This collaboration between 12 historians from all over Europe aims to provide a truly European view of the history of the continent of Europe. Beginning by examining the concept of a European identity, through geography, language and culture, the authors then trace the history of Europe from early man to the 1990s, highlighting significant events and themes from the Crusades to the opening of the Stockton-Darlington railway. Illustrated throughout with a selection of imagery and over 100 instructive maps, this book aims to make a contribution to the better understanding of our European heritage. The twelve contributors are: Jacques Aldebert (France), Johan Bender (Denmark), Jiri Grusa (Czechoslovakia), Scipione Guarraccino (Italy), Ignace Massan (Belgium), Dr. Kenneth Milne (Ireland), Foula Pispiringou (Greece), Dr. Juan Antonio Sanchez and Garcia Sauco (Spain), Antonio Simoes Rodrigues (Portugal), Ben W.M. Smulders (Netherlands), Dieter Tiemann (Germany), and Dr. Robert Unwin (Britain).