Exploring Europe
Why do the houses in Munich look different than those in Stuttgart? Forgotten historical borders still contribute to regional identity, even when these ancient regions are only footnotes in history. This series sets out to uncover these ancient borders, and draw connections between places that may now seem separated.
Explore by Historical Regions
Modern-day administrative boundaries may not be the most useful guide for deciding where to travel and what to see. In ages past, borders meant different things, and the flow of people and ideas went unhindered by lines in the sand. Discovering new places to see can sometimes be best informed by looking at ancient centers of power and trade. The Holy Roman Empire was simply a collection of states, many with distinctive identities and cultures. Uncovering these means moving past modern day borders.
Explore by Country
National identity reflects itself in many different ways, and also offers a useful guide for deciding what to see. This section simply breaks down the countries of modern Europe into the historical regions that they are comprised of. Some countries, such as Belgium are a union of different cultures, each with their own history. Whereas other countries like Denmark may have many regions, but the story of the nation dominates the historical narrative. In this case, it is often the borderlands, or regions lost to conquest in previous centuries, that may be the most interesting to visit.