Volume III uncovers the radical transformations of European cities from 1850 to the twenty-first century. The volume explores how modern developments in urban environments, socio-cultural dynamics, the relation between work and leisure, and governance have transformed urban life. It highlights these complex processes across different regions, showcasing the latest scholarship and current challenges in the field. The first half provides an overview on the urban development of European regions in the West, North, Centre, East-Southeast and South, and the interconnectedness of European urbanism with the Americas and Africa. The second half explores major themes in European urban history, from the conceptualisation of cities, their built fabric and environment, to the continuities, rhythms and changes in their social, political, economic and cultural histories. Using transborder, transregional and transdisciplinary approaches to discern traits that characterise modern and contemporary European urbanism, the volume invites readers to reconsider major paradigms of European urban history.

Chapter 8 – Our Transforming World – discusses the general conclusions from the book's exploration of stories of societal transformation across the world. In particular, it focuses on the governability of transformations, the system boundaries, the tempo of transformations and the drivers of change, such as technology, political economy, learning, narratives and perspective change. Finally, the chapter points at the interconnectedness of personal, political and practical transformations.