Europe

Europe is a continent located in the northwestern part of the Eurasian landmass. It is one of the smallest continents by area, but one of the most densely populated when measured by inhabitants per square kilometre. It is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.

The boundary between Europe and Asia is a matter of convention rather than a clear natural border. It is conventionally defined by the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, and the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits. For this reason, countries such as Russia and Turkey have territory on both continents.

Geography and climate

Europe has a long and complex coastline, from which numerous islands and peninsulas extend, such as Iberia, Italy, Scandinavia, and the Balkans. Major mountain ranges include the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, and Caucasus. Important rivers include the Volga, Danube, Rhine, and Dnieper. Most of the climate is temperate, influenced by the warm ocean currents of the Atlantic; the south has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers, while the northeast has a colder climate with pronounced seasonal variation.

Brief history

Europe gave rise to ancient civilisations such as those of Greece and the Roman Empire, which formed the foundation for law, philosophy, and urban design. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, there followed a period of small kingdoms and ecclesiastical power. From the 15th and 16th centuries onward, European states began oceanic exploration and large-scale colonisation that affected the entire world. The Industrial Revolution, political upheavals, and the two world wars of the 20th century transformed European borders and state systems.

Politics and integration

Today Europe comprises over forty independent states. The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union linking more than twenty states, featuring a common market and a shared currency (the Euro) used by a portion of its members. Other significant organisations include the Council of Europe, which emphasises human rights, and NATO, which includes European and North American states.

Population and languages

Europeans speak many languages, most of which belong to the Indo-European family: the Germanic, Romance, and Slavic branches. There are also languages outside this family, such as Finnish, Hungarian, Estonian, and Basque. Recent demographic changes include declining birth rates, an ageing population, and immigration that affects the size of the labour force.