Europe…the “Birthplace of Western Civilization”

Europe, the world’s 2^nd smallest continent, encompasses forty-six countries that have a combined population of nearly 730 million people. However, since Europe isn’t totally surrounded by water like other continents, some geographers don’t classify Europe as a continent, but instead refer to it as “Western Eurasia,” part of the huge Eurasia landmass that extends across Western Europe, through Asia and eastward to the western edge of the Pacific Rim.

Europe is called the Birthplace of Western Civilization because it seeded the Industrial Revolution in the 17^th Century, an event which subsequently
enabled England, Spain, France, Portugal, and Belgium to gain control over most of the world’s trade markets and economic affairs up until the 20^th century.  The continent’s industrialization, however, created ongoing conflicts between many European countries during the 18^th through 20^th centuries and, moreover, caused social upheaval throughout most parts of the world mainly due to the colonization ambitions of Europe’s powerful and aggressive industrialized nations. Today, with over 400 million annual visitors, Europe is by far the world’s most popular travel destination.  

Geographical and Sociological Profile
The following information was provided by the World Resource Institute, the Library of Congress, and the United Nations, and was last updated on October 27, 2003. For more current population information please click here.   

Land Area: 10,149,250 Square Kilometers
Population: 730,000,000 (Estimated, 2003)
Religions: Catholic, 76%; Other Christian, 17%; Judaism 3%, Muslim, 2%
Literacy: 95%
Large Cities: Paris, Moscow, Istanbul, London, Essen, St. Petersburg
Mountains: Elbrus, Mont Blanc, Mount Rosa, Cervino, Finsteraarhorn
Lakes: Ladoga, Onega, Vanern, Rybinsk, Greater Samimaa
Rivers: Volga, Danube, Ural, Dnepr, Kama, Don, Pecora

Travel Desirability Code
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Europe: A Brief History
Archeological evidence shows that Europe’s great cultural and economic achievements started surfacing during the Bronze Age. The evolution of Western culture and society are generally attributed to the influences of the ancient Greeks and Romans, whose control over the continent spanned for nearly five centuries. After the the Roman Empire’s gradual downfall during the 5^th Century, Europe entered a long period of isolation known as the Dark Ages, which finally ended with the Renaissance, marking the beginning of a period of discovery, exploration, and increase in scientific knowledge.

From the 15th century forward, many European nations, most notably Spain, Portugal, France, and Britain, built large colonial empires in Africa, North and South America, and even in Asia. The Industrial Revolution, as noted eariler, which started in Europe in the 18th century, lead to much greater general prosperity and a corresponding increase in population. After World War II through the end of the Cold War, Europe was divided into two major political and economic blocks: Communist nations in Eastern Europe and capitalistic countries in Western Europe. Around 1990 the Eastern block broke up.

Central Europe  
Austria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Hungary
Liechtenstein
Slovenia
Switzerland

Eastern Europe
Belarus
Moldova
Poland
Russia
Slovakia
Ukraine

Northern Europe
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
Ireland
Latvia
Lithuania
Norway
Sweden

Southern Europe
Albania
Bosnia
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Greece
Macedonia
Romania
Yugoslavia

Western Europe
Andorra
Belgium
France
Germany
Gibraltar
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
Portugal
San Marino
Spain
United Kingdom
Vatican

(Click map to enlarge)