The first two titles in the "History of Europe" series, telling the story of European politics, culture and society from prehistory to the present day. These are the first two books in the "History of Europe" series, telling the story of European politics, culture and society from prehistory to the present day. The first book covers the earliest civilization in Minoa in Crete to the fragmentation of the Roman Empire into the "barbarian" kingdoms of the West and the Byzantine Empire in the East. The second book begins with the rise of the Emperor Charlemagne to dominate Western Europe and finishes with the artistic triumphs of the High Renaissance. Both books are extensively illustrated with colour photographs and include timeliness and specially commissioned maps.

Three thousand years of European history plays out across the pages of this sumptuously illustrated first volume in the accessible "History of Europe" series. The narrative begins with the first stirrings of Bronze Age Greek culture on Crete, then follows Alexander the Great on his far-flung conquests, and traces the stunning rise and fall of Rome. This is no mere dusty recounting of names and dates; rather, the saga of classical Europe is recounted through lively discussions of the religious and cultural motivations, ambitious personalities, and behind-the-scenes struggles for political power that would lead to history's most pivotal moments. Color photographs, maps, and concise biographies of key figures make it easy to understand the events that set the course for today's Europe.