From the stone circles of the Neolithic through the glories of Rome and the Renaissance to the ravages of the world wars, Europe boasts a history of extraordinary richness. Alexander the Great, Einstein, Mozart, Julius Caesar and Napoleon – Europe's past is full of figures and events that loom large in the popular imagination. But the popular imagination is, famously, not always accurate.

Click through this gallery to uncover some of the most common misconceptions about the history of Europe...

Medieval battles were unruly brawls

In popular depictions like Braveheart and Game of Thrones, medieval battles involve two screeching mobs hurtling towards each other on an open plain before colliding with a sickening crunch. These battles quickly devolve into chaos, with key characters engulfed by 360-degree fighting that blurs friend with foe. Hours later, the victors pick their way through an endless field of bodies – the enemy all but obliterated.

Pitched battles were not common in the high medieval period, with warfare primarily conducted via sieges, but when they did occur they were very, very different to the disorderly melees generally seen on screen.

15 European history 'facts' that are completely wrong