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Grand Embassy
This image of Peter I was painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller during the former's stay in Britain on his Grand Embassy in which he toured Europe. In doing so, he learned the measures, skills, and customs that would help him to modernize Russia and establish a major power. -
Nueva Planta Decrees
The image is of the front page of the manuscript. These decrees by Philip V served to centralize his governance of 'Spain' and created the first notion of a Spanish state and nationality, superceding the old laws and identities of the Castilians, the Aragonese, the Catalans and various others. -
Napoleonic Code of Law
The Napoleonic Code was a French Civil Legal Code introduced by Napoleon I based on Roman Law. It unified the French legal system and became a standard source of law in over 50 countries while influencing many more. The figures are from Napoleon's Tomb in the Dôme Des Invalides and were erected by Louis Visconti in 1842. -
Proclamation of the German Empire at Versailles
The Proclamation of the German Empire at Versailles marks the culmination of Prussian efforts under Otto von Bismarck to form a unified German state and resulted in a shift in the balance of power in Europe. Painting by Anton von Werner, completed 1877. -
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles divided the defeated Central Powers largely along ethnic lines, giving rise to numerous new nations in Eastern and Central Europe that quickly fell from democracy to authoritarianism but set the stage for much of the configuration of Europe beyond the West. This photograph from 1919 during the formation of the treaty shows David Lloyd George (left), Georges Clemencaeu (Center), and Woodrow Wilson (Right) -
Victory in Europe Day
After Karl Doenitz officially surrendered to Allied forces in Europe, fascism was effectively overruled in legitimacy by democracy, which was then confirmed across Western-occupied parts of Europe. It also ushered in the beginning of Soviet domination of Eastern and Central Europe, and the imposition of communism until the late 20th Century. The graphic was printed May 12 1945 in the Illustrated London News.
