Fordham University professor Oscar Halecki, in the pages of his book, traces the history of the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe from ancient times to the mid-twentieth century. The author highlights the processes of formation of national identity and the formation of the states of the Slavs, the peoples of the Baltic, Danube and Balkan regions. Reflecting on the origins of geopolitical conflicts and the cultural community of peoples inhabiting a key region in the heart of Europe, the historian concludes that the freedom and independence of each people is necessary for a stable balance of power on the continent and the development of civilization as a whole.