if you have some familiarity with European history, I think it is still a good read for anyone casually interested in the subject. Thorough and comprehensive, I would definitely assign it, or some chapters, to a class. It concludes with the 21st century so it really is a history of Central Europe.
It was my "on desk" book, ready for when I needed something to read while working the adult reference desk at my library. I could pick up right where I left off no matter where I was.
This is a fantastic comprehensive history of Central Europe, something I've been trying to find for awhile. It answered all of my questions and more. It was incredibly readable. While it would probably help if you have some familiarity with European history, I think it is still a good read for anyone casually interested in the subject. Thorough and comprehensive, I would definitely assign it, or some chapters, to a class. It concludes with the 21st century so it really is a history of Central Europe.
August 17, 2023
Prachtig boek, absoluut. Rady schetst een zeer interessant beeld van Midden-Europa, waarbij hij duidelijk maakt dat er een aantal verschillen zijn met de West-Europese geschiedenis. Dat lardeert hij met allerlei prachtige verhalen, in de stijl van Simon Winder.
Ook een aantal kritische noten. Van sommige anekdotes is niet helemaal duidelijk wat hij er mee duidelijk wil maken. Maar vooral: hij gooit wat mij betreft Duitsland en de rest van de landen wel erg op een hoop: het is allemaal Midden-Europa. Voorbeelden uit Friesland, Slovenië, Kroatië en Zwitserland moeten een aantal tendenzen bewijzen, waarbij je soms denkt: hebben we het nu over Centraal of over heel Europa?
Ook een aantal kritische noten. Van sommige anekdotes is niet helemaal duidelijk wat hij er mee duidelijk wil maken. Maar vooral: hij gooit wat mij betreft Duitsland en de rest van de landen wel erg op een hoop: het is allemaal Midden-Europa. Voorbeelden uit Friesland, Slovenië, Kroatië en Zwitserland moeten een aantal tendenzen bewijzen, waarbij je soms denkt: hebben we het nu over Centraal of over heel Europa?
January 31, 2025
An interesting book on the history of Central Europe. I mostly really enjoyed the read and there were parts that were hard to put down. The book sometimes seemed to go too quickly over certain subjects and then skip around in time and place a bit too much, but this might have been the best way to write about such a broad subject. It was definitely interesting and I loved the full region overview.
did-not-finish
August 19, 2025I will most like come back to this one at some time in the future. I felt that the information was valuable for me to know, and I cannot point to any problems with the writing, but often at the end of a reading session, I would sit and think for a minute and realize that almost nothing stuck. I don't know why, and it very likely could be my own current distractions of life. But I realized that I wasn't gaining much knowledge, and I decided to put it aside for now.
April 7, 2025
Exceptional writing, terrible maps
October 3, 2024
I have a few criticisms of the book. First, it is structured chronologically but since the chapters more thematic and overlapped with each other, it was harder at times to place events in context. Further to that point, there was a lack of contextualization with other global events and movements that portrayed a more isolated evolution of Central Europe (although I could see how that could have been the authors intent). However, from the 19th century on, there was clearly more interconnectedness as conflict broke out during the two World Wars. My last critique is that it assumes the reader’s geographic and historical proficiency, particularly with the Middle Ages, in which I admit I am lacking.
Overall, this book was exactly what I was looking for: a broad overview of the development of Central Europe from the Roman Empire into the modern age. The second half of the book was very enjoyable to read and easier to contextualize with my knowledge of Western European history.
Overall, this book was exactly what I was looking for: a broad overview of the development of Central Europe from the Roman Empire into the modern age. The second half of the book was very enjoyable to read and easier to contextualize with my knowledge of Western European history.
August 11, 2023
This was an extremely comprehensive and well researched summary of a massive swathe of history of a very tumultuous region. Rady does well to spend time highlighting themes and larger movements(culturally, politically, and ideologically) as opposed to dwelling on specific events, while still noting their importance. Although the chronology could get confusing at times, it was written in the best way possible to cover so many topics and regions over such a vast amount of time. Rady takes a somewhat pessimistic and cautious view of Central Europe’s future based on its rocky and violent past, but in the end, he demonstrates the urgency of studying and paying attention to history in order to understand the world around us. 4.5 Stars.
January 5, 2026
This book was never slow. It is huge, but it did not let up. Basically two thousand years of central European history from Rome to Modern day was squeezed into 640 pages and done in a compelling and scholarly way. I especially enjoyed the quick recap at the end; the timeline walks focusing on themes were a great way to finish up.
I started knowing little about this area. I still probably do not know much, but now I have a much better idea of just how much I do not know concerning The Middle Kingdoms. This was an informative and eye opening look at a part of the world with which I am not well enough acquainted.
I started knowing little about this area. I still probably do not know much, but now I have a much better idea of just how much I do not know concerning The Middle Kingdoms. This was an informative and eye opening look at a part of the world with which I am not well enough acquainted.
i-quit
June 10, 2023I gave it 200 pages and just could not get into this book. It’s unusual given that this is my favorite kind of book, and the content is something I am super interested in. I’m not sure where the disconnect is but I’m constantly reading a page or two, and then putting it down and going to something else. I have so many other books to read right now, especially author gifts, that I can’t keep dicking around and wasting time on a book that I am just not vibing with. I might come back to it in the future.
August 25, 2025
Long, but interesting.
Starts-off with a bang and gives an interesting new perspective with multiple inroads to histories across Central Europe.
Anyone who thinks it looks interesting and goes in knowing the length will probably find the investment worthwhile.
Starts-off with a bang and gives an interesting new perspective with multiple inroads to histories across Central Europe.
Anyone who thinks it looks interesting and goes in knowing the length will probably find the investment worthwhile.
December 9, 2025
Great read before bed for a history nerd. Learned so much about the Holy Roman Empire and what came before it. You learn so much about the English and French and I feel like this helped round out my knowledge of European history
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