Volcanoes are intimately tied to the history of humanity, they help
forge the Earth's crust and atmosphere, and they are very much an active
feature of today. The archaeology of most ancient civilizations of
Europe preserves the imprint of spectacular and volcanic phenomena
while, in modern times life is still affected by large eruptions from
Europe's active volcanic systems.
The eruption of Santorini, some 3600 years ago in the Aegean, probably
inspired the Greek fables of Atlantis; the eruptions of Etna on Sicily
are the origin of the forges of Cyclops and other myths; and the regular
eruptions from Stromboli earned its Roman name, 'the Lighthouse of the
Mediterranean'. Eruptions in Iceland over the past few centuries have
shaped more recent European history and highlight the dramatic effects
that distant large eruptions can have on our modern way of living.
This thoroughly revised and updated edition reflects modern research and
is now illustrated in colour throughout. It presents the volcanoes of
Europe, as they are today and tells how they have shaped our past. The
volcanic systems of the Mediterranean basin, the Atlantic, and of
mainland Europe are introduced and described in clear prose with a
minimum of technical jargon. Some of Europe's ancient volcanic systems
is also described as these have been fundamental in shaping the science
of volcanology. The origins, history and development of Europe's
volcanoes is presented against a background of their environmental
aspects and contemporary activity. Special attention is given to the
impact of volcanoes on the people who live on or around them. The book
is written for student, amateur and professional earth scientists alike.
To help guide the reader, a glossary of volcanic terms is included
together with a vocabulary of volcanic terms used in European languages.
