Europe and the sea - A continuing story

Modern technology and demography may disguise it, but Europe's origins lie in the sea and its future prosperity still depends upon it. Europe & The Sea identifies how key strands of geography, history and economics have woven together to create - against the odds of conflict and competition - not only disproportionate wealth and unexpected cultural cohesion, but the will for Europe to extend and dominate the known world for centuries. Five European admirals from Britain, France, Germany Italy and Spain transcend narrow naval and security issues with a broad analysis of why early trading and technological success has become increasingly threatened by a recent epidemic - not of disease - but of Sea Blindness. By forgetting the sea's crucial importance and Europe's collective dependency on it we are unwittingly becoming increasingly vulnerable, not just to long-standing threats to marine sustainability from pollution and overexploitation of the sea's limited resources, but also emerging threats from space and cyberspace. Based on their thorough understanding of past and contemporary trends, the authors look to the future maritime context to signpost what lies in store for Europeans.