《歐洲文化概況》分10章按時間順序介紹了歐洲文化的源流發展。最大的特點是，避免了一般歷史書枯燥乏味的敘述，代之以具體的歷史史實，從而增加了趣味性和可讀性。《歐洲文化概況》內容豐富，配有許多精美圖片，由於需要擴展內容較多，延伸的部分以光盤的形式出現。《高等學校英語專業繫列教材》是一套為英語專業高年級本科生和研究生教材，包括高級英語語言技能、英語專業知識相關專業知識三個方面。《高等學校英語專業繫列教材》繫列教材為開放式，涵蓋面廣，設計科學，注重金飯碗生、知識性與實用性，有助於學習者在掌握英語技能的基礎上進一步擴展知識領域，培養應用能力，提高綜合素養。

本書作者Duncan Sidwell具有多年語言教學和教材編寫方面的經驗，從西方人的視角敘述歐洲文化的發展變遷，語言地道 、見地。本書既可用作高樣英語專業文化課教材，也可供水平相當 的英語學習者參考，具有 如下特點：
結構清晰，繫統、全面地介紹了歐洲文化，注重史實，詳略得當。
圖文並茂，並配CD－ROM光盤，最大限度擴充內容，提供更多教學參考。
提供了詳細的教學建議，每章均有引言和總述，每節標題下均附重點內容提示，概要介紹該部分內容。
每章設復習題及討論題，注重文化的橫向比較，把歐洲文化的發展放在世界文化發展的宏觀背景中，有意識地引導學習者深入思考。
附錄中提供了大量實用的信息，如：哲學術語彙總、英語人名地名彙總、希臘羅馬神話中諸神對照表等，方便讀者查閱。
本書分10章按時間順序介紹了歐洲文化的源流發展。最大的特點是，避免了一般歷史書枯燥乏味的敘述，代之以具體的歷史史實，從而增加了趣味性和可讀性。本書內容豐富，配有許多精美圖片，由於需要擴展內容較多，延伸的部分以光盤的形式出現。

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CHAPTER 1ANCIENT GREECE AND THE HELLENISTIC AGE
Introduction
Part IThe history of Greece
1The predecessors of the Greeks
2The Greeks arrive
3The Hellenistic Age （338-30 BC）
Part 2 Religion， politics， and daily life
4Greek religion
5The early development of politics
6Society and education
Part 3 Literature and historical writing
7Early Greek literature
8Literature of the Lyric Age （700-490 BC）
9Drama in the ClassicalAge
10Literature in the Hellenistic Age
11Historical writing
Part 4 The arts
12Architecture
13Sculpture
14Pottery
15Music
Part 5 Philosophy and science
16Philosophy and science from the seventh to the third century BC
17Science in the Hellenistic Age
Conclusion

CHAPTER 2 ANCIENT ROME
Introduction
Part IThe history of Rome
1Historical background： Rome from Republic to Empire
Part 2 Society and daily life
2Religion
3The family and education
4Entertainment
Part 3 The arts， law and writing
5The arts
6Roman law
7Roman literature and historical writing
Conclusion

CHAPTER 3 JUDAEO-CHRISTIANITY
Introduction
Part IThe history of the Jews and of early Christianity
1The Hebrews and the creation of Israel
2Jews in the Hellenistic Age
3Jesus and the first Christians
4From persecution to state religion
5Establishing the Christian church
6Early church debates and disputes
7Monasticism
Part 2 The Bibe-The Old Testament
8The Creation and the Law of Moses
9The history of Israel
10Wisdom， unhappiness and poetry
11Protest and prophecy
Part 3 The Bible-The New Testament
12The texts of the New Testament
13The nature of the New Testament
14The life and teaching of Jesus as shown in the Gospels
15The Acts of the Apostles， the teaching of Paul and early letters
16The Book of Revelation
Part 4 Perspectives on Judaism and Christianity
17Historical aspects of Judaism and Christianity
Conclusion

CHAPTER 4 THE MIDDLE AGES
Introduction
Part IThe Early Middle Ages from 500 to 1000 AD
1The collapse of the Roman Empire in the west
2The growth of order
3The early medieval population and the medieval world view
4Learning and literature
5Charlemagne and the restoration of learning
Part 2 The Late Middle Ages——new social organisation，
chivalry and the crusades
6The new social organisation of the tenth to the thirteenth
centuries
7Chivalry
8The crusades
Part 3 The Late Middle Ages——intellectual change and controversy
9Social change and the growth of law
10Intellectual controversy-faith or reason？
11The church strengthens its authority
12The church and the state in dispute
Part 4 The Late Middle Ages——the arts and science
13Architecture and art
14Literature
15Music
16Science
Conclusion

CHAPTER 5 THE RENAISSANCE AND THE REFORMATION
Introduction
Part IThe Renaissance
1The Renaissance in Italy
2Humanist writers
3Rationalism and its effect
4The arts
5Plants and gardens
6Music
7Science and technology
8Exploration of the world
Part 2 The Renaissance in countries other than Italy
9France
10England
11Spain
12Germany
13Northwest Europe
Part 3 The Reformation
14The history of the division of the church
15 The historical context of the Reformation
16Martin Luther and the Reformation
17The Reformation elsewhere than in Germany
18The Counter-Reformation in the mid-sixteenth century
Conclusion

CHAPTER 6 THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
Introduction
Part 1Historical background-raligion， trade， governance
1Religion
2Trade and the middle class
3Kings， God and taxation
4Struggles for the state——-Absolutism in France
5Struggles for the state——The English Civil War
Part 2 New directions in thought
6Philosophy
Part 3 Science
7The development of science and womens contribution
8From Kepler to Newton
Part 4 The arts and literature
9 The nature of Baroque architecture and art
10Architecture
11Painting and sculpture
12Music
13Literature
Conclusion

CHAPTER 7THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY
Introduction
Part IPolitics and society
1Political development
2Society and its development
Part 2 Enlightenment thinkers
3Thinkers and themes
Part 3 Agriculture， industry and science
4The Agricultural Revolution
5The Industrial Revolution
6Science
Part 4 The arts and literature
7 Architecture
8 Art
9Music
10Literature
Conclusion

CHAPTER 8 THE NINETEENTH CENTURY： 1800-1870
Introduction
Part IEurope from 1795-1870
1Napoleon Bonaparte （1769-1821） and his legacy
2The restoration of monarchies and revolution
3The unification of Italy and Germany and the Commune
Part 2 Industrialisation： its effect on populations and on thought
4Industrialisation， towns and the organisation of labour
5The effect of industrialisation on thought
Part 3 The Romantic Movement
6The nature of Romanticism
7Romantic Art
Part 4 Realism
8Realism in literature
9Realism in art
Part 5 Architecture， music and science
10Architecture
11Music
12Science
Conclusion

CHAPTER 9EUROPE 1870-1914
CHAPTER 10 EUROPE 1914-2000