Europe (ancient Greek , Europe) is a continent that extends over the western fifth of the

Eurasian landmass. Although it is geographically a subcontinent, which together form the

continent of Eurasia with Asia, it is historically and culturally based mostly regarded as an
independent continent. This suggests that the term "Europe" is not exhausted in the geographic
definition, but also refers to historical, cultural, political, economic, legal, moral and identityrelated questions.
The European inhabitants are referred to as Europeans.
Europa and the Bull - Fresco of the 1st century AD from Pompeii..
Europe in Herodotus antique world view
The name "Europe" can be in Europe to trace in the form of the Greek even most: Here
Europe was mostly as a composite of ancient Greek , Eurys, "far" and , ops, "view",
interpreted "face", so Europe "the [woman] with the wide view".
According to Greek mythology was the name of a Phoenician princess, ancient Greek ,
the floating Zeus himself into a bull to Crete and seduced there. This name comes from a Semitic
language in the opinion of some etymologists [2] and was then Graecized, probably erob
Phoenician, "dark", "evening" (see FIG. West).
In the 5th century BC, the Greek writer and geographer Herodotus referred to the term "Europe",
which had at that time based as a geographical term only to the Peloponnese, [3] on the land
masses north of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and distinguished them as of the land
masses of Asia ("Asia") and Africa ("Libya").
Geography
Topography Europe
Main article: Geography of Europe
Europe in the east towards Asia no clear geographical or geological boundary. Why are the
borders of Europe 'a matter of social convention. A geographical definition of Europe is always
arbitrary. According to a known formulation of Bernard-Henri Lvy Europe is "not a place but
an idea." Today, it usually follows largely at the boundary between Europe and Asia, the
definition of Philip Johan von Strahlenberg. Then form the Ural Mountains and flow the eastern
border of Europe. The boundary line between the Caspian Sea and Black Sea by the Manytsch
lowlands north of the Caucasus Mountains, because once connected in its place a strait the
Caspian Sea to the Black Sea [4] [5] The globe shown above draws -. It slightly differently - the
border along the Caucasus main ridge; this boundary is in the English- and French-speaking
preferred ( Inner Eurasian border). [6]
Overall, Europe has an area of about 10.5 million square kilometers and is Australia's second
smallest continent. The northernmost point of mainland Europe, located in the northern peninsula
chin in Norway, the southernmost is the Punta de Tarifa in Spain, the westernmost of the Cabo
da Roca in Portugal. The north-south expansion is about 3800 km away. In east-west direction
the European mainland measures about 6,000 km, from the Ural Mountains in Russia to the
Atlantic coast of Portugal.

Climate
Surface temperature of the Gulf Stream in the western North Atlantic; bottom left Florida and
Cuba
The continent is mainly in temperate latitudes. The climate is milder due to the influence of the
relatively warm Gulf Stream in Europe compared with the same latitude areas in other parts of
the world. The average annual temperature of Bordeaux for example, is 12.8 C, while lying on
almost the same width Canadian Halifax (Nova Scotia) reached only 6.3 C.
In large parts of Western Europe mild winters are cool summer against. In areas that are far from
the sea, thus also of the climatic influence of balance, the temperature differences in different
seasons are stronger. In most parts of Eastern Europe, the climate is predominantly continental in
close proximity by the absence of the sea. Cold winters and hot summers are predominant in
these regions.
Due to the Earth's rotation and the deflecting force associated winds come mainly from the west.
Since therefore winds blow predominantly in the coastal areas of Western Europe from the
Atlantic Ocean, it is almost year-round rain. In Eastern and Central Europe, the rainfall, however,
is relatively low because again the influence of the sea on these regions to low. Mountains also
affect the rainfall strong. To include parts of the northwestern Alps to the wettest areas in Europe,
while central alpine valleys are relatively dry. The Alps in this case act as a barrier to rain fronts.
In areas near the Mediterranean predominantly Mediterranean climate prevails, that is dry and
hot summers, while it is mild and wet in winter. In summer there are mainly winds from the
north in winter bring westerly winds coming from the Atlantic Ocean on the other hand frequent
precipitation with. In Northern Europe, an Arctic climate, on the southeast by the Volga prevails,
however, continental climate with hot summers and low rainfall. So it may be,. As well as that
there is still snow in Lapland, while being sued in Sicily over the summer heat, it rains constantly
in the Shetland Islands and Andalusia is plagued by years of drought.
See also: consequences of global warming in Europe and list of weather events in Europe
Flora
Flore areas in Europe by Wolfgang Frey and Rainer deletion
The vegetation in Europe can be divided on the basis of the climate roughly into four zones:
arctic, boreal, temperate and Mediterranean. Over thousands of years use the original vegetation
of Europe is destroyed in the temperate and Mediterranean zone down to tiny remnants. In the
north of Europe are found in the arctic tundra only shrubs, mosses and lichens. Further south,
close in Scandinavia and northern Russia boreal forests (mainly of spruce and pine) are
embedded in the vast bogs. In the temperate zone between the Atlantic Ocean and the
Carpathians would grow under natural conditions mainly by beech trees dominated deciduous
forests, in the warmest lowland and those with deciduous oak and hornbeam. East of the
distribution area of beech, approximately from the Vistula and the Dniester to the southern Ural
Mountains, forests were formed in which English oak, small-leaved lime, Scots pine and Spruce play the most important role - in the transition to the north subsequent coniferous forest

zone. To the south connects these mixed forest zone north of the Black Sea region to where
would be formed under natural conditions steppe vegetation.

Biogeographic Regions of Europe

Also, the Mediterranean was originally forested largely. There, the vegetation without human
intervention of Mediterranean sclerophyllous forest would be coined the evergreen oak species
(mainly oak) is dominated in the southernmost and warmest locations with strong participation
by olive trees, pistachios and pine trees. The anthropogenic influence but nowadays mainly grow
Macchie- or garrigue-plants. In the cooler areas of the Mediterranean play various deciduous oak
species, such as the Oak, a major role. In the middle and higher elevations of the mountains, the
original vegetation is better preserved than in the lowlands. Here are several overlapping each
other elevations are formed in a relatively small space, the individual components of such
Hhenstufenzonierung can be very different depending on the climate. In the mountain forests of
the upper middle altitudes are next to the beech mainly fir and pine species in the northern
mountains and spruce and larch important. Above the tree line in the mountains dwarf shrub
heath, alpine meadows, and look for thorn cushion vegetation in the Mediterranean. Top to the
closed vegetation is replaced by growing single rock and debris plants.
Today, most of Europe is dominated by agricultural use, the remaining forests are intensively
used in forestry. Man less affected areas there, especially in the higher elevations of the
mountains.
Fauna
Wolf (Canis lupus)
Large predators such as bears, wolves and lynx are found only in the north or east in larger
flocks. In the far north and east of Europe reindeer and moose still occur relatively frequently.
After his extermination of the bison from zoo was again reintroduced in Eastern Europe. Red
deer, roe deer and wild boar are found in most parts of Europe. A typical large European species
is the chamois, which is distributed outside the European mountains only in Asia Minor and the
Asian parts of the Caucasus. In the Alps, Pyrenees and the Caucasus different types of Capricorn
live. The Saiga Antelope was common in the Middle Ages to the Ukraine, today it is limited in
Europe to areas along the lower reaches of the Volga. Many species have been wiped out
centuries ago (Ur, Tarpan). The stock of birds of prey, such as golden eagles, eagles and vultures
has been decimated in recent centuries. Only in Southern Europe there is a greater number of
species of lizards, snakes and turtles due to the warm climate. Live seals and other seal species
on the coast. In the northern seas are the most famous orca whales and porpoises, dolphins in the
Mediterranean different. The most famous saltwater fish herring and various species of tuna.
See also the following types of lists: Mammals of Europe, Europe reptiles, amphibians Europe,
freshwater fish in Europe.
Towns and cities
Various historical boundaries for the Europe-Asia border

The cities and municipalities are the smallest administrative units in the administrative structure
of the states. Lisbon was one of the first cosmopolitan cities in the modern era, since it was the
center of a large colonial empire in the age of imperialism. In 1950, there were four cities in the
European Union today among the 20 largest in the world, since barely growing European cities,
lose part to population figures. These four largest current EU cities were London in second place
behind New York, Paris in fourth place behind Tokyo and Milan and Naples, the number 13 and
19 occupied.
But in the second half of the 20th century brought the city to the rest of the world, especially the
developing countries, eg. As Mexico City, Manila and So Paulo, with the number of inhabitants
and run now the table of the world. Despite stagnation in older cities, there are numerous other
processes in the spatial development of the 21st century, such. As the gentrification of inner
cities.
The problem is the comparison of the cities, there is often polycentric metropolitan areas, in
which the core cities compared to the metropolitan area are very small (eg. B. Rhine-Ruhr, the
Upper Silesian industrial district or central England). Therefore, they dive, even if they are
sometimes very large, not in the table at the bottom.
Cities with more than 1.5 million people in Europe are:
Rank
City State Residents'
number in millions
Population
with agglomeration
million in foundation year (after the act or mention)
1 Moscow Russia Russia 10.4 13.8 1147
2 London United Kingdom United Kingdom 7.4 12.0 47 n. Chr.
Turkey Turkey Istanbul 3 * 6.9 ** 16.0 660 v. Chr. *** As Byzantium
4 St Petersburg Russia Russia 4.8 5.3 1703
5 Berlin Germany Germany 3.5 4.3 1230
6 Madrid Spain 3.3 5.3 1083
7 Kiev Ukraine Ukraine 2.8 3.3 840
8 Rome Italy 2.7 3.8 753 v. Chr.
9 Paris France 2.1 11.5 53 v. Chr.
Belarus Belarus Minsk 10 1.7 2.7 1067
11 Bucharest Romania 1.9 2.6 1459
12 Vienna Austria Austria 1.8 2.6 881
13 Hamburg Germany Germany 1.7 2.6 early 9th century
14 Budapest Hungary Hungary 1.7 2.4 89 n. Chr.
15 Warsaw Poland 1.7 2.4 1281
16 Barcelona Spain 1.6 3.9 230 v. Chr.
* Istanbul is on the border between Europe and Asia, the old center is part of the European part.
** Number of inhabitants of the European part of Istanbul, on the European side ***.

See also: List of capitals of the world and List of largest cities in Europe
History
Main article: History of Europe
Reconstruction of stilt houses from the Neolithic period
Oldest Evidence of the Homo genus currently comes from the Sierra de Atapuerca in Spain and
are up to 1.2 million years old. [7] Even older fossils from Georgia (outside the currently valid
boundaries of Europe) are 1.8 million years old and are referred to as "Homo georgicus". In
Europe north of the Alps the oldest horizon with Homo heidelbergensis starts about 600,000
years ago.
Only about 40,000 years ago Homo sapiens arrived to Europe (see FIG. Early human migrations)
and gradually replaced the Neanderthals. With the Neolithic and the Bronze Age began in
Europe a long history of great cultural and economic achievements, first in the Mediterranean,
then in the north and east.

Constantine the Great to the model of the city of Constantinople

In particular, the Greek culture, the Roman Empire and Christianity have left their mark to this
day. In ancient times, the Roman Empire united in the time of Augustus, the first time the entire
southern Europe along with the other coastal countries of the Mediterranean into a great empire.
In the Roman Empire, the new religion of Christianity could spread quickly. Despite all the
persecution, Christianity was promoted to major players in the Late Antique Constantinople
(Constantine turning) and collected under Emperor Theodosius I as the state religion - a
development that is still influential. With the end of antiquity broke out in the West, the Roman
Empire together, consisted in the east but continued as a (more embossed Greek) Byzantine
Empire until 1453. During this time crowded with the Migration a variety of mostly Germanic
tribes (Anglo-Saxons, Franks, Goths, etc.) in Western Europe and formed the foundation for
future nations (England, France, Spain).
In the early Middle Ages, the Paderborn epic told the ruler of the Frankish Empire, Charlemagne,
the "Father of Europe" (pater EUROPAE). [8] The median age was, inter alia, the face of
competition between the new Roman emperor in the West ( Roman-German Emperor ) and
the Byzantine Emperor in Constantinople Opel ( Two Emperor problem), on the two spheres
of influence which later deepened further split into a western and eastern Europe goes back (
East-West Schism). Missionaries spread Christianity since the early Middle Ages, Northern and
Eastern Europe, so that all of Europe in the late Middle Ages was Christian. In western Europe
since the Investiture Controversy in the 11th century there were clashes between emperor and
pope for supremacy. During the Renaissance, was discovered in the Latin West "knowledge of
antiquity" again, which partly caused a cultural boom. The 16th century Reformation split the
Western Church (with the Orthodox Church had occurred already in 1054 to break) in a Catholic
and evangelical part. Religious wars were the result. 1618-1648 devastated the Thirty Years War
large parts of central Europe.

Since the 15th century European nations (particularly Spain, Portugal, Russia, the Netherlands,
France and the United Kingdom) built colonial empires with large possessions on all other
continents. Europe is the continent with the other parts of the world most affected (for example,
by Christian missionary, colonies, slave trade, exchange of goods and culture).

The storming of the Bastille on 14th July 1789

In the 18th century saw the Enlightenment movement to new accents and called tolerance,
respect for human dignity, equality and freedom. In France, in 1789 came the French Revolution
the bourgeoisie to power. In the early 19th century, Europe had half the will of the postrevolutionary period come to power, the French Emperor Napoleon judge until he experienced in
Russia 1812 fiasco. The Conservative Allies tried it, restore the pre-revolutionary states as part
of the Congress of Vienna, which only temporarily successful. Industrialization began in parts of
Europe in the 18th century and changed rapidly everyday wider population. As a result of the
depletion of the workers in the 19th century did the communist movement. In addition, the 19th
century was strongly influenced by the spread of democratic ideas and systems, the conservative
response, and associated with unbridled nationalism imperialism of the great powers. Both the
First World War (1914-1918) and the Second World War (1939 through 1945) broke out in
Europe and taught at huge destruction. Around 60 million people lost their lives in the latter;
estimated six million of these were Jews who tried the Nazis in their racial fanaticism, as well as
homosexuals and "Gypsy" to eradicate.

Europe in 1899
After the Second World War and the Cold War, Europe was divided into two major politicaleconomic blocs: Socialist nations in Eastern Europe and capitalist nations in Western Europe.
They also spoke of the Iron Curtain that divided the states of Europe apart. In between, there
were some neutral countries. Only perestroika and glasnost in the Soviet Union led the mid1980s to a policy change. 1989 broke the Eastern bloc, the Berlin Wall fell, the Soviet Union and
the Warsaw Pact dissolved.
Since the last decades of the 20th century the cultures of Europe grow together strengthened, as
evidenced both by institutions such as the EU, but also by demographic and economic priorities.
See also: cradle of Europe
See also: Ancient Europe (epoch)
See also: Blue Banana
See also: Historical European Regions
Policy

States of Europe
See also: List of countries in Europe
Taking the border of Europe as defined rays mountain (see: Section Geography) there are
currently 46 sovereign states that are wholly or partially in Europe. 27 of which are members of

the European Union. The EU's 28 Member States, the Republic of Cyprus counts geographically
to Asia.
Furthermore, the Republic of Kosovo is recognized by all German-speaking countries as an
independent state. About half of the Member States of the United Nations regarded the
breakaway province remains as part of Serbian territory.
In an alternative boundary of Europe along the main ridge of the Caucasus other small areas of
Georgia and Azerbaijan (including the capital Baku) were European.
Disputed Territory
Kosovo Kosovo (capital Pristina): Parliament in managed by the UN province of Kosovo
declared 17 February 2008 unilateral independence from Serbia. Serbia, whose constitution
explicitly about the Serbian province as an indivisible part of the Republic is the speech that
region considered further as part of Serbia. Kosovo is now, although the majority of countries
(including Germany, Austria and Switzerland) are recognized as its own, however, there are still
many countries, including about Russia and the EU Member States, Spain and Greece, do not
recognize Kosovo as an independent state ,
See also: International recognition of Kosovo
Transnistria Transnistria (proper name: Pridnestrovie) (capital: Tiraspol): 1992 has established
itself in Transnistria, a de facto independent state of Moldova. But he is not recognized by any
other state.
Flag of Crimea.svg Crimea (capital: Simferopol): Since 2014 dispute between Russia and
Ukraine.
Flag of Novorussia.svg New Russia: Founded On 24 May 2014 the Union Flag of the People's
Republic.svg Donetsk Donetsk People's Republic and the Flag of the People's Republic Lugansk
(Late 2014) .svg People's Republic of Lugansk, which declared independence in April 2014 ,
Under international law, they are still considered part of Ukraine.
Other areas
There are also smaller territories that are not an integral part of a state, but also are not
independent:
Guernsey Guernsey (capital Saint Peter Port)
Isle of Man Isle of Man (Douglas capital)
Jersey Jersey (capital Saint Helier)
These three areas are Crown dependencies. They are not part of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland.
Gibraltar Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory. As such, it may be under the sovereignty of the United
Kingdom, but is also not a part of it.
Faroe Islands (Trshavn)
The Faroe Islands, together with Greenland and the Danish mainland Denmark.
Norway Jan Mayen

Norway Svalbard (Longyearbyen capital)

These two sites are part of the Kingdom of Norway, and are therefore usually classified with
Europe. Because of its location between Scandinavia and Greenland (Jan Mayen) or between
Scandinavia and the North Pole (Svalbard) is the geographical assignment to the continent is not
unique.
Azores (capital Ponta Delgada)
Madeira Madeira (Funchal)
The island groups are two autonomous regions of Portugal. Their assignment to Europe
following result of political, cultural and historical similarity. Geographically located about
Madeira nearer the African coast than the European.
Lying partly in Europe countries
Kazakhstan is after the most widespread geographic demarcation on the Ural River with 5.4
percent of its land area in Europe. About half of the population are members of European
peoples (Russians, Ukrainians, Poles, German). It is a member of UEFA and as the successor
state of the Soviet Union, a member of the OSCE. Usually it is politically and culturally counted
(Central) Asia.
Russia is up to 25 percent of its area in Europe, if you include the Northern Caucasus. In the
European part of life, depending on the assignment of the North Caucasus, about 65 to 75
percent of the population. The country is ethnographic, historical and cultural part of Europe. In
Asia, the eastern part of the Ural region, Siberia and the Far East of Russia lie.
The Turkey is using the traditional geographical demarcation of Bosporus and Dardanelles with
3 percent of their land in Europe. About 12 percent of the population live in the European part,
above all in the old city of Istanbul, the largest city and historical capital. She is a member of the
Council of Europe, together with the EU Customs Union and is usually associated with Europe at
international sporting and cultural events. In the political sphere, the question of membership of
Turkey is currently hotly debated, especially in the context of the negotiations for accession to
the EU.
Non-European possessions of European countries
Greenland belongs politically to Denmark, but is not part of the European Union. Tectonically
Greenland is part of the nearer America.
To Spain are located in front of the Canary Islands and Africa, situated on the coast of Morocco
territories (including the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla). Geographically they are part of Africa.
To Portugal include the Selvagens that are geographically part of Africa.
Under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom are the territories: Anguilla, Bermuda, British
Virgin Islands, British Indian Ocean Territory, Falkland Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat,
Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich
Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands
France include the following overseas territories: Clipperton Island, French Guiana, French
Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, New
Caledonia, Runion, Saint Barthlemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and
Futuna
The Kingdom of the Netherlands are: Aruba, Curaao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and Sint
Eustatius.
Norway has in the Southern Ocean over the non-metropolitan belonging periphery Bouvet Island.

Political Organizations
Membership in European organizations
In the middle of the 20th century was founded as the first institution of common European euro
Europe, including after the end of the East-West conflict 47 states. Also of great importance is
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the (CSCE) was founded in
1975 as a time block across the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the next
European countries, the USA and Canada belong.

European flag
In 1951, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy and France joined the monetary
union and ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community) together. Trying a European Defence
Community (EDC) and a European Political Community (EPC) to establish, failed in 1954 from
the French National Assembly. Then 1957, the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom)
and the European Economic Community (EEC) was founded with the Treaty of Rome. As of the
Merger Treaty in 1967 three European Communities (ECSC, Euratom and EEC) shared the
common institutions Commission, Council, Parliament and Court. The Treaty of Maastricht in
1993, the EEC was renamed the European Community (EC) and also established the European
Union, which included the three Communities and two intergovernmental policies extended the
Common Foreign and Security Policy and cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs. In
2002, the ECSC was dissolved and transferred its functions by the EC. After the eastern
expansion in the years 2004, 2007 and 2013, the EU currently has 28 Member States. The Treaty
of Lisbon was the EC fully December 1, 2009 in the EU.
A majority of the Member States who also founded in the 1950s, the European Free Trade
Association (EFTA) is now gone over to the EU, only Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and
Liechtenstein are members. The EFTA is different from the EU a pure free trade zone without
supranational decision-making powers.
In military terms, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) is of great importance in Europe.
It was founded in 1949 owing to the emerging differences after the end of the Second World War
between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. In addition to the 23 European members of the
United States, Canada and Turkey are members of NATO.
See also: European Parliament and European elections
Some states are not geographically to Europe, but members are European organizations