Your task is to explore the political and economic events in each country's past.  Events of interest include, but are not limited to, war, alliances, governmental change and policy, leadership, and financial status.  You will examine the impact of such historical events as they pertain to each of the six countries.  When you reunite with your group, you will present the main points of interest gathered from your intense search.  You will then, as a group, examine these historical events in the context of each country's past to determine the similarities and differences between each one.  Below, you will find the specific clues which you will need to examine:

• At one point this country's main religion was Catholicism
• At one point in its history this country was considered the leader in European power and influence.
• This country has been occupied by the Romans, Vikings, and Saxons.
• This country has been a single political unit for over 300 years.

Resources:

History of Countries
http://www.countryreports.org/history/

History of France
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/france/history.htm

History of Greece
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/greece/history.htm

History of Italy
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/italy/history.htm

History of Germany
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/germany/history.htm

History of Spain
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/spain/history.htm

History of Great Britain
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/england/history.htm

This Sceptered Isle (Great Britain)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/sceptred_isle/

images courtesy of Pics4Learning: http://www.pics4learning.com/