Now in a fully updated edition, this leading textbook has been thoroughly revised to reflect the sweeping economic, social, and political changes the past decade has brought to Europe and to incorporate new research and teaching approaches in regional geography. The authors employ a cultural-historical approach that is ideally suited to facilitate understanding of Europe's complex geographical character. Their topical organization-including environment, ethnicity, religion, language, demography, politics, industry, and urban and rural life-offers students a holistic understanding of the diverse cultural area that is Europe. Inclusive, rich in ideas, lively, interesting, and humanistic, The European Culture Area remains the text of choice for courses on the geography of Europe.