This first chapter of the volume on Constitutive Modeling of Solid Continua sets out briefly the main concepts of general continuum mechanics without reference to specific material behavior as a backdrop for the detailed descriptions of different types of material behavior that are contained in the remaining chapters. The focus is therefore on the fundamental ideas of the kinematics of a continuum (deformation and motion), the global balance equations governing the motion of a general continuum, stress, and the energy balance equation, and the derivation of the local governing equations, including mass conservation and the equation of motion. For the most part, detailed proofs are not provided and reference is made to standard texts for more details since this volume is aimed at researchers who have a reasonable background in continuum mechanics and wish to widen the scope of their knowledge in different areas of solid mechanics.