Book excerpt: Europe 17831914is an accessible history of Europe from the advent of the French Revolution to the origins of the First World War, covering political, economic and social aspects of the period. Each chapter is structured with concise backgrounds to events, including tables of key dates, a selection of primary documents and questions to test current interpretations of important themes, and a guide to further reading. Extensively illustrated with maps, contemporary cartoons and portraits, Europe 17831914surveys the following main themes interspersed with studies of significant countries including France, Italy, Germany and Russia: the impact of the French Revolution and Napoleon the Industrial Revolution Nationalism the 1848 Revolutions Imperialism Marxism the origins of the First World War. Europe 17831914is an essential and invaluable introduction to this turbulent and exciting period of European history.