France's cultural and historical legacies are numerous and diverse. It has long played a dominant role on the world stage, and as one of the largest countries of the European Union, its global influence shows no signs of dying down. But despite its cultural, economic, governmental, and historical achievements, France has experienced trials and tribulations, perhaps most memorably during the French Revolution, but throughout history as well. This comprehensive...

Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales-storied lands that have sparked the global imagination through their legends and centuries-old traditions-often seem to be eclipsed by the neighboring England. While there are many similarities between them, each is culturally distinct, with languages, traditions, and identities not shared by the others. But even as Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales each work to safeguard their unique heritages, they have...

Although the independent Irish republic emerged only relatively recently, its rich history and cultural bounties date back centuries. The Irish have long endured strife, struggling against external control-notably English rule-as well as against infighting, often between Roman Catholics and Protestants. Yet even amidst such conflict, Ireland has continued to be known as the "land of saints and scholars," with writers such as James Joyce and W.B. Yeats,...

Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia share a remarkably similar trajectory on their individual paths to becoming the nations they are today. Each had ties to the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman empires in earlier times, all became Eastern-bloc countries in the 20th century, and all successfully emerged from Communist rule in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. These multi-layered lands-where folk traditions still exist alongside...

For centuries islands of the Mediterranean served as a cultural crossroads, with the Phoenicians, Romans, and Arabs variously settling and colonizing the area. Cyprus, Greece, and Malta in particular were subject to the influence of foreign powers, and remained so for much of their histories. Today, each has gained its independence and gone on to become an active member of the European Union. This lively volume examines the historical events that...

Despite its comparatively small size, England has been a nation of considerable stature on the international stage for much of its history. As the home of parliamentary government, William Shakespeare, and the English language, England has been an influential player in the political and cultural development of nations the world over. The story of England is captured in this compelling volume, which provides an overview of its rich past, remarkable...