Europe

Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east. Europe shares the landmass of Eurasia with Asia and is often separated from Asia by natural features like the Ural Mountains and the Ural River.

Covering about 10,186,000 square kilometres, Europe is the second-smallest continent. It is home to around fifty sovereign states, with Russia being the largest. In 2021, Europe had a population of about 745 million people, making up roughly 10% of the world population.

The culture of Europe has deep roots in ancient Greece and ancient Rome, and later developed through periods like the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Age of Enlightenment. Europe played a major role in global history through exploration, colonisation, and both world wars. Today, many European countries are part of the European Union, which works to promote peace, trade, and cooperation among its members.

Etymology

Further information: Europa (consort of Zeus)

In ancient Greek mythology, Europa was a Phoenician princess. Many believe her name comes from Ancient Greek words meaning "wide" and "face," suggesting she had a broad outlook. Others think the name might have come from much older languages before Greek, or even from words meaning "west" in some ancient cultures.

Today, most languages around the world use versions of her name when talking about Europe. For example, in Chinese, the word for Europe is Ōuzhōu, a shorter form of the full name Ōuluóbā zhōu. Some Turkic languages still use an older name meaning "land of the Franks."

Definition

Further information: Boundaries between the continents § Asia and Europe

See also: List of transcontinental countries

Contemporary definition

Clickable map of Europe, showing one of the most commonly used continental boundaries^[u] Key: blue: states which straddle the border between Europe and Asia; green: countries not geographically in Europe, but closely associated with the continent

Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. To the east, Europe shares land with Asia, with common boundaries including the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, the Black Sea, and waterways connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea.

Islands like Iceland are considered part of Europe, while nearby Greenland is part of North America. Some places, like Cyprus and Malta, are culturally and politically part of Europe even though they are geographically closer to Asia.

History

Main article: History of Europe

Prehistory

Main article: Prehistoric Europe

During the Pleistocene, Europe experienced many cold periods called glacials, followed by warmer interglacials. The last cold period ended about 10,000 years ago, and Earth is now in an interglacial period called the Holocene.

Early humans, such as Homo erectus, lived in Europe around 1.8 million years ago. Neanderthals appeared in Europe about 150,000 years ago and disappeared around 40,000 years ago. Modern humans arrived in Europe around 43,000 to 40,000 years ago, though some evidence suggests they were there as early as 54,000 years ago.

The Neolithic period in Europe began around 7000 BCE in Greece and the Balkans, marked by farming, livestock raising, and pottery use. It spread along river valleys and the Mediterranean coast. Large megalithic structures like Stonehenge were built during this time.

Classical antiquity

Main article: Classical antiquity

See also: Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome

Ancient Greece was the foundation of Western civilization, contributing to democracy, philosophy, history, drama, medicine, and science. The Greek city-state, or polis, was the basic political unit. In 508 BCE, Athens created the world's first democratic government.

Rome followed Greece, greatly influencing law, politics, language, engineering, architecture, and government. By 200 BCE, Rome had conquered Italy and expanded over the next two centuries to control Greece, Spain, North Africa, the Middle East, Gaul, and Britain. The Roman Republic ended in 27 BCE with the rise of the Roman Empire, a time of peace and stability known as the Pax Romana. Christianity became legal in 313 CE and the official religion by 380 CE. The empire's capital moved to Constantinople in 330 CE. The Western Roman Empire fell in 476 CE.

Early Middle Ages

Main articles: Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages

See also: Dark Ages and Age of Migrations

As the Roman Empire declined, Europe entered a period of change known as the Age of Migrations, with many invasions and movements of people. Monastic communities preserved knowledge during this time. The Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire, remained strong and influential.

Charlemagne, a Frankish king, was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800 CE. This led to the founding of the Holy Roman Empire in 962. During this time, the first Slavic states formed and adopted Christianity. Kievan Rus' became a large state by the 10th century, adopting Orthodox Christianity in 988 CE.

High and Late Middle Ages

Main articles: High Middle Ages, Late Middle Ages, and Middle Ages

See also: Medieval demography

The High Middle Ages (1000–1250) saw population growth and economic expansion in Europe. Coastal cities became important trading centers, and the Maritime Republics played a big role in European affairs.

Feudalism developed across Europe, with nobility and clergy holding most power. The Catholic Church was the main source of culture and education. The Papacy reached its peak power, and the East-West Schism in 1054 split the Christian world. The Crusades began in 1095, and the Reconquista in Spain ended in 1492.

The Byzantine Empire recaptured some territories but was weakened by defeats and finally fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453. The Black Death pandemic in the mid-14th century killed a third of Europe's population.

Early modern period

Main article: Early modern period

See also: Renaissance, Reformation, Scientific Revolution, and Age of Discovery

The Renaissance was a time of cultural growth starting in Florence, spreading across Europe. It brought new ideas in art, philosophy, music, and science, supported by wealthy patrons.

The Reformation began in 1517 when Martin Luther challenged the Catholic Church, leading to religious wars. The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) caused huge destruction in Europe. Spain, Portugal, and later other countries began exploring and creating empires in the Americas, Asia, and Africa.

18th and 19th centuries

Main article: Modern history

See also: Industrial Revolution, French Revolution, and Age of Enlightenment

The Seven Years' War ended the old system of alliances in Europe. The French Revolution in the late 18th century led to the rise of Napoleon and large changes across Europe. The Congress of Vienna in 1815 tried to create a new balance of power.

The Industrial Revolution began in Britain and spread across Europe, bringing new technologies, urban growth, and social changes. Reforms improved working conditions and living standards. Europe's population grew from about 100 million in 1700 to 400 million by 1900.

20th century to the present

Main articles: Modern era and History of Europe

See also: World War I, Great Depression, Interwar period, Second World War, Cold War, and History of the European Union

The 20th century was marked by two world wars and an economic depression. World War I (1914–1918) caused many deaths and changes to Europe's map. The Russian Revolution created the Soviet Union, and many new countries formed.

World War II (1939–1945) was even more destructive, with around 60 million people dying. Europe was divided into Western and Eastern blocs during the Cold War. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 led to German reunification and the end of the Cold War.

After World War II, European integration grew. The European Union was formed, aiming to bring countries together economically and politically. The UK left the EU in 2020. Recent conflicts, like the Russo-Ukrainian War, have caused big changes in Europe.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Europe

Europe is the western part of the landmass called Eurasia. It has more coast than any other continent, with oceans and seas on three sides. The north has the Arctic Ocean, the west has the Atlantic Ocean, and the south has the Mediterranean Sea. Europe’s land changes quickly — the south is full of mountains like the Alps and Pyrenees, while the north has wide, flat plains known as the Great European Plain.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Europe

Europe mostly has a mild climate because of the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico to Europe. This makes places like Aveiro in Portugal warmer than cities at the same latitude in other parts of the world, such as New York City. The climate gets colder as you move north and east across the continent.

Geology

Main article: Geology of Europe

See also: Geological history of Europe

Europe’s rocks and landforms tell a long story. Over a billion years ago, parts of Europe were once joined to other landmasses. Today, Europe has many different landscapes, from the high mountains in the south to the flat plains in the north. The Ural Mountains separate Europe from Asia.

Flora

Europe’s plants have changed a lot because of humans. Most of Europe was once covered in forests, but many have been cut down. Today, forests still cover a lot of the land, especially in places like Scandinavia and Russia. Common trees include beech and oak in the west, and spruce and pine in the north. In the Mediterranean, olive trees and scrub forests grow well.

Fauna

Main article: Fauna of Europe

Europe’s animals have also been affected by ice ages and humans. Large predators like wolves and brown bears are now rare, living only in parts of Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. Other animals include foxes, wildcats, hedgehogs, and many types of birds and insects. Europe’s seas are home to creatures like fish, dolphins, and whales.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Europe

See also: List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe, International organisations in Europe, Regions of Europe, and European integration

Europe's political landscape changed greatly after the Napoleonic Wars in 1815. Today, most European countries have parliamentary democracy governments, usually as republics. A few countries still have monarchies, but these are usually constitutional.

Since the end of the Second World War, European countries have worked together through groups like the European Union. This union helps countries share rules and trade with each other. Some European countries also use the same money, called the Eurozone. There are many smaller groups too, like the Nordic Council and the Benelux.

List of states and territories

Main article: List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Europe

See also: Area and population of European countries

Europe is made up of many countries, some of which are fully recognized around the world, while others have limited recognition. These places may have their own governments but are not always members of international organizations like the United Nations.

In addition to these countries, there are several areas with special governing rights. Examples include Åland, an autonomous part of Finland, and territories linked to Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Norway. These areas have their own rules and ways of managing local matters, even though they are not fully independent countries.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Europe

See also: List of sovereign states in Europe by GDP (nominal) and List of sovereign states in Europe by GDP (PPP)

Europe has the largest and richest economy of any continent. It holds more than one-third of the world’s wealth, with lots of money managed by banks and businesses. Some countries, like those in the northwest and west, are very wealthy, while others, especially in the east and southeast, are still catching up after big changes in their governments.

Many European countries work together in a group called the European Union. Nineteen of these countries use the same money, called the euro. Big economies like Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Russia are among the strongest in the world. However, there are big differences in wealth, with Monaco being one of the richest places and Ukraine one of the poorest.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Europe

See also: List of European countries by population, List of European countries by life expectancy, and Ageing of Europe

Europe is home to about 742 million people, which is roughly one-ninth of the world's population. The number of people in Europe is slowly decreasing because there are fewer births than deaths. However, migration from other parts of the world helps to balance this change.

Southern and Western Europe have some of the oldest populations in the world, with over one in five people being older than 65. This trend is expected to continue, with projections suggesting that by 2050, over 30% of Europeans will be senior citizens. This aging population is partly due to people having fewer children than needed to replace each generation.

Ethnic groups

Main article: Ethnic groups in Europe

Further information: Genetic history of Europe

Europe is home to many different ethnic groups. There are 87 distinct groups, with 33 being the main population in at least one country. The Romani people are the largest minority group in Europe.

Migration

Main article: Immigration to Europe

See also: European diaspora

Europe has the highest number of migrants in the world, with nearly 87 million people who were born in other countries living there. Migration has been an important part of Europe's history, with many people moving to other continents over the centuries. Today, large numbers of people with European ancestry live in places like North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

Languages

Main article: Languages of Europe

See also: List of European languages by number of speakers

Europe has about 225 different languages. Most of these belong to three main groups: Romance languages (like French and Spanish), Germanic languages (like English and German), and Slavic languages (like Russian and Polish). There are also many other language families, including Uralic languages spoken in Finland and Estonia, and Turkic languages spoken in Turkey and parts of Russia.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Europe

Christianity is the most common religion in Europe, with about 76% of people identifying as Christian. Islam is the second most common religion, particularly in countries like Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Other religions practiced in Europe include Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. A significant number of people in Europe also do not follow any specific religion.

Major cities and urban areas

Further information: List of European cities by population within city limits

The largest cities in Europe are Moscow, London, and Paris, each with over 10 million residents. Other major cities include Madrid, Saint Petersburg, Milan, Barcelona, Berlin, and Rome. These cities are important centers of culture, business, and history across the continent.

European megacities

Moscow

London

Paris

Istanbul^[b]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Europe

Europe's culture comes from old ideas started by people from ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. Over time, many different cultures mixed together, like Slavic, Latin (Romance), and Germanic groups. Places such as Strasbourg and Trieste show how these cultures blend.

Europe holds many cultural events to connect people from different backgrounds, like the European Capital of Culture and the European Youth Capital.

Sport

Main article: Sport in Europe

Many popular sports began in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom. Even though sports are well-organized with professional leagues, local and national differences still matter a lot.

Social dimension

In Europe, some people struggle to meet basic needs, making it hard for them to do well in life. For example, many Europeans spend a large part of their income just on housing, and millions feel lonely. Since the 1980s, rich people have been getting richer compared to poor people, and many workers do not earn enough money to feel secure in their jobs.