A Short History of Europe: From the Greeks and Romans to the Present Day

From the Greek city-states to the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, Alcock (European studies, U. of Ulster) seems to focus on the creation and longevity of various empires. He explains the rise of Christianity, highlights the significance of the fall of the western half of the Roman Empire and the survival of the Eastern half for another 1000 years, examines the attempts by the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation to recreate European unity and how divisions within and between these two institutions led to the fragmentation of Europe into states. Alcock also looks at how the voyages of discovery led to the domination of the world by western Europe and concludes with a discussion of the process of integration since 1945. Paper edition (unseen), $18.95. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.