Following on from his highly acclaimed first publication, Peter Rietbergen's excellent second edition brings the reader up to date with Europe's current cultural trends. Rietbergen examines the many varied cultural building blocks of Europe, their importance in the continent's cultural identity, and how the perception of Europe has changed over the centuries. Working chronologically from the beginnings of agricultural society in Africa before Christ, right up to today's mass culture, the book studies culture through the media of literature, art, science, technology and music. With thorough revisions on the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, a wide selection of excerpts, lyrics from contemporary songs, and illustrations, this book is an excellent student resource for both historical and cultural studies.