A Historical Geography of Europe provides an analytical and explanatory account of European historical geography from classical times to the modern period, including the vast changes to landscape, settlements, population, and in political and cultural structures and character that have taken place since 1500. The text takes account of the volume of relevant research and literature that has been published over the past two or three decades, in order to achieve a coverage and synthesis of this very broad range of evidence and opinion, and has tried to engage with many of the main themes and debates to give a clear indication of changing ideas and interpretations of the subject.

The central theme of this book is the changing spatial pattern of human activities during the last 2,500 years of Europe's history. Professor Pounds argues that three factors have determined the locations of human activities: the environment, the attitudes and forms of social organization of the many different peoples of Europe and lastly, the levels of technology. Within the broad framework of the interrelationships of environment, society and technology, several important themes pursued from the fifth century BC to the early twentieth century: settlement and agriculture, the growth of cities, the development of manufacturing and the role of trade. Underlying each of these themes are the discussions of political organization and population. Although the book is based in part of Professor Pound's magisterial three volumes An Historical Geography of Europe (1977, 1980, 1985), it was written especially for students and readers interested in a general survey of the subject.

This book seeks to examine the complex of natural and man-made features that have influenced the course of history and have been influenced by it. It spans the period from the early sixteenth century to the eve of the Industrial Revolution in continental Europe, approximately 1500 to 1840.

Chapter 13 Trade, European integration and territorial cohesion -- The World Wide Web in Europe and European exchange -- The port of Rotterdam as an engine for European integration -- Chapter 14 Consumption and retailing: sameness and difference -- The restructuring of Polish retailing -- Fashion between local and global -- PART IV Social agendas -- Chapter 15 Demography -- Terror in the Yugoslav conflict -- Moroccan immigration to Spain -- Chapter 16 Education and welfare -- Swedish welfareism - a model in question? -- The development and transformation of Petržalka New Town, Bratislava, Slovak Republic -- Chapter 17 Gender, geography and Europe -- Work alternatives for Spanish women in rural areas -- The (re)negotiation of masculinity in Sheffield, UK -- Chapter 18 Health and health policy in Europe -- Cancer in Norway -- The AIDS epidemic in Russia -- Chapter 19 Tourism and travel -- Ecotourism in Austria -- The Caucasian spa resorts: ecological context and problems of development -- PART V Conclusions -- Chapter 20 European futures -- Bibliography -- Index