A Concise History of Modern Europe: Liberty, Equality, Solidarity

Description

Highlighting the key events, ideas, and individuals that have shaped modern Europe, this fresh and lively book provides a concise history of the continent from the Enlightenment to the present. Drawing on the enduring theme of revolution, David S. Mason explores the political, economic, and scientific causes and consequences of revolution; the development of human rights and democracy; and issues of European identity and integration. He deliberately avoids a detailed chronology of every country and time period by emphasizing the most crucial events that have shaped Europe. Fourteen focused chapters address such topical issues as the Enlightenment; the French Revolution and Napoleon; the Industrial Revolution; the theories and impact of Marx and Darwin; the revolutions of 1848, 1917, and 1989; the unifications of Germany and Italy; European imperialism; the two world wars; the Cold War; the evolution and expansion of the European Union; and current challenges confronting Europe. Any reader who wants to view the broad sweep of European history will find this book an engaging narrative, supplemented with maps, timelines, sidebars, photos, and a glossary. Contents Boxes, Illustrations, and Maps Preface and Acknowledgments Introduction: Revolutionary Europe Timeline of European History Chapter 1. The Old Regime and the Enlightenment Chapter 2. The French Revolution and Napoleon Chapter 3. The Industrial Revolution and the Birth of Capitalism Chapter 4. 1848: The Peoples’ Spring Chapter 5. Marx, Marxism, and Socialism Chapter 6. Darwinism and Social Darwinism Chapter 7. The Unifications of Italy and Germany Chapter 8. The Age of Imperialism and the Scramble for Africa Chapter 9. World War I Chapter 10. The Russian Revolution and Communism Chapter 11. World War II and the Holocaust Chapter 12. Europe Divided, the Cold War, and Decolonization Chapter 13. 1989: The Collapse of Communism and End of the Cold War Chapter 14. The European Union Europe United and Free? Conclusion: Europe in the Twenty-first Century Notes Glossary Suggestions for Additional Reading Index About the Author