Catalyzed by the introduction of writing and the unifying force of Christianity, prehistoric European societies became flourishing civilizations in the early stages of European history. This period ushered in new technologies and advances in economic, political, and scientific thought that created an enduring cultural link between what would later become disparate nation-states. This illuminating volume provides an overarching view of the early social and intellectual transformations that brought European civilization from its birth in antiquity to its illustrious rebirth during the Renaissance.