1 Introduction.- 2 The lithosphere: some important properties.- 3 Plate movement and plate boundaries.- 4 Divergent (extensional) tectonic regimes.- 5 Convergent tectonic regimes.- 6 Strike-slip and oblique-slip regimes.- 7 Intraplate tectonic regimes.- 8 Phanerozoic orogenic belts: some examples.- 9 Orogeny in the Precambrian.- References.Springer Book Archives