In this illustrated work, Felipe Fernandez-Armesto looks at Europe as a whole, from the formation of its landmass to today's immensely complex and diverse continent. He attempts to answer questions such as: how has Europe been shaped?; what distinguishes it from the rest of the world?; and what does its future hold? In the text he examines every major period of Europe's history: the impact of early man; the influence of greece and Rome; the Barbarian invasions and the division of Europe; the Renaissance and Enlightenment; the effects of industrialization, nationalism and imperialism; Eurtope's "civil wars"; and the story of Europe since World War II.