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Snellius

(6,881 posts)

52. Short answer is no.

Tue Jul 31, 2018, 05:55 PM

Jul 2018

I wish there were. Literally, most European historians, especially in US, don't want to touch it. There are so many cultures, languages and shifting alliances that are involved and boundaries that get moved around every couple of years, pulled back and forth between Germany, Italy, Austria, and Russia. It goes back to the weird crazy quilt of ethnic groups held together by the Holy Roman (Austrian) Empire for centuries, which when it collapsed after WWI, went completely to hell.

Barbara Tuchman's Guns of August about the inception of WWI is a great book and a good start.
This looks useful: https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/18/books/a-reader-s-guide-to-the-balkans.html
Good intro history, short: The Balkans by Mark Mazower

Good luck.

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Highlight:

France shocked by video of woman being slapped by harasser [View all] Judi Lynn Jul 2018 OP

Viral Video of a Man Slapping a Woman in Public Sparked Outrage Across France Judi Lynn Jul 2018 #1

Uproar in France over video of woman hit by harasser in Paris street Judi Lynn Jul 2018 #2

What would one of these dipsticks do if their target simply fed the same nonsense back to them, Judi Lynn Jul 2018 #3

Did you notice the men leap up for battle to defend her? braddy Jul 2018 #4

Had to go back to see it repeatedly. They were far from complacent, for sure. Judi Lynn Jul 2018 #7

The men instantly leap into action and danger, and risk of violence to protect that woman. braddy Jul 2018 #8

LET US NOW PRAISE THE MEN markses66 Jul 2018 #20

Right? Weird. Squinch Jul 2018 #23

I praise them for protecting her. braddy Jul 2018 #31

Mmmmhmmm markses66 Jul 2018 #57

He came back. braddy Jul 2018 #58

The men fought for her and defended her, they were warriors. braddy Jul 2018 #9

What? They talked to the guy and then he walked away. They were nice about it, but Squinch Jul 2018 #11

I am not sure what would you have them do? LisaL Jul 2018 #13

I wouldn't have them do anything other than what they did. They did the right thing, the thing Squinch Jul 2018 #17

They protected her, and of course they did it by facing the attacker's wrath, I assume the women braddy Jul 2018 #32

I'm sorry, but this breathless comic book interpretation of the encounter is just bizarre. Squinch Jul 2018 #39

Jumping up and getting in a strangers face during his street beating is not to be taken lightly, braddy Jul 2018 #42

LOL! "Is it because they are males?" OK. Now I get what the game is. And the escalating Squinch Jul 2018 #43

I don't understand why the helpful and brave citizens are denigrated, they should be praised. braddy Jul 2018 #44

I did praise them. I see no reason to deify them. But you live Squinch Jul 2018 #45

I pointed out their actions and it made people angry for some reason, the victim also praised them. braddy Jul 2018 #46

Three men and one woman went over to the man and talked to him until he went away. That was Squinch Jul 2018 #47

You saw one man grab a weapon and ready to fight, the victim says the attacker was dangerous. braddy Jul 2018 #49

Oh, FFS. Bye now. Squinch Jul 2018 #50

The woman in the purple shirt (sitting with the man in the white oxford) also walks over markses66 Jul 2018 #19

How can one denigrate the protectors? They deserve praise. braddy Jul 2018 #34

Who is denigrating them? You'll point that out for us, yes? LanternWaste Jul 2018 #36

Watch the video, don't be angry at me for pointing out that the men rose up to protect her. braddy Jul 2018 #41

This is unintentionally hilarious, you know. yardwork Jul 2018 #66

I'm sure the victim felt better when her attacker was confronted and driven away by them. braddy Jul 2018 #67

I'm sure that she appreciated the support. yardwork Jul 2018 #68

And the muscle to end it, especially from the one who armed himself. braddy Jul 2018 #69

Slow day on Professor Peterson's YouTube channel, I guess? markses66 Jul 2018 #55

I have no idea what that means. braddy Jul 2018 #59

I'm not surprised at all you praise men so highly. LanternWaste Jul 2018 #33

Easy to say if you haven't been in many physical street fights with strangers, to protect someone. braddy Jul 2018 #40

No. What part was that? Kotya Jul 2018 #27

They ended the threat, they did not deliver sentence. braddy Jul 2018 #35

Watch the video, he returned. braddy Jul 2018 #37

If they tried to stop him, likely they'd be the ones arrested. LisaL Jul 2018 #60

"What would one of these dipsticks do..." area51 Jul 2018 #5

Wonderful! Could not be more appropriate! Thank you, area51. Judi Lynn Jul 2018 #6

Love it! 2naSalit Jul 2018 #12

+1000 byronius Jul 2018 #26

This is Perfect. alphafemale Jul 2018 #63

This is one of the times where I wish we could rec the individual comments here. GoCubsGo Jul 2018 #64

Glad to see several men jumped up to confront the attacker. NutmegYankee Jul 2018 #10

Absolutely get the red out Jul 2018 #14

+1 dalton99a Jul 2018 #22

I wonder if they have citizen's arrest in France. LittleGirl Jul 2018 #15

In France? Are you kidding? DFW Jul 2018 #18

Oh man LittleGirl Jul 2018 #21

He lived another eight years DFW Jul 2018 #29

Some of the worst types in European cities come from within the EU Snellius Jul 2018 #24

EU membership was a godsend for some eastern European countries DFW Jul 2018 #30

The Balkan countries have always been a thorn in the side of Europe Snellius Jul 2018 #48

Can you suggest any books that give a basic overview of the history of the region? Squinch Jul 2018 #51

Short answer is no. Snellius Jul 2018 #52

I love Tuchman! Thank you. I'll read these two and then use the times source. Thanks. Squinch Jul 2018 #53

Seems like it's screwed up a whole lot more than just a little, if the guy defending LisaL Jul 2018 #61

Bienvenu en France n/t DFW Jul 2018 #65

I'm speechless. And more determined than ever not to vote for any candidate who looks like me. marble falls Jul 2018 #16

he needs heaven05 Jul 2018 #25

Who is Marie Laguerre, what happened in the Paris slap video and what has she said about sexual hara Judi Lynn Jul 2018 #28

'Solidarity!' French politicians praise woman who stood up to harasser Judi Lynn Jul 2018 #38

Interesting French sidebar: robbob Jul 2018 #54

Never would have known! Very interesting. It appears the word choice displeased him! Thanks. n/t Judi Lynn Jul 2018 #56

I don't think it could have been used more appropriately robbob Jul 2018 #62

French slang is incredibly extensive DFW Aug 2018 #70

My Franco/Ontarien uncle once asked me to robbob Aug 2018 #71

French in Canada is a different animal altogether DFW Aug 2018 #72