Now in a fully updated fifth edition, this premier text has been thoroughly revised to reflect the sweeping changes the past decade has brought to Europe. Long hailed for its creativity and intellectual depth, the book is now further enriched by the expertise of a new lead author, noted geographer Alexander B. Murphy. In this edition, he has focused on Europe's role in the wider world and incorporated new research and teaching approaches in regional geography. The book employs a cultural-historical approach that is ideally suited to facilitate understanding of Europe's ancient, complex geographical character. Its topical organization_including environment, ethnicity, religion, language, demography, politics, industry, and urban and rural life_offers students a holistic understanding of the diverse European culture area. Inclusive, intellectual, rich in ideas, lively, interesting, and humanistic, The European Culture Area remains the text of choice for courses on the geography of Europe.