diff --git a/svgpathtools/path.py b/svgpathtools/path.py
index bcabff9..70d8ae3 100644
--- a/svgpathtools/path.py
+++ b/svgpathtools/path.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Arc."""
 
 # External dependencies
 from __future__ import division, absolute_import, print_function
-from math import sqrt, cos, sin, acos, asin, degrees, radians, log, pi
+from math import sqrt, cos, sin, acos, asin, degrees, radians, log, pi, ceil
 from cmath import exp, sqrt as csqrt, phase
 from collections import MutableSequence
 from warnings import warn
@@ -2440,19 +2440,52 @@ class Path(MutableSequence):
     #         Ts += [self.t2T(i, t) for t in seg.icurvature(kappa)]
     #     return Ts
 
-    def area(self):
-        """returns the area enclosed by this Path object.
-        Note: negative area results from CW (as opposed to CCW)
-        parameterization of the Path object."""
+    def area(self, chord_length=1e-2):
+        """Find area enclosed by path.
+        
+        Approximates any Arc segments in the Path with lines
+        approximately `chord_length` long, and returns the area enclosed
+        by the approximated Path.  Default chord length is 0.01.  To 
+        ensure accurate results, make sure this `chord_length` is set to
+        a reasonable value (e.g. by checking curvature).  
+                
+        Notes
+        ----
+        * Negative area results from clockwise (as opposed to
+        counter-clockwise) parameterization of the input Path.
+        
+        To Contributors
+        ---------------
+        This is one of many parts of `svgpathtools` that could be 
+        improved by a noble soul implementing a piecewise-linear 
+        approximation scheme for paths (one with controls to 
+        guarantee a desired accuracies).
+        """
+
+        def area_without_arcs(self):
+            area_enclosed = 0
+            for seg in self:
+                x = real(seg.poly())
+                dy = imag(seg.poly()).deriv()
+                integrand = x*dy
+                integral = integrand.integ()
+                area_enclosed += integral(1) - integral(0)
+            return area_enclosed
+
         assert self.isclosed()
-        area_enclosed = 0
+
+        bezier_path_approximation = Path()
         for seg in self:
-            x = real(seg.poly())
-            dy = imag(seg.poly()).deriv()
-            integrand = x*dy
-            integral = integrand.integ()
-            area_enclosed += integral(1) - integral(0)
-        return area_enclosed
+            if isinstance(seg, Arc):
+                num_lines = ceil(seg.length() / chord_length)  # check curvature to improve  
+                bezier_path_approximation = \
+                    [Line(seg.point(i/num_lines), seg.point((i+1)/num_lines)) 
+                     for i in range(int(num_lines))]
+            else:
+                approximated_path.append(seg)
+
+        return area_without_arcs(approximated_path)
+
 
     def intersect(self, other_curve, justonemode=False, tol=1e-12):
         """returns list of pairs of pairs ((T1, seg1, t1), (T2, seg2, t2))
diff --git a/test/test_path.py b/test/test_path.py
index c58b182..079bb84 100644
--- a/test/test_path.py
+++ b/test/test_path.py
@@ -1747,5 +1747,33 @@ class TestPathTools(unittest.TestCase):
         #       openinbrowser=True)
 
 
+    def test_path_area(self):
+        cw_square = Path()
+        cw_square.append(Line((0+0j), (0+100j)))
+        cw_square.append(Line((0+100j), (100+100j)))
+        cw_square.append(Line((100+100j), (100+0j)))
+        cw_square.append(Line((100+0j), (0+0j)))
+        self.assertEqual(cw_square.area(), -10000.0)
+
+        ccw_square = Path()
+        ccw_square.append(Line((0+0j), (100+0j)))
+        ccw_square.append(Line((100+0j), (100+100j)))
+        ccw_square.append(Line((100+100j), (0+100j)))
+        ccw_square.append(Line((0+100j), (0+0j)))
+        self.assertEqual(ccw_square.area(), 10000.0)
+
+        cw_half_circle = Path()
+        cw_half_circle.append(Line((0+0j), (0+100j)))
+        cw_half_circle.append(Arc(start=(0+100j), radius=(50+50j), rotation=0, large_arc=False, sweep=False, end=(0+0j)))
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(cw_half_circle.area(), -3926.9908169872415, places=3)
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(cw_half_circle.area(chord_length=1e-3), -3926.9908169872415, places=6)
+
+        ccw_half_circle = Path()
+        ccw_half_circle.append(Line((0+100j), (0+0j)))
+        ccw_half_circle.append(Arc(start=(0+0j), radius=(50+50j), rotation=0, large_arc=False, sweep=True, end=(0+100j)))
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(ccw_half_circle.area(), 3926.9908169872415, places=3)
+        self.assertAlmostEqual(ccw_half_circle.area(chord_length=1e-3), 3926.9908169872415, places=6)
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()