Europe ( i/jrp/ EWR-p or /jrp/ YUR-p[1]) is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents.

Comprisin the westernmost penins!l" of #!r"si", #!rope is ener"lly divided from $si" by the w"tershed divides of the %r"l "nd C"!c"s!s &o!nt"ins, the %r"l 'iver, the C"spi"n "nd (l"c) *e"s, "nd the w"terw"ys connectin the (l"c) "nd $e e"n *e"s.[+] #!rope is bordered by the $rctic ,ce"n to the north, the $tl"ntic ,ce"n to the west, the &editerr"ne"n *e" to the so!th, "nd the (l"c) *e" "nd connected w"terw"ys to the so!the"st. -et the borders of #!rope." concept d"tin b"c) to cl"ssic"l "nti/!ity."re somewh"t "rbitr"ry, "s the prim"rily physio r"phic term 0continent0 c"n incorpor"te c!lt!r"l "nd politic"l elements. #!rope is the world's second1sm"llest continent by s!rf"ce "re", coverin "bo!t 12,132,222 s/!"re )ilometres (4,542,222 s/ mi) or +6 of the #"rth's s!rf"ce "nd "bo!t 7.36 of its l"nd "re". ,f #!rope's "ppro8im"tely 92 co!ntries, '!ssi" is by f"r the l"r est by both "re" "nd pop!l"tion, t")in !p :26 of the continent ("ltho! h the co!ntry h"s territory in both #!rope "nd $si"), while ;"tic"n City is the sm"llest. #!rope is the third1 most pop!lo!s continent "fter $si" "nd $fric", with " pop!l"tion of <44 million or "bo!t 116 of the world's pop!l"tion.[4] #!rope, in p"rtic!l"r $ncient =reece, is the birthpl"ce of >estern c!lt!re.[:] ?t pl"yed " predomin"nt role in lob"l "ff"irs from the 19th cent!ry onw"rds, especi"lly "fter the be innin of coloni"lism. (etween the 17th "nd +2th cent!ries, #!rope"n n"tions controlled "t v"rio!s times the $meric"s, most of $fric", ,ce"ni", "nd l"r e portions of $si". @he ?nd!stri"l 'evol!tion, which be "n in =re"t (rit"in "ro!nd the end of the 13th cent!ry, "ve rise to r"dic"l economic, c!lt!r"l, "nd soci"l ch"n e in >estern #!rope, "nd event!"lly the wider world. Aemo r"phic rowth me"nt th"t, by 1522, #!rope's sh"re of the world's pop!l"tion w"s +96.[9] (oth >orld >"rs were l"r ely foc!sed !pon #!rope, re"tly contrib!tin to " decline in >estern #!rope"n domin"nce in world "ff"irs by the mid1+2th cent!ry "s the %nited *t"tes "nd *oviet %nion too) prominence.[7] A!rin the Cold >"r, #!rope w"s divided "lon the ?ron C!rt"in between B$@, in the west "nd the >"rs"w C"ct in the e"st. #!rope"n inte r"tion led to the form"tion of the Co!ncil of #!rope "nd the #!rope"n %nion in >estern #!rope, both of which h"ve been e8p"ndin e"stw"rd since the revol!tions of 1535 "nd the f"ll of the *oviet %nion in 1551.

Contents

1 Aefinition + #tymolo y 4 Distory o 4.1 Crehistory o 4.+ Cl"ssic"l "nti/!ity o 4.4 #"rly &iddle $ es o 4.: &iddle $ es

4.9 #"rly modern period 4.7 13th "nd 15th cent!ries 4.< +2th cent!ry to the present : =eo r"phy o :.1 Clim"te o :.+ =eolo y :.+.1 =eolo ic"l history o :.4 (iodiversity 9 Colitic"l eo r"phy 7 ?nte r"tion < #conomy o <.1 CreE15:9F ?nd!stri"l rowth o <.+ 15:9E1552F @he Cold >"r o <.4 1551E+22<F ?nte r"tion "nd re!nific"tion o <.: +223E+212F 'ecession 3 Aemo r"phics o 3.1 G"n !" e o 3.+ 'eli ion 5 C!lt!re 12 *ee "lso 11 Botes 1+ 'eferences 14 #8tern"l lin)s
o o o

Definition
H!rther inform"tionF Gist of co!ntries sp"nnin more th"n one continent H!rther inform"tionF (orders of the continents
Clic)"ble m"p of #!rope, showin one of the most commonly !sed continent"l bo!nd"ries[<] Key: blueF st"tes which str"ddle the border between #!rope "nd $si"I greenF st"tes not eo r"phic"lly in #!rope, b!t closely "ssoci"ted politic"lly[3]

$lb. $nd. $!stri" $rmeni" $Jer. (el"r!s (el i!m (iD (!l "ri" Cro"ti" Cypr!s CJech 'ep. Aenm"r) #stoni" Hinl"nd Hr"nce =erm"ny =eor i" =reece

Greenland (Dk) D!n "ry ?cel"nd ?rel"nd ?t"ly *. &"r. K"J")hst"n Kos. G"tvi" Giech. Gith!"ni" G!8. &"c. &"lt" &oldov" &on. &ont. Beth. Borw"y Svalbard (Nor) Col"nd Cort! "l 'om"ni" '!ssi" *erbi" *lov")i" *lo. *p"in *weden *witJ1 erl"nd @!r)ey %)r"ine %nited Kin dom Far. (Dk) ;"t.

Adriatic Sea Arctic Ocean Baltic Sea Aegean Sea Barents Sea Ba o! Bisca Black Sea A"ov Sea

#aspian Sea #eltic Sea Greenland Sea Ba!!in Ba G$l! o! #%di" &ig$rian Sea 'editerranean Sea Nort( Atlantic Ocean Nort( Sea Nor)egian Sea Strait o! Gibraltar

'econstr!ction of Derodot!s' world m"p

$ mediev"l @ "nd , m"p from 1:<+ showin the three continents "s dom"ins of the sons of Bo"h . $si" to *em (*hem), #!rope to ?"feth (L"pheth), "nd $fric" to Ch"m (D"m)

*$ropa regina m"p from &Mnster (19<2). @he (ritish ?sles "nd *c"ndin"vi" "re not incl!ded in #!rope proper. @he !se of the term 0#!rope0 h"s developed r"d!"lly thro! ho!t history.[5][12] ?n "nti/!ity, the =ree) histori"n Derodot!s mentioned th"t the world h"d been divided by !n)nown persons into three p"rts, #!rope, $si", "nd Giby" ($fric"), with the Bile "nd the 'iver Ch"sis formin their bo!nd"ries.tho! h he "lso st"tes th"t some considered the 'iver Aon, r"ther th"n the Ch"sis, "s the bo!nd"ry between #!rope "nd $si".[11] #!rope's e"stern frontier w"s defined in the 1st cent!ry by eo r"pher *tr"bo "t the 'iver Aon.[1+] @he Book o! +$bilees described the continents "s the l"nds iven by Bo"h to his three sonsI #!rope w"s defined "s stretchin from the Cill"rs of Derc!les "t the *tr"it of =ibr"lt"r, sep"r"tin it from Borth $fric", to the Aon, sep"r"tin it from $si".[14] $ c!lt!r"l definition of #!rope "s the l"nds of G"tin Christendom co"lesced in the 3th cent!ry, si nifyin the new c!lt!r"l condomini!m cre"ted thro! h the confl!ence of =erm"nic tr"ditions "nd Christi"n1G"tin c!lt!re, defined p"rtly in contr"st with (yJ"nti!m "nd ?sl"m, "nd limited to northern ?beri", the (ritish ?sles, Hr"nce, Christi"niJed western =erm"ny, the $lpine re ions "nd northern "nd centr"l ?t"ly.[1:] @he concept is one of the l"stin le "cies of the C"rolin i"n 'en"iss"nceF 0#!rop"0 often fi !res in the letters of Ch"rlem" ne's co!rt schol"r, $lc!in.[19] @his division."s m!ch c!lt!r"l "s eo r"phic"l.w"s !sed !ntil the G"te &iddle $ es, when it w"s ch"llen ed by the $ e of Aiscovery.[17][1<][)( ,] @he problem of redefinin #!rope w"s fin"lly resolved in 1<42 when, inste"d of w"terw"ys, the *wedish eo r"pher "nd c"rto r"pher von *tr"hlenber proposed the %r"l &o!nt"ins "s the most si nific"nt e"stern bo!nd"ry, " s! estion th"t fo!nd f"vo!r in '!ssi" "nd thro! ho!t #!rope.[13]

#!rope is now ener"lly defined by eo r"phers "s the westernmost penins!l" of #!r"si", with its bo!nd"ries m"r)ed by l"r e bodies of w"ter to the north, west "nd so!thI #!rope's limits to the f"r e"st "re !s!"lly t")en to be the %r"ls, the %r"l 'iver, "nd the C"spi"n *e"I to the so!the"st, incl!din the C"!c"s!s &o!nt"ins, the (l"c) *e" "nd the w"terw"ys connectin the (l"c) *e" to the &editerr"ne"n *e".[15] (ec"!se of sociopolitic"l "nd c!lt!r"l differences, there "re v"rio!s descriptions of #!rope's bo!nd"ry. Hor e8"mple, Cypr!s is "ppro8im"te to $n"toli" (or $si" &inor), b!t is !s!"lly considered p"rt of #!rope both c!lt!r"lly "nd politic"lly "nd c!rrently is " member st"te of the #%. ?n "ddition, &"lt" w"s considered "n isl"nd of Borth $fric" for cent!ries,[+2] while ?cel"nd, tho! h ne"rer to =reenl"nd (Borth $meric"), is "lso ener"lly incl!ded in #!rope. *ometimes, the word '#!rope' is !sed in " eopolitic"lly limitin w"y[+1] to refer only to the #!rope"n %nion or, even more e8cl!sively, " c!lt!r"lly defined core. ,n the other h"nd, the Co!ncil of #!rope h"s :< member co!ntries, "nd only +3 member st"tes "re in the #%.[++] ?n "ddition, people livin in "re"s s!ch "s ?rel"nd, the %nited Kin dom, the Borth $tl"ntic "nd &editerr"ne"n isl"nds "nd "lso in *c"ndin"vi" m"y ro!tinely refer to 0continent"l0 or 0m"inl"nd0 #!rope simply "s #!rope or 0the Continent0.[+4]

Etymology

#!rop" "nd the b!ll on " =ree) v"se. @"r/!ini" &!se!m, circ" :32 (C ?n "ncient =ree) mytholo y, #!rop" w"s " Choenici"n princess whom Ne!s "bd!cted "fter "ss!min the form of " d"JJlin white b!ll. De too) her to the isl"nd of Crete where she "ve birth to &inos, 'h"d"m"nth!s, "nd *"rpedon. Hor Domer, #!rope ($ncient =ree)F OPQRS, *$rp-I see "lso Gist of =ree) pl"ce n"mes) w"s " mytholo ic"l /!een of Crete, not " eo r"phic"l desi n"tion. @he etymolo y of *$ropa is !ncert"in.[+:] ,ne theory s! ests th"t it is derived from the =ree) TPUV (e$r$s), me"nin 0wide, bro"d0[+9] "nd W/R1/RX1 (.ps/.p1/opt-), me"nin 0eye, f"ce, co!nten"nce0,[+7] hence *$rp-, 0wide1 "Jin 0, 0bro"d of "spect0

(comp"re with gla$kpis (YZ[\]R^V ' rey1eyed') $then" or bopis (_`R^V 'o81eyed') Der"). Broad h"s been "n epithet of #"rth itself in the reconstr!cted Croto1?ndo1#!rope"n reli ion.[+<] $nother theory s! ests th"t it is b"sed on " *emitic word s!ch "s the $))"di"n ereb$ me"nin 0to o down, set0 (cf. ,ccident),[citation needed] co n"te to Choenici"n /ereb 0evenin I west0 "nd $r"bic &" hreb, Debrew 0a/ariv (see "lso *reb$s, C?# 1(2regos, 0d"r)ness0). Dowever, &"rtin Gitchfield >est st"tes th"t 0phonolo ic"lly, the m"tch between #!rop"'s n"me "nd "ny form of the *emitic word is very poor0.[+3] >h"tever the ori in of the n"me of the mytholo ic"l fi !re, OPQRS is first !sed "s " eo r"phic"l term in the 7th cent!ry (C, by =ree) eo r"phers s!ch "s $n"8im"nder "nd Dec"t"e!s. $n"8im"nder pl"ced the bo!nd"ry between $si" "nd #!rope "lon the Ch"sis 'iver (the modern 'ioni) in the C"!c"s!s, " convention still followed by Derodot!s in the 9th cent!ry (C.[+5] (!t the convention received by the &iddle $ es "nd s!rvivin into modern !s" e is th"t of the 'om"n er" !sed by 'om"n er" "!thors s!ch "s Cosidoni!s,[42] *tr"bo[41] "nd Ctolemy,[4+] who too) the @"n"is (the modern Aon 'iver) "s the bo!nd"ry. @he term 0#!rope0 is first !sed for " c!lt!r"l sphere in the C"rolin i"n 'en"iss"nce of the 5th cent!ry. Hrom th"t time, the term desi n"ted the sphere of infl!ence of the >estern Ch!rch, "s opposed to both the #"stern ,rthodo8 ch!rches "nd to the ?sl"mic world. @he modern convention, enl"r in the "re" of 0#!rope0 somewh"t to the e"st "nd the so!the"st, develops in the 15th cent!ry. &ost m"jor world l"n !" es !se words derived from 0#!rop"0 to refer to the 0continent0 (penins!l"). Chinese, for e8"mple, !ses the word 3$"(.$ ()I " simil"r Chinese1 derived term 3s(4 (?) is "lso sometimes !sed in L"p"nese s!ch "s in the L"p"nese n"me of the #!rope"n %nion, 3s(4 5eng. (?), despite the )"t")"n" 6.roppa (?) bein more commonly !sed. Dowever, in some @!r)ic l"n !" es the ori in"lly Cersi"n n"me Frangistan (l"nd of the Hr"n)s) is !sed c"s!"lly in referrin to m!ch of #!rope, besides offici"l n"mes s!ch "s Avr$pa or *vropa.[44]

History
&"in "rticleF Distory of #!rope

Prehistory
&"in "rticleF Crehistoric #!rope

a "ntij", &"lt"

@he &ad o! 7in8a, neolithic pottery from *erbi"

*tonehen e, #n l"nd

@he Bebr" s)y dis) from (ronJe $ e =erm"ny 9o0o georgic$s, which lived ro! hly 1.3 million ye"rs " o in =eor i", is the e"rliest hominid to h"ve been discovered in #!rope.[4:] ,ther hominid rem"ins, d"tin b"c) ro! hly 1 million ye"rs, h"ve been discovered in $t"p!erc", *p"in.[49] Be"nderth"l m"n (n"med "fter the Be"ndert"l v"lley in =erm"ny) "ppe"red in #!rope 192,222 ye"rs " o "nd dis"ppe"red from the fossil record "bo!t +3,222 (C, with this e8tinction prob"bly d!e to clim"te ch"n e, "nd their fin"l ref! e bein present1d"y Cort! "l. @he Be"nderth"ls were s!ppl"nted by modern h!m"ns (Cro1&" nons), who "ppe"red in #!rope "ro!nd :4 to :2 tho!s"nd ye"rs " o.[47] @he #!rope"n Beolithic period.m"r)ed by the c!ltiv"tion of crops "nd the r"isin of livestoc), incre"sed n!mbers of settlements "nd the widespre"d !se of pottery.be "n "ro!nd <222 (C in =reece "nd the ("l)"ns, prob"bly infl!enced by e"rlier f"rmin pr"ctices in $n"toli" "nd the Be"r #"st.[4<] ?t spre"d from the ("l)"ns "lon the v"lleys of the A"n!be "nd the 'hine (Gine"r Cottery c!lt!re) "nd "lon the &editerr"ne"n co"st (C"rdi"l c!lt!re). (etween :922 "nd 4222 (C, these centr"l #!rope"n neolithic c!lt!res developed f!rther to the west "nd the north, tr"nsmittin newly "c/!ired s)ills in prod!cin copper "rtef"cts. ?n >estern #!rope the Beolithic period w"s ch"r"cteriJed not by l"r e " ric!lt!r"l settlements b!t by field mon!ments, s!ch "s c"!sew"yed enclos!res, b!ri"l mo!nds "nd me "lithic tombs.[43] @he Corded >"re c!lt!r"l horiJon flo!rished "t the tr"nsition from the Beolithic to the Ch"lcolithic. A!rin this period i"nt me "lithic mon!ments, s!ch "s the &e "lithic @emples of &"lt" "nd *tonehen e, were constr!cted

thro! ho!t >estern "nd *o!thern #!rope.[45][:2] @he #!rope"n (ronJe $ e be "n circ" 4+22 (C in =reece.[:1] @he #!rope"n ?ron $ e be "n "ro!nd 1+22 (C.[:+] ?ron $ e colonis"tion by the =ree)s "nd Choenici"ns "ve rise to e"rly &editerr"ne"n cities. #"rly ?ron $ e ?t"ly "nd =reece from "ro!nd the 3th cent!ry (C r"d!"lly "ve rise to historic"l Cl"ssic"l "nti/!ity.

Classical antiquity
&"in "rticleF Cl"ssic"l "nti/!ity *ee "lsoF $ncient =reece "nd $ncient 'ome

@he =ree) @emple of $pollo, C"est!m, ?t"ly $ncient =reece h"d " profo!nd infl!ence on >estern civilis"tion. >estern democr"tic "nd individ!"listic c!lt!re "re often "ttrib!ted to $ncient =reece.[:4] @he =ree)s invented the polis, or city1st"te, which pl"yed " f!nd"ment"l role in their concept of identity.[::] @hese =ree) politic"l ide"ls were rediscovered in the l"te 13th cent!ry by #!rope"n philosophers "nd ide"lists. =reece "lso ener"ted m"ny c!lt!r"l contrib!tionsF in philosophy, h!m"nism "nd r"tion"lism !nder $ristotle, *ocr"tes "nd Cl"toI in history with Derodot!s "nd @h!cydidesI in dr"m"tic "nd n"rr"tive verse, st"rtin with the epic poems of DomerI[:4] in medicine with Dippocr"tes "nd ="lenI "nd in science with Cyth" or"s, #!clid "nd $rchimedes.[:9][:7][:<]

@he 'om"n #mpire "t its re"test e8tent $nother m"jor infl!ence c"me on #!rope th"t wo!ld imp"ct >estern civilis"tion from the 'om"n #mpire which left its m"r) on l"w, politics, l"n !" e, en ineerin , "rchitect!re, overnment "nd m"ny more "spects in western civiliJ"tion.[:3] A!rin the pa: ro0ana,

the 'om"n #mpire e8p"nded to encomp"ss the entire &editerr"ne"n ("sin "nd m!ch of #!rope.[:5] *toicism infl!enced 'om"n emperors s!ch "s D"dri"n, $ntonin!s Ci!s, "nd &"rc!s $!reli!s, who "ll spent time on the #mpire's northern border fi htin =erm"nic, Cictish "nd *cottish tribes.[92][91] Christi"nity w"s event!"lly le itimised by Const"ntine ? "fter three cent!ries of imperi"l persec!tion.

Early Middle Ages

&"in "rticlesF G"te $nti/!ity "nd #"rly &iddle $ es *ee "lsoF A"r) $ es (historio r"phy) "nd $ e of &i r"tions

#!rope c". 792

Ch"rlem" ne's empire "t its re"test e8tent, 3:4 A!rin the decline of the 'om"n #mpire, #!rope entered " lon period of ch"n e "risin from wh"t histori"ns c"ll the 0$ e of &i r"tions0. @here were n!mero!s inv"sions "nd mi r"tions "mon st the ,stro oths, ;isi oths, =oths, ;"nd"ls, D!ns, Hr"n)s, $n les, *"8ons, *l"vs, $v"rs, (!l "rs "nd, l"ter still, the ;i)in s "nd &" y"rs.[:5] 'en"iss"nce thin)ers s!ch "s Cetr"rch wo!ld l"ter refer to this "s the 0A"r) $ es0.[9+] ?sol"ted mon"stic comm!nities were the only pl"ces to s"fe !"rd "nd compile written )nowled e "cc!m!l"ted previo!slyI "p"rt from this very few written records s!rvive "nd m!ch liter"t!re, philosophy, m"them"tics, "nd other thin)in from the cl"ssic"l period dis"ppe"red from #!rope.[94]

'ol"nd pled es fe"lty to Ch"rlem" ne, Doly 'om"n #mperor. Hrom the <th cent!ry, (yJ"ntine history w"s re"tly "ffected by the rise of ?sl"m "nd the C"liph"tes. &!slim $r"bs first inv"ded historic"lly 'om"n territory !nder $bb (")r, first C"liph of the '"shid!n C"liph"te, who entered 'om"n *yri" "nd 'om"n &esopot"mi". %nder %m"r, the second C"liph, the &!slims decisively con/!ered *yri" "nd &esopot"mi", "s well "s 'om"n C"lestine, 'om"n # ypt, "nd p"rts of $si" &inor "nd 'om"n Borth $fric". @his trend contin!ed !nder %m"r's s!ccessors "nd !nder the %m"yy"d C"liph"te, which con/!ered the rest of &editerr"ne"n Borth $fric" "nd most of the ?beri"n Cenins!l". ,ver the ne8t cent!ries &!slim forces were "ble to t")e f!rther #!rope"n territory, incl!din Cypr!s, &"lt", Crete, *icily "nd p"rts of so!thern ?t"ly.[9:] ?n the #"st, ;ol " (!l "ri" bec"me "n ?sl"mic st"te in the tenth cent!ry.[99] @he &!slim con/!est of Disp"ni" be "n when the &oors (mostly (erbers with some $r"bs) inv"ded the Christi"n ;isi othic )in dom of ?beri" in the ye"r <11, !nder their (erber le"der @"ri/ ibn Niy"d. @hey l"nded "t =ibr"lt"r on 42 $pril "nd wor)ed their w"y northw"rd. @"ri/'s forces were joined the ne8t ye"r by those of his s!perior, &!s" ibn B!s"ir. A!rin the ei ht1ye"r c"mp"i n most of the ?beri"n Cenins!l" w"s bro! ht !nder &!slim r!le . s"ve for sm"ll "re"s in the northwest ($st!ri"s) "nd l"r ely ("s/!e re ions in the Cyrenees, with the e8ception of the ("s/!e ("n! c"si &!slim dyn"sty. @his territory, !nder the $r"bic n"me $l1$nd"l!s, bec"me p"rt of the e8p"ndin %m"yy"d empire. @he !ns!ccessf!l second sie e of Const"ntinople (<1<) we")ened the %m"yy"d dyn"sty "nd red!ced their presti e. $fter their s!ccess in overr!nnin ?beri", the con/!erors moved northe"st "cross the Cyrenees, b!t were defe"ted by the Hr"n)ish le"der Ch"rles &"rtel "t the ("ttle of Coitiers in <4+, tho! h they contin!ed to r"id "nd c"pt!re cities "s f"r "s $vi non. @he %m"yy"ds were overthrown in <92 by the '$bbdsids "nd most of the %m"yy"d cl"n m"ss"cred. $ s!rvivin %m"yy"d prince, $bd "l1'"hm"n ?, esc"ped to ?beri" "nd fo!nded " new %m"yy"d dyn"sty in the #mir"te of Cordob", (<97). Ch"rles &"rtel's son, Cippin the *hort retoo) B"rbonne, "nd his r"ndson Ch"rlem" ne est"blished the &"rc" Disp"nic" "cross the Cyrenees in p"rt of wh"t tod"y is C"t"loni", recon/!erin =iron" in <39 "nd ("rcelon" in 321. @he %m"yy"ds in ?beri" procl"imed themselves c"liphs in 5+5.

A!rin the A"r) $ es, the >estern 'om"n #mpire fell !nder the control of v"rio!s tribes. @he =erm"nic "nd *l"v tribes est"blished their dom"ins over >estern "nd #"stern #!rope respectively.[97] #vent!"lly the Hr"n)ish tribes were !nited !nder Clovis ?.[9<] Ch"rlem" ne, " Hr"n)ish )in of the C"rolin i"n dyn"sty who h"d con/!ered most of >estern #!rope, w"s "nointed 0Doly 'om"n #mperor0 by the Cope in 322. @his led in 57+ to the fo!ndin of the Doly 'om"n #mpire, which event!"lly bec"me centred in the =erm"n princip"lities of centr"l #!rope.[93] ?n the 5th cent!ry emer ed in Centr"l #!rope powerf!l =re"t &or"vi", it w"s the first >est *l"vic st"te. &or"vi" re"ched its l"r est territori"l e8tent !nder *v"topl!) ? "nd c"!sed " series of "rmed conflicts with #"st Hr"nci". @he predomin"ntly =ree) spe")in #"stern 'om"n #mpire bec"me )nown in the >est "s the (yJ"ntine #mpire. ?ts c"pit"l w"s Const"ntinople. #mperor L!stini"n ? presided over Const"ntinople's first olden " eF he est"blished " le "l code, f!nded the constr!ction of the D" i" *ophi" "nd bro! ht the Christi"n ch!rch !nder st"te control.[95] H"t"lly we")ened by the s"c) of Const"ntinople in 1+2:, d!rin the Ho!rth Cr!s"de,[72][71][7+][74][7:] [79][77][7<][73] (yJ"nti!m fell in 1:94 when it w"s con/!ered by the ,ttom"n #mpire.[75][<2][<1]

Middle Ages
&"in "rticlesF Di h &iddle $ es, G"te &iddle $ es, "nd &iddle $ es *ee "lsoF &ediev"l demo r"phy @he economic rowth of #!rope "ro!nd the ye"r 1222, to ether with the l"c) of s"fety on the m"inl"nd tr"din ro!tes, m"de possible the development of m"jor commerci"l ro!tes "lon the co"st of the &editerr"ne"n *e". ?n this conte8t, the rowin independence "c/!ired by some co"st"l cities "ve the &"ritime 'ep!blics " le"din role in the #!rope"n scene.

@"ncred of *icily "nd Chilip ?? of Hr"nce, d!rin the @hird Cr!s"de @he &iddle $ es on the m"inl"nd were domin"ted by the two !pper echelons of the soci"l str!ct!reF the nobility "nd the cler y. He!d"lism developed in Hr"nce in the #"rly &iddle $ es "nd soon spre"d thro! ho!t #!rope.[<+] $ str! le for infl!ence between the nobility "nd the mon"rchy in #n l"nd led to the writin of the &" n" C"rt" "nd the est"blishment of " p"rli"ment.[<4] @he prim"ry so!rce of c!lt!re in this period c"me from the 'om"n C"tholic Ch!rch. @hro! h mon"steries "nd c"thedr"l schools, the Ch!rch w"s responsible for ed!c"tion in m!ch of #!rope.[<+] @he C"p"cy re"ched the hei ht of its power d!rin the Di h &iddle $ es. $n #"st1>est *chism in 129: split the former 'om"n #mpire reli io!sly, with the #"stern ,rthodo8 Ch!rch in the (yJ"ntine #mpire "nd the 'om"n C"tholic Ch!rch in the former >estern 'om"n #mpire. ?n 1259 Cope %rb"n ?? c"lled for " cr!s"de " "inst &!slims occ!pyin Ler!s"lem "nd the Doly G"nd.[<:] ?n #!rope itself, the Ch!rch or "nised the ?n/!isition

" "inst heretics. ?n *p"in, the 'econ/!ist" concl!ded with the f"ll of =r"n"d" in 1:5+, endin over seven cent!ries of ?sl"mic r!le in the ?beri"n Cenins!l".[<9]

@he s"c)in of *!Jd"l by ("t! Kh"n in 1+43, d!rin the &on ol inv"sion of #!rope. ?n the 11th "nd 1+th cent!ries, const"nt inc!rsions by nom"dic @!r)ic tribes, s!ch "s the Cechene s "nd the C!m"n1Kipch")s, c"!sed " m"ssive mi r"tion of *l"vic pop!l"tions to the s"fer, he"vily forested re ions of the north "nd tempor"rily h"lted the e8p"nsion of the '!s' st"te to the so!th "nd e"st.[<7] Gi)e m"ny other p"rts of #!r"si", these territories were overr!n by the &on ols.[<<] @he inv"ders, who bec"me )nown "s @"t"rs, were mostly @!r)ic !nder &on ol comm"nd. @hey est"blished the st"te of the =olden Dorde, which l"ter "dopted ?sl"m "s " reli ion "nd r!led over modern1d"y so!thern "nd centr"l '!ssi" for more th"n three cent!ries.[<3][<5] @he =re"t H"mine of 1419E141< w"s the first crisis th"t wo!ld stri)e #!rope in the l"te &iddle $ es.[32] @he period between 14:3 "nd 1:+2 witnessed the he"viest loss. @he pop!l"tion of Hr"nce w"s red!ced by h"lf.[31][3+] &ediev"l (rit"in w"s "fflicted by 59 f"mines,[34] "nd Hr"nce s!ffered the effects of <9 or more in the s"me period.[3:] #!rope w"s dev"st"ted in the mid11:th cent!ry by the (l"c) Ae"th, one of the most de"dly p"ndemics in h!m"n history which )illed "n estim"ted +9 million people in #!rope "lone ." third of the #!rope"n pop!l"tion "t the time.[39] @he pl" !e h"d " dev"st"tin effect on #!rope's soci"l str!ct!reI it ind!ced people to live for the moment "s ill!str"ted by =iov"nni (occ"ccio in ;(e Deca0eron (1494). ?t w"s " serio!s blow to the 'om"n C"tholic Ch!rch "nd led to incre"sed persec!tion of Lews, forei ners, be "rs "nd lepers.[37] @he pl" !e is tho! ht to h"ve ret!rned every ener"tion

with v"ryin vir!lence "nd mort"lities !ntil the 13th cent!ry.[3<] A!rin this period, more th"n 122 pl" !e epidemics swept "cross #!rope.[33]

Early modern period

&"in "rticleF #"rly modern period *ee "lsoF 'en"iss"nce, Crotest"nt 'eform"tion, *cientific 'evol!tion, "nd $ e of Aiscovery

@he *chool of $thens by '"ph"elF Contempor"ries s!ch "s &ichel"n elo "nd Geon"rdo d" ;inci (centre) "re portr"yed "s cl"ssic"l schol"rs @he 'en"iss"nce w"s " period of c!lt!r"l ch"n e ori in"tin in Hlorence "nd l"ter spre"din to the rest of #!rope. in the 1:th cent!ry. @he rise of " new h!m"nism w"s "ccomp"nied by the recovery of for otten cl"ssic"l =ree) "nd $r"bic )nowled e from mon"stic libr"ries, often re1tr"nsl"ted from $r"bic into G"tin.[35][52][51] @he 'en"iss"nce spre"d "cross #!rope between the 1:th "nd 17th cent!riesF it s"w the flowerin of "rt, philosophy, m!sic, "nd the sciences, !nder the joint p"tron" e of roy"lty, the nobility, the 'om"n C"tholic Ch!rch, "nd "n emer in merch"nt cl"ss.[5+][54][5:] C"trons in ?t"ly, incl!din the &edici f"mily of Hlorentine b"n)ers "nd the Copes in 'ome, f!nded prolific /!"ttrocento "nd cin/!ecento "rtists s!ch "s '"ph"el, &ichel"n elo, "nd Geon"rdo d" ;inci.[59][57] Colitic"l intri !e within the Ch!rch in the mid11:th cent!ry c"!sed the =re"t *chism. A!rin this forty1ye"r period, two popes.one in $vi non "nd one in 'ome.cl"imed r!lership over the Ch!rch. $ltho! h the schism w"s event!"lly he"led in 1:1<, the p"p"cy's spirit!"l "!thority h"d s!ffered re"tly.[5<]

&"rtin G!ther initi"ted the Crotest"nt 'eform"tion @he Ch!rch's power w"s f!rther we")ened by the Crotest"nt 'eform"tion (191<E17:3), initi"lly sp"r)ed by the wor)s of =erm"n theolo i"n &"rtin G!ther, " res!lt of the l"c) of reform within the Ch!rch. @he 'eform"tion "lso d"m" ed the Doly 'om"n #mpire's power, "s =erm"n princes bec"me divided between Crotest"nt "nd 'om"n C"tholic f"iths.[53] @his event!"lly led to the @hirty -e"rs >"r (1713E17:3), which crippled the Doly 'om"n #mpire "nd dev"st"ted m!ch of =erm"ny, )illin between +9 "nd :2 percent of its pop!l"tion.[55] ?n the "fterm"th of the Ce"ce of >estph"li", Hr"nce rose to predomin"nce within #!rope.[122] @he 1<th cent!ry in so!thern "nd e"stern #!rope w"s " period of ener"l decline.[121] #"stern #!rope e8perienced more th"n 192 f"mines in " +221ye"r period between 1921 to 1<22.[12+] ?n the 19thE13th cent!ries, when the disinte r"tin )h"n"tes of the =olden Dorde were con/!ered by '!ssi", @"t"rs from the Crime"n Kh"n"te fre/!ently r"ided #"stern *l"vic l"nds to c"pt!re sl"ves.[124] @he ("ttle of ;ienn" in 1734 bro)e the "dv"nce of the ,ttom"n @!r)s into #!rope, "nd m"r)ed the politic"l he emony of the D"bsb!r dyn"sty in centr"l #!rope. @he 'en"iss"nce "nd the Bew &on"rchs m"r)ed the st"rt of "n $ e of Aiscovery, " period of e8plor"tion, invention, "nd scientific development.[12:] $mon the re"t fi !res of the >estern scientific revol!tion of the 17th "nd 1<th cent!ries were Copernic!s, Kepler, ="lileo, "nd ?s""c Bewton.[129] $ccordin to Ceter ("rrett, 0?t is widely "ccepted th"t 'modern science' "rose in the #!rope of the 1<th cent!ry (tow"rds the end of the 'en"iss"nce), introd!cin " new !nderst"ndin of the n"t!r"l world.0[35] ?n the 19th cent!ry, Cort! "l "nd *p"in, two of the re"test n"v"l powers of the time, too) the le"d in e8plorin the world.[127][12<] Christopher Col!mb!s re"ched the Bew >orld in 1:5+, "nd soon "fter the *p"nish "nd Cort! !ese be "n est"blishin coloni"l empires in the $meric"s.[123] Hr"nce, the Betherl"nds "nd #n l"nd soon followed in b!ildin l"r e coloni"l empires with v"st holdin s in $fric", the $meric"s, "nd $si".

1 th and 1!th centuries

&"in "rticleF &odern history *ee "lsoF ?nd!stri"l 'evol!tion, Hrench 'evol!tion, "nd $ e of #nli htenment

B"poleon's retre"t from '!ssi" in 131+. B"poleon's Grande Ar0<e h"d lost "bo!t h"lf " million men. @he $ e of #nli htenment w"s " powerf!l intellect!"l movement d!rin the 13th cent!ry promotin scientific "nd re"son1b"sed tho! hts.[125][112][111] Aiscontent with the "ristocr"cy "nd cler y's monopoly on politic"l power in Hr"nce res!lted in the Hrench 'evol!tion "nd the est"blishment of the Hirst 'ep!blic "s " res!lt of which the mon"rchy "nd m"ny of the nobility perished d!rin the initi"l rei n of terror.[11+] B"poleon (on"p"rte rose to power in the "fterm"th of the Hrench 'evol!tion "nd est"blished the Hirst Hrench #mpire th"t, d!rin the B"poleonic >"rs, rew to encomp"ss l"r e p"rts of #!rope before coll"psin in 1319 with the ("ttle of >"terloo.[114][11:] B"poleonic r!le res!lted in the f!rther dissemin"tion of the ide"ls of the Hrench 'evol!tion, incl!din th"t of the n"tion1st"te, "s well "s the widespre"d "doption of the Hrench models of "dministr"tion, l"w, "nd ed!c"tion.[119][117][11<] @he Con ress of ;ienn", convened "fter B"poleon's downf"ll, est"blished " new b"l"nce of power in #!rope centred on the five 0=re"t Cowers0F the %nited Kin dom, Hr"nce, Cr!ssi", D"bsb!r $!stri", "nd '!ssi".[113]

@he ?nd!stri"l 'evol!tion st"rted in =re"t (rit"in @his b"l"nce wo!ld rem"in in pl"ce !ntil the 'evol!tions of 13:3, d!rin which liber"l !prisin s "ffected "ll of #!rope e8cept for '!ssi" "nd the %nited Kin dom. @hese revol!tions were event!"lly p!t down by conserv"tive elements "nd few reforms res!lted.

[115]

?n 137<, the $!stro1D!n "ri"n empire w"s formedI "nd 13<1 s"w the !nific"tions of both ?t"ly "nd =erm"ny "s n"tion1st"tes from sm"ller princip"lities.[1+2] Gi)ewise, in 13<3 the Con ress of (erlin h"s conveyed form"l reco nition to the de !acto independent princip"lities of &ontene ro, *erbi" "nd 'om"ni". @he ?nd!stri"l 'evol!tion st"rted in =re"t (rit"in in the l"st p"rt of the 13th cent!ry "nd spre"d thro! ho!t #!rope. @he invention "nd implement"tion of new technolo ies res!lted in r"pid !rb"n rowth, m"ss employment, "nd the rise of " new wor)in cl"ss.[1+1] 'eforms in soci"l "nd economic spheres followed, incl!din the first l"ws on child l"bo!r, the le "lis"tion of tr"de !nions,[1++] "nd the "bolition of sl"very.[1+4] ?n (rit"in, the C!blic De"lth $ct 13<9 w"s p"ssed, which si nific"ntly improved livin conditions in m"ny (ritish cities.[1+:] #!rope's pop!l"tion incre"sed from "bo!t 122 million in 1<22 to :22 million by 1522.[1+9] ?n the 15th cent!ry, <2 million people left #!rope in mi r"tions to v"rio!s #!rope"n colonies "bro"d "nd to the %nited *t"tes.[1+7]

"#th century to the present

&"in "rticlesF &odern er" "nd Distory of #!rope *ee "lsoF >orld >"r ?, =re"t Aepression, ?nterw"r period, >orld >"r ??, Cold >"r, "nd Distory of the #!rope"n %nion

#!rope"n milit"ry "lli"nces j!st prior to the st"rt of >>? @wo >orld >"rs "nd "n economic depression domin"ted the first h"lf of the +2th cent!ry. >orld >"r ? w"s fo! ht between 151: "nd 1513. ?t st"rted when $rchd!)e Hr"nJ Herdin"nd of $!stri" w"s "ss"ssin"ted by the (osni"n *erb ="vrilo Crincip.[1+<] &ost #!rope"n n"tions were dr"wn into the w"r, which w"s fo! ht between the #ntente Cowers (Hr"nce, (el i!m, *erbi", Cort! "l, '!ssi", the %nited Kin dom, "nd l"ter ?t"ly, =reece, 'om"ni", "nd the %nited *t"tes) "nd the Centr"l Cowers ($!stri"1D!n "ry, =erm"ny, (!l "ri", "nd the ,ttom"n #mpire). @he >"r left more th"n 17 million civili"ns "nd milit"ry de"d.[1+3] ,ver 72 million #!rope"n soldiers were mobilised from 151: to 1513.[1+5]

'!ins of =!ernic" (154<). @he *p"nish Civil >"r cl"imed the lives of over 922,222 people. C"rtly "s " res!lt of its defe"t '!ssi" w"s pl!n ed into the '!ssi"n 'evol!tion, which threw down the @s"rist mon"rchy "nd repl"ced it with the comm!nist *oviet %nion.[142] $!stri"1D!n "ry "nd the ,ttom"n #mpire coll"psed "nd bro)e !p into sep"r"te n"tions, "nd m"ny other n"tions h"d their borders redr"wn. @he @re"ty of ;ers"illes, which offici"lly ended >orld >"r ? in 1515, w"s h"rsh tow"rds =erm"ny, !pon whom it pl"ced f!ll responsibility for the w"r "nd imposed he"vy s"nctions.[141] #conomic inst"bility, c"!sed in p"rt by debts inc!rred in the Hirst >orld >"r "nd 'lo"ns' to =erm"ny pl"yed h"voc in #!rope in the l"te 15+2s "nd 1542s. @his "nd the >"ll *treet Cr"sh of 15+5 bro! ht "bo!t the worldwide =re"t Aepression. Delped by the economic crisis, soci"l inst"bility "nd the thre"t of comm!nism, f"scist movements developed thro! ho!t #!rope pl"cin $dolf Ditler of B"Ji =erm"ny, Hr"ncisco Hr"nco of *p"in "nd (enito &!ssolini of ?t"ly in power.[14+][144] ?n 1544, Ditler bec"me the le"der of =erm"ny "nd be "n to wor) tow"rds his o"l of b!ildin =re"ter =erm"ny. =erm"ny re1e8p"nded "nd too) b"c) the *""rl"nd "nd 'hinel"nd in 1549 "nd 1547. ?n 1543, $!stri" bec"me " p"rt of =erm"ny followin the $nschl!ss. G"ter th"t ye"r, followin the &!nich $ reement si ned by =erm"ny, Hr"nce, the %nited Kin dom "nd ?t"ly, =erm"ny "nne8ed the *!detenl"nd, which w"s " p"rt of CJechoslov")i" inh"bited by ethnic =erm"ns. $t the time, (rit"in "nd Hr"nce preferred " policy of "ppe"sement. CJechs "nd *lov")s c"ll the &!nich $ reement the &!nich Aict"te or the &!nich (etr"y"l, bec"!se CJechoslov")i" w"s not invited to the conference "nd the milit"ry "lli"nce CJechoslov")i" h"d with Hr"nce "nd (rit"in proved !seless.

(!rned1o!t b!ildin s in D"mb!r , 15:: or :9 *hortly "fterw"rds, Col"nd "nd D!n "ry st"rted to press for the "nne8"tion of p"rts of CJechoslov")i" with Colish "nd D!n "ri"n m"jorities. Ditler enco!r" ed the *lov")s to do the s"me "nd in e"rly 1545, the rem"inder of CJechoslov")i" w"s split into the Crotector"te of (ohemi" "nd &or"vi", controlled by =erm"ny, "nd the *lov") 'ep!blic, while other sm"ller re ions went to Col"nd "nd D!n "ry. >ith tensions mo!ntin between =erm"ny "nd Col"nd over the f!t!re of A"nJi , the =erm"ns t!rned to the *oviets, "nd si ned the &olotovE'ibbentrop C"ct. =erm"ny inv"ded Col"nd on 1 *eptember 1545, promptin Hr"nce "nd the %nited Kin dom to decl"re w"r on =erm"ny on 4 *eptember, openin the #!rope"n @he"tre of >orld >"r ??.[14:][149] @he *oviet inv"sion of Col"nd st"rted on 1< *eptember "nd Col"nd fell soon there"fter. ,n +: *eptember, the *oviet %nion "tt"c)ed the ("ltic co!ntries "nd l"ter, Hinl"nd. @he (ritish hoped to l"nd "t B"rvi) "nd send troops to "id Hinl"nd, b!t their prim"ry objective in the l"ndin w"s to encircle =erm"ny "nd c!t the =erm"ns off from *c"ndin"vi"n reso!rces. Bevertheless, the =erm"ns )new of (rit"in's pl"ns "nd ot to B"rvi) first, rep!lsin the "tt"c). $ro!nd the s"me time, =erm"ny moved troops into Aenm"r), which left no room for " front e8cept for where the l"st w"r h"d been fo! ht or by l"ndin "t se". @he Choney >"r contin!ed. ?n &"y 15:2, =erm"ny "tt"c)ed Hr"nce thro! h the Gow Co!ntries. Hr"nce c"pit!l"ted in L!ne 15:2. Dowever, the (ritish ref!sed to ne oti"te pe"ce terms with the =erm"ns "nd the w"r contin!ed. (y $! !st =erm"ny be "n " bombin offensive on (rit"in, b!t f"iled to convince the (ritons to ive !p.[147] ?n 15:1, =erm"ny inv"ded the *oviet %nion in the !ltim"tely !ns!ccessf!l ,per"tion ("rb"ross".[14<] ,n < Aecember 15:1 L"p"n's "tt"c) on Ce"rl D"rbor drew the %nited *t"tes into the conflict "s "llies of the (ritish #mpire "nd other "llied forces.[143][145]

@he 0(i @hree0 "t the -"lt" Conference in 15:9I se"ted (from the left)F >inston Ch!rchill, Hr"n)lin A. 'oosevelt, "nd Loseph *t"lin $fter the st" erin ("ttle of *t"lin r"d in 15:4, the =erm"n offensive in the *oviet %nion t!rned into " contin!"l f"llb"c). ?n 15::, (ritish "nd $meric"n forces inv"ded Hr"nce in the A1A"y l"ndin s, openin " new front " "inst =erm"ny. (erlin fin"lly fell in 15:9, endin >orld >"r ?? in #!rope. @he w"r w"s the l"r est "nd most destr!ctive in

h!m"n history, with 72 million de"d "cross the world.[1:2] &ore th"n :2 million people in #!rope h"d died "s " res!lt of the w"r by the time >orld >"r ?? ended,[1:1] incl!din between 11 "nd 1< million people who perished d!rin the Doloc"!st.[1:+] @he *oviet %nion lost "ro!nd +< million people d!rin the w"r, "bo!t h"lf of "ll >orld >"r ?? c"s!"lties.[1:4] (y the end of >orld >"r ??, #!rope h"d more th"n :2 million ref! ees.[1::] *ever"l post1w"r e8p!lsions in Centr"l "nd #"stern #!rope displ"ced " tot"l of "bo!t +2 million people.[1:9]

@he *ch!m"n Aecl"r"tion led to the cre"tion of the #!rope"n Co"l "nd *teel Comm!nity. ?t be "n the inte r"tion process of the #!rope"n %nion. (5 &"y 1592, "t the Hrench Horei n &inistry) >orld >"r ? "nd especi"lly >orld >"r ?? diminished the eminence of >estern #!rope in world "ff"irs. $fter >orld >"r ?? the m"p of #!rope w"s redr"wn "t the -"lt" Conference "nd divided into two blocs, the >estern co!ntries "nd the comm!nist #"stern bloc, sep"r"ted by wh"t w"s l"ter c"lled by >inston Ch!rchill "n 0?ron C!rt"in0. @he %nited *t"tes "nd >estern #!rope est"blished the B$@, "lli"nce "nd l"ter the *oviet %nion "nd #"stern #!rope est"blished the >"rs"w C"ct.[1:7] @he two new s!perpowers, the %nited *t"tes "nd the *oviet %nion, bec"me loc)ed in " fifty1ye"r lon Cold >"r, centred on n!cle"r prolifer"tion. $t the s"me time decolonis"tion, which h"d "lre"dy st"rted "fter >orld >"r ?, r"d!"lly res!lted in the independence of most of the #!rope"n colonies in $si" "nd $fric".[7] ?n the 1532s the reforms of &i)h"il =orb"chev "nd the *olid"rity movement in Col"nd "cceler"ted the coll"pse of the #"stern bloc "nd the end of the Cold >"r. =erm"ny w"s re!nited, "fter the symbolic f"ll of the (erlin >"ll in 1535, "nd the m"ps of #"stern #!rope were redr"wn once more.[14+] #!rope"n inte r"tion "lso rew "fter >orld >"r ??. @he @re"ty of 'ome in 159< est"blished the #!rope"n #conomic Comm!nity between si8 >estern #!rope"n st"tes with the o"l of " !nified economic policy "nd common m"r)et.[1:<] ?n 157< the ##C, #!rope"n Co"l "nd *teel Comm!nity "nd #!r"tom formed the #!rope"n Comm!nity, which in 1554 bec"me the #!rope"n %nion. @he #% est"blished " p"rli"ment, co!rt "nd centr"l b"n) "nd introd!ced the e!ro "s " !nified c!rrency.[1:3] ?n +22: "nd +22<, more #"stern #!rope"n co!ntries be "n joinin , e8p"ndin the #% to its c!rrent siJe of +3 #!rope"n co!ntries, "nd once more m")in #!rope " m"jor economic"l "nd politic"l centre of power.[1:5]

#!rope"n development

@erritori"l development of the 'om"n #mpire +7: (C115+ $A

#!rope in 1222 $A

#!rope in 1:42

#!rope in 17:3

#!rope in 1352

#!rope in 15+4

$eography
&"in "rticleF =eo r"phy of #!rope

'elief m"p of #!rope "nd s!rro!ndin re ions #!rope is " penins!l" th"t m")es !p the western fifth of the #!r"si"n l"ndm"ss.[15] ?ts m"ritime borders "re m"de !p of the $rctic ,ce"n to the north, the $tl"ntic ,ce"n to the west, "nd the &editerr"ne"n, (l"c), "nd C"spi"n *e"s to the so!th[192] G"nd relief in #!rope shows re"t v"ri"tion within rel"tively sm"ll "re"s. @he so!thern re ions "re more mo!nt"ino!s, while movin north the terr"in descends from the hi h $lps, Cyrenees, "nd C"rp"thi"ns, thro! h hilly !pl"nds, into bro"d, low northern pl"ins, which "re v"st in the e"st. @his e8tended lowl"nd is )nown "s the =re"t #!rope"n Cl"in, "nd "t its he"rt lies the Borth =erm"n Cl"in. $n "rc of !pl"nds "lso e8ists "lon the north1western se"bo"rd, which be ins in the western p"rts of the isl"nds of (rit"in "nd ?rel"nd, "nd then contin!es "lon the mo!nt"ino!s, fjord1c!t spine of Borw"y.

G"nd !se m"p of #!rope with "r"ble f"rml"nd (yellow), forest (d"r) reen), p"st!re (li ht reen), "nd t!ndr" or bo s in the north (d"r) yellow)

@his description is simplified. *!b1re ions s!ch "s the ?beri"n Cenins!l" "nd the ?t"li"n Cenins!l" cont"in their own comple8 fe"t!res, "s does m"inl"nd Centr"l #!rope itself, where the relief cont"ins m"ny pl"te"!s, river v"lleys "nd b"sins th"t complic"te the ener"l trend. *!b1re ions li)e ?cel"nd, (rit"in, "nd ?rel"nd "re speci"l c"ses. @he former is " l"nd !nto itself in the northern oce"n which is co!nted "s p"rt of #!rope, while the l"tter "re !pl"nd "re"s th"t were once joined to the m"inl"nd !ntil risin se" levels c!t them off.

Climate
&"in "rticleF Clim"te of #!rope

(iomes of #!rope "nd s!rro!ndin re ionsF

t!ndr" "lpine t!ndr" t"i " mont"ne forest temper"te bro"dle"f forest mediterr"ne"n forest temper"te steppe dry steppe

#!rope lies m"inly in the temper"te clim"te Jones, bein s!bjected to prev"ilin westerlies. @he clim"te is milder in comp"rison to other "re"s of the s"me l"tit!de "ro!nd the lobe d!e to the infl!ence of the =!lf *tre"m.[191] @he =!lf *tre"m is nic)n"med 0#!rope's centr"l he"tin 0, bec"!se it m")es #!rope's clim"te w"rmer "nd wetter th"n it wo!ld otherwise be. @he =!lf *tre"m not only c"rries w"rm w"ter to #!rope's co"st b!t "lso w"rms !p the prev"ilin westerly winds th"t blow "cross the continent from the $tl"ntic ,ce"n. @herefore the "ver" e temper"t!re thro! ho!t the ye"r of B"ples is 17 eC (72.3 eH), while it is only 1+ eC (94.7 eH) in Bew -or) City which is "lmost on the s"me l"tit!de. (erlin, =erm"nyI C"l "ry, C"n"d"I "nd ?r)!ts), in the $si"n p"rt of '!ssi", lie on "ro!nd the s"me l"tit!deI L"n!"ry temper"t!res in (erlin "ver" e "ro!nd 3 eC (19 eH) hi her th"n those in C"l "ry, "nd they "re "lmost ++ eC (:2 eH) hi her th"n "ver" e temper"t!res in ?r)!ts).[191]

$eology
&"in "rticleF =eolo y of #!rope

@he =eolo y of #!rope is h! ely v"ried "nd comple8, "nd ives rise to the wide v"riety of l"ndsc"pes fo!nd "cross the continent, from the *cottish Di hl"nds to the rollin pl"ins of D!n "ry.[19+]

>estern C"rp"thi"ns in Col"nd

@he $dri"tic *e" cont"ins over 1422 isl"nds "nd islets #!rope's most si nific"nt fe"t!re is the dichotomy between hi hl"nd "nd mo!nt"ino!s *o!thern #!rope "nd " v"st, p"rti"lly !nderw"ter, northern pl"in r"n in from ?rel"nd in the west to the %r"l &o!nt"ins in the e"st. @hese two h"lves "re sep"r"ted by the mo!nt"in ch"ins of the Cyrenees "nd $lps/C"rp"thi"ns. @he northern pl"ins "re delimited in the west by the *c"ndin"vi"n &o!nt"ins "nd the mo!nt"ino!s p"rts of the (ritish ?sles. &"jor sh"llow w"ter bodies s!bmer in p"rts of the northern pl"ins "re the Celtic *e", the Borth *e", the ("ltic *e" comple8 "nd ("rents *e". @he northern pl"in cont"ins the old eolo ic"l continent of ("ltic", "nd so m"y be re "rded eolo ic"lly "s the 0m"in continent0, while peripher"l hi hl"nds "nd mo!nt"ino!s re ions in the so!th "nd west constit!te fr" ments from v"rio!s other eolo ic"l continents. &ost of the older eolo y of western #!rope e8isted "s p"rt of the "ncient microcontinent $v"loni". $eological history &"in "rticleF =eolo ic"l history of #!rope @he eolo ic"l history of #!rope tr"ces b"c) to the form"tion of the ("ltic *hield (Hennosc"ndi") "nd the *"rm"ti"n cr"ton, both "ro!nd +.+9 billion ye"rs " o, followed by

the ;ol o1%r"li" shield, the three to ether le"din to the #"st #!rope"n cr"ton (f ("ltic") which bec"me " p"rt of the s!percontinent Col!mbi". $ro!nd 1.1 billion ye"rs " o, ("ltic" "nd $rctic" ("s p"rt of the G"!renti" bloc)) bec"me joined to 'odini", l"ter resplittin "ro!nd 992 million ye"rs " o to reform "s ("ltic". $ro!nd ::2 million ye"rs " o #!r"meric" w"s formed from ("ltic" "nd G"!renti"I " f!rther joinin with =ondw"n" then le"din to the form"tion of C"n e". $ro!nd 152 million ye"rs " o, =ondw"n" "nd G"!r"si" split "p"rt d!e to the widenin of the $tl"ntic ,ce"n. Hin"lly, "nd very soon "fterw"rds, G"!r"si" itself split !p " "in, into G"!renti" (Borth $meric") "nd the #!r"si"n continent. @he l"nd connection between the two persisted for " consider"ble time, vi" =reenl"nd, le"din to interch"n e of "nim"l species. Hrom "ro!nd 92 million ye"rs " o, risin "nd f"llin se" levels h"ve determined the "ct!"l sh"pe of #!rope, "nd its connections with continents s!ch "s $si". #!rope's present sh"pe d"tes to the l"te @erti"ry period "bo!t five million ye"rs " o.[194]

%iodi&ersity
*ee "lsoF H"!n" of #!rope

(io eo r"phic re ions of #!rope "nd borderin re ions D"vin lived side1by1side with " ric!lt!r"l peoples for millenni", #!rope's "nim"ls "nd pl"nts h"ve been profo!ndly "ffected by the presence "nd "ctivities of m"n. >ith the e8ception of Hennosc"ndi" "nd northern '!ssi", few "re"s of !nto!ched wilderness "re c!rrently fo!nd in #!rope, e8cept for v"rio!s n"tion"l p"r)s. @he m"in n"t!r"l ve et"tion cover in #!rope is mi8ed forest. @he conditions for rowth "re very f"vo!r"ble. ?n the north, the =!lf *tre"m "nd Borth $tl"ntic Arift w"rm the continent. *o!thern #!rope co!ld be described "s h"vin " w"rm, b!t mild clim"te. @here "re fre/!ent s!mmer dro! hts in this re ion. &o!nt"in rid es "lso "ffect the conditions. *ome of these ($lps, Cyrenees) "re oriented e"st1west "nd "llow the wind to c"rry l"r e m"sses of w"ter from the oce"n in the interior. ,thers "re oriented so!th1north (*c"ndin"vi"n &o!nt"ins, Ain"rides, C"rp"thi"ns, $pennines) "nd bec"!se the r"in f"lls prim"rily on the side of mo!nt"ins th"t is oriented tow"rds the se", forests row well on this side, while on the other side, the conditions "re m!ch less f"vo!r"ble. Hew corners of m"inl"nd #!rope h"ve not been r"Jed by livestoc) "t some point in time, "nd the c!ttin

down of the pre1" ric!lt!r"l forest h"bit"t c"!sed disr!ption to the ori in"l pl"nt "nd "nim"l ecosystems. Crob"bly 32 to 52 per cent of #!rope w"s once covered by forest.[19:] ?t stretched from the &editerr"ne"n *e" to the $rctic ,ce"n. @ho! h over h"lf of #!rope's ori in"l forests dis"ppe"red thro! h the cent!ries of deforest"tion, #!rope still h"s over one /!"rter of its l"nd "re" "s forest, s!ch "s the t"i " of *c"ndin"vi" "nd '!ssi", mi8ed r"inforests of the C"!c"s!s "nd the Cor) o") forests in the western &editerr"ne"n. A!rin recent times, deforest"tion h"s been slowed "nd m"ny trees h"ve been pl"nted. Dowever, in m"ny c"ses monoc!lt!re pl"nt"tions of conifers h"ve repl"ced the ori in"l mi8ed n"t!r"l forest, bec"!se these row /!ic)er. @he pl"nt"tions now cover v"st "re"s of l"nd, b!t offer poorer h"bit"ts for m"ny #!rope"n forest dwellin species which re/!ire " mi8t!re of tree species "nd diverse forest str!ct!re. @he "mo!nt of n"t!r"l forest in >estern #!rope is j!st +E46 or less, in #!rope"n '!ssi" 9E126. @he co!ntry with the sm"llest percent" e of forested "re" is ?cel"nd (16), while the most forested co!ntry is Hinl"nd (<<6).[199]

Hloristic re ions of #!rope "nd nei hbo!rin "re"s, "ccordin to >olf "n Hrey "nd '"iner Ggsch ?n temper"te #!rope, mi8ed forest with both bro"dle"f "nd conifero!s trees domin"te. @he most import"nt species in centr"l "nd western #!rope "re beech "nd o"). ?n the north, the t"i " is " mi8ed spr!ceEpineEbirch forestI f!rther north within '!ssi" "nd e8treme northern *c"ndin"vi", the t"i " ives w"y to t!ndr" "s the $rctic is "ppro"ched. ?n the &editerr"ne"n, m"ny olive trees h"ve been pl"nted, which "re very well "d"pted to its "rid clim"teI &editerr"ne"n Cypress is "lso widely pl"nted in so!thern #!rope. @he semi1"rid &editerr"ne"n re ion hosts m!ch scr!b forest. $ n"rrow e"st1west ton !e of #!r"si"n r"ssl"nd (the steppe) e8tends e"stw"rds from %)r"ine "nd so!thern '!ssi" "nd ends in D!n "ry "nd tr"verses into t"i " to the north. =l"ci"tion d!rin the most recent ice " e "nd the presence of m"n "ffected the distrib!tion of #!rope"n f"!n". $s for the "nim"ls, in m"ny p"rts of #!rope most l"r e "nim"ls "nd top pred"tor species h"ve been h!nted to e8tinction. @he woolly m"mmoth

w"s e8tinct before the end of the Beolithic period. @od"y wolves (c"rnivores) "nd be"rs (omnivores) "re end"n ered. ,nce they were fo!nd in most p"rts of #!rope. Dowever, deforest"tion "nd h!ntin c"!sed these "nim"ls to withdr"w f!rther "nd f!rther. (y the &iddle $ es the be"rs' h"bit"ts were limited to more or less in"ccessible mo!nt"ins with s!fficient forest cover. @od"y, the brown be"r lives prim"rily in the ("l)"n penins!l", *c"ndin"vi", "nd '!ssi"I " sm"ll n!mber "lso persist in other co!ntries "cross #!rope ($!stri", Cyrenees etc.), b!t in these "re"s brown be"r pop!l"tions "re fr" mented "nd m"r in"lised bec"!se of the destr!ction of their h"bit"t. ?n "ddition, pol"r be"rs m"y be fo!nd on *v"lb"rd, " Borwe i"n "rchipel" o f"r north of *c"ndin"vi". @he wolf, the second l"r est pred"tor in #!rope "fter the brown be"r, c"n be fo!nd prim"rily in #"stern #!rope "nd in the ("l)"ns, with " h"ndf!l of p"c)s in poc)ets of >estern #!rope (*c"ndin"vi", *p"in, etc.).

,nce ro"min the re"t temper"te forests of #!r"si", #!rope"n bison now live in n"t!re preserves in (i"howiei" Horest, on the border between Col"nd "nd (el"r!s.[197][19<] #!rope"n wild c"t, fo8es (especi"lly the red fo8), j"c)"l "nd different species of m"rtens, hed eho s, different species of reptiles (li)e sn")es s!ch "s vipers "nd r"ss sn")es) "nd "mphibi"ns, different birds (owls, h"w)s "nd other birds of prey). ?mport"nt #!rope"n herbivores "re sn"ils, l"rv"e, fish, different birds, "nd m"mm"ls, li)e rodents, deer "nd roe deer, bo"rs, "nd livin in the mo!nt"ins, m"rmots, steinboc)s, ch"mois "mon others. $ n!mber of insects, s!ch "s the sm"ll tortoiseshell b!tterfly, "dd to the biodiversity.[193] @he e8tinction of the dw"rf hippos "nd dw"rf eleph"nts h"s been lin)ed to the e"rliest "rriv"l of h!m"ns on the isl"nds of the &editerr"ne"n. *e" cre"t!res "re "lso "n import"nt p"rt of #!rope"n flor" "nd f"!n". @he se" flor" is m"inly phytopl"n)ton. ?mport"nt "nim"ls th"t live in #!rope"n se"s "re Joopl"n)ton, moll!scs, echinoderms, different cr!st"ce"ns, s/!ids "nd octop!ses, fish, dolphins, "nd wh"les. (iodiversity is protected in #!rope thro! h the Co!ncil of #!rope's (ern Convention, which h"s "lso been si ned by the #!rope"n Comm!nity "s well "s non1#!rope"n st"tes.

Political geography
&"in "rticleF Colitics of #!rope *ee "lsoF Gist of soverei n st"tes "nd dependent territories in #!rope "nd 'e ions of #!rope

#!rope"n st"tes #!rope"n territory of tr"nscontinent"l st"tes

&odern politic"l m"p of #!rope "nd the s!rro!ndin re ion

'e ion"l ro!pin !sed by the %nited B"tions *t"tistics Aep"rtment.[195]

'e ion"l ro!pin "ccordin to @he >orld H"ctboo)

#!rope"n %nion "nd its c"ndid"te co!ntries

Co!ncil of #!rope n"tions

&"p showin #!rope"n membership of the #% "nd

B$@, @he list below incl!des "ll entities f"llin even p"rti"lly !nder "ny of the v"rio!s common definitions of #!rope, eo r"phic or politic"l. @he d"t" displ"yed "re per so!rces in cross1referenced "rticles. @he +3 #!rope"n %nion member st"tes "re hi hly inte r"ted, economic"lly "nd politic"llyI the #!rope"n %nion itself forms p"rt of the politic"l eo r"phy of #!rope. Populati on Populatio density Capital n )per *m+, 53.9 @ir"n" 1:7.+

'la Ar g ms

(ame

Area )*m+,

(ame)s, in official language)s, *h/ipjri"

$lb"ni" $ndorr" $rmeni"

[j]

+3,<:3 +,341,<:1 :73 73,:24

$ndorr" $ndorr" l" ;ell"

+5,322 4,++5,522 34,393 3,175,5+5 37,722 5,179,222 +2<,972 5,:93,222 11,22<,22 42,9+3 2 91,1+5 4,3:4,1+7 112,512 <,7+1,44< 97,9:+ :,:4<,:72 <33,:9< 12,+97,<7 <3,377 2 :4,25: 9,97:,+15 :9,++7 1,4:2,15: 447,954 9,19<,94< 74,13+,22 9:<,242 2 75,<22 :,771,:<4 49<,2+1 34,+91,39 1 5,+91

121 -erev"n D"y"st"n 5<.: ;ienn" 129.3 (")! :9.7 &ins) ksterreich $Jrb"yc"n (el"r!s

$!stri" $Jerb"ij" B/$ [)] n B/$ (el"r!s (el i!m (osni" "nd DerJe ovi n" (!l "ri" Cro"ti" Cypr!s [d] CJech 'ep!blic Aenm"r) #stoni" Hinl"nd B/$ Hr"nce [ ] =eor i" [l] =erm"ny

472.7 (r!ssels (el ij/(el i/!e/(el ien <9.+ *"r"jevo (osn" i Derce ovin" 73.< *ofi" <<.< N" reb 39 Bicosi" 142.1 Cr" !e 1+5 (ll "rij" Drv"ts)" Kmpros/Knbrns oes)o

Copenh" A"nm"r) en +5 @"llinn #esti

19.4 Delsin)i *!omi/Hinl"nd 119.9 C"ris 7: @bilisi +44.+ (erlin Hr"nce *")"rtvelo Ae!tschl"nd

'la Ar g ms

(ame

=reece D!n "ry ?cel"nd ?rel"nd ?t"ly

Populati on Area Populatio (ame)s, in official density Capital )*m+, n language)s, )per *m+, 12,319,13 141,59< 32.< $thens #llpd" < 12,2<9,24 54,242 123.4 (!d"pest &" y"rorsJp : 'ey)j"vq 124,222 42<,+71 +.< rsl"nd ) <2,+32 :,+4:,5+9 421,+42 72.4 A!blin sire/?rel"nd ?t"li" c"J"/st"n/K"J"hst"n G"tvij" Giechtenstein Giet!v" GjtJeb!er /G!8emb!r /G!8 embo!r &")edonij" &"lt" &oldov"

95,942,:7 15<.< 'ome : K"J")hst" 19,+1<,<1 B/$ [i] +,<+:,522 9.7 $st"n" n 1 G"tvi" 7:,935 +,27<,522 4:.+ 'i " Giechtenst 172 4+,3:+ +29.4 ;"d!J ein Gith!"ni" 79,+22 +,533,:22 :9.3 ;ilni!s G!8embo G!8embo +,937 ::3,975 1<4.9 !r !r &"cedoni B/$ +9,<14 +,29:,322 31.1 *)opje " &"lt" 417 45<,:55 1,+9<.5 ;"llett" &oldov" 44,3:4 :,:4:,9:< 141.2 Chiinl! ["] &on"co &ontene ro Betherl"n ds [h] Borw"y Col"nd Cort! "l
[e]

1.59 14,31+ :1,9+7 4+:,++2 41+,739 51,973 +43,451 1<,2<9,:2 2 71

'om"ni" '!ssi" [b] *"n

41,53< 17,:24.7 &on"co &on"co Cod oric 717,+93 ::.7 Crn" =or" " 17,413,15 $msterd" 454.2 Bederl"nd 5 m 9,213,347 19.9 ,slo Bor e 43,7+9,:< 1+4.9 >"rs"w Cols)" 3 12,:25,55 112.1 Gisbon Cort! "l 9 +1,753,13 51.2 (!ch"rest 'omtni" 1 1:+,+22,2 3.4 &oscow 'ossiy" 22 +<,<42 :9:.7 *"n *"n &"rino

'la Ar g ms

(ame &"rino *erbi" [f] *lov")i" *loveni" *p"in *weden *witJerl" nd @!r)ey [m] %)r"ine %nited Kin dom ;"tic"n City

Area )*m+,

Populati on Populatio density Capital n )per *m+, &"rino

(ame)s, in official language)s,

33,471 <,1+2,777 :3,3:9 9,:++,477 +2,+<4 +,292,135 92:,391 :<,295,94 4

51.5 (el r"de *rbij" 111.2 (r"tisl"v *lovens)o " #sp"u"

121 Gj!blj"n" *lovenij" 54.+ &"drid 15.<

::5,57: 5,252,114 :1,+52 <,92<,222 <9,7+<,43 : :3,457,:< 724,<22 2 71,122,34 +::,3+2 9 <34,97+ 2.::

*toc)hol *veri e m *chweiJ/*!isse/*viJJer"/*v 1<7.3 (ern iJr" 53 $n)"r" 32.+ Kiev +::.+ Gondon ;"tic"n City @Mr)iye %)r"jin" %nited Kin dom *t"t!s Civit"tis ;"tic"nv

522 +,2:9.9 1#

-otal

1#.1 #.## 121.###.# #/n0 ##/n0

>ithin the "bove1mentioned st"tes "re sever"l de f"cto independent co!ntries with limited to no intern"tion"l reco nition. Bone of them "re members of the %BF 'lag Arms (ame $b)h"Ji" [p] Area )*m+, 3,:4+ Population )1 3uly "##" est4, +17,222
[172]

Population density )per *m+,

Capital +5 *!)h!mi ++2 Cristin" 1+ *tep"n")ert <3 Bicosi" 13 @s)hinv"li 144 @ir"spol

Kosovo [o] 12,33< B" orno1K"r"b")h 11,:93 [/] Borthern Cypr!s [d] B/$ *o!th ,sseti" [p] B/$ @r"nsnistri" ["] 4,499 4,522 :,174

1,32:,343 143,322 +79,122 <2,222 94<,222

*ever"l dependencies "nd simil"r territories with bro"d "!tonomy "re "lso fo!nd in #!rope. Bote th"t the list does not incl!de the constit!ent co!ntries of the %nited

Kin dom, feder"l st"tes of =erm"ny "nd $!stri", "nd "!tonomo!s territories of *p"in "nd the post1*oviet rep!blics "s well "s the rep!blic of *erbi". (ame of territory. 5ith flag wl"nd (Hinl"nd) H"roe ?sl"nds (Aenm"r)) =ibr"lt"r (%K) =!ernsey [c] (%K) ?sle of &"n [c] (%K) Lersey [c] (%K) *v"lb"rd "nd L"n &"yen (Borw"y) Area )*m+, 14,91< 1,455 9.5 <3 9<+ 117 7+,2:5 Population )1 3uly "##" est4, +7,223 :7,211 +<,<1: 7:,93< <4,3<4 35,<<9 +,373 Population density Capital )per *m+, 17.3 &"rieh"mn 4+.5 @xrsh"vn :,75<.4 =ibr"lt"r 3+3.2 *t. Ceter Cort 1+5.1 Ao! l"s <<4.5 *"int Delier 2.2:7 Gon ye"rbyen

6ntegration

#!rope"n %nion "nd Commonwe"lth of ?ndependent *t"tes &"in "rticleF #!rope"n inte r"tion *ee "lsoF ?ntern"tion"l or "niJ"tions in #!rope #!rope"n inte r"tion is the process of politic"l, le "l, economic ("nd in some c"ses soci"l "nd c!lt!r"l) inte r"tion of st"tes wholly or p"rti"lly in #!rope. ?n the present d"y, #!rope"n inte r"tion h"s prim"rily come "bo!t thro! h the Co!ncil of #!rope "nd #!rope"n %nion in >estern "nd Centr"l #!rope "nd Commonwe"lth of ?ndependent *t"tes in #"stern #!rope "nd most of former *oviet co!ntries.

Economy

#!rope"n "nd borderin n"tions by =AC (nomin"l) per c"pit" in +21+ &"in "rticleF #conomy of #!rope $s " continent, the economy of #!rope is c!rrently the l"r est on #"rth "nd it is the richest re ion "s me"s!red by "ssets !nder m"n" ement with over y4+.< trillion comp"red to Borth $meric"'s y+<.1 trillion in +223.[171] ?n +225 #!rope rem"ined the we"lthiest re ion. ?ts y4<.1 trillion in "ssets !nder m"n" ement represented one1third of the world's we"lth. ?t w"s one of sever"l re ions where we"lth s!rp"ssed its precrisis ye"r1end pe").[17+] $s with other continents, #!rope h"s " l"r e v"ri"tion of we"lth "mon its co!ntries. @he richer st"tes tend to be in the >estI some of the #"stern economies "re still emer in from the coll"pse of the *oviet %nion "nd -! osl"vi". @he #!rope"n %nion, "n inter overnment"l body composed of +< #!rope"n st"tes, comprises the l"r est sin le economic "re" in the world. 17 #% co!ntries sh"re the e!ro "s " common c!rrency. Hive #!rope"n co!ntries r"n) in the top ten of the world's l"r est n"tion"l economies in =AC (CCC). @his incl!des (r"n)s "ccordin to the C?$)F =erm"ny (9), the %K (7), '!ssi" (<), Hr"nce (3), "nd ?t"ly (12).[174] @here is h! e disp"rity between m"ny #!rope"n co!ntries in terms of their income. @he richest in terms of =AC per c"pit" is &on"co with its %*y1<+,7<7 per c"pit" (+225) "nd the poorest is &oldov" with its =AC per c"pit" of %*y1,741 (+212).[17:] &on"co is the richest co!ntry in terms of =AC per c"pit" in the world "ccordin to the >orld ("n) report.

Pre71!89: 6ndustrial gro5th

C"pit"lism h"s been domin"nt in the >estern world since the end of fe!d"lism.[179] Hrom (rit"in, it r"d!"lly spre"d thro! ho!t #!rope.[177] @he ?nd!stri"l 'evol!tion st"rted in #!rope, specific"lly the %nited Kin dom in the l"te 13th cent!ry,[17<] "nd the 15th cent!ry s"w >estern #!rope ind!stri"lise. #conomies were disr!pted by >orld >"r ? b!t by the be innin of >orld >"r ?? they h"d recovered "nd were h"vin to compete with the rowin economic stren th of the %nited *t"tes. >orld >"r ??, " "in, d"m" ed m!ch of #!rope's ind!stries.

1!8971!!#: -he Cold :ar

$fter >orld >"r ?? the economy of the %K w"s in " st"te of r!in,[173] "nd contin!ed to s!ffer rel"tive economic decline in the followin dec"des.[175] ?t"ly w"s "lso in " poor economic condition b!t re "ined " hi h level of rowth by the 1592s. >est =erm"ny recovered /!ic)ly "nd h"d do!bled prod!ction from pre1w"r levels by the 1592s.[1<2] Hr"nce "lso st" ed " rem"r)"ble comeb"c) enjoyin r"pid rowth "nd modernis"tionI l"ter on *p"in, !nder the le"dership of Hr"nco, "lso recovered, "nd the n"tion recorded h! e !nprecedented economic rowth be innin in the 1572s in wh"t is c"lled the *p"nish mir"cle.[1<1] @he m"jority of #"stern #!rope"n st"tes c"me !nder the control of the %**' "nd th!s were members of the Co!ncil for &!t!"l #conomic $ssist"nce (C,&#C,B).[1<+]

H"ll of the (erlin >"ll in 1535. @he st"tes which ret"ined " free1m"r)et system were iven " l"r e "mo!nt of "id by the %nited *t"tes !nder the &"rsh"ll Cl"n.[1<4] @he western st"tes moved to lin) their economies to ether, providin the b"sis for the #% "nd incre"sin cross border tr"de. @his helped them to enjoy r"pidly improvin economies, while those st"tes in C,&#C,B were str! lin in " l"r e p"rt d!e to the cost of the Cold >"r. %ntil 1552, the #!rope"n Comm!nity w"s e8p"nded from 7 fo!ndin members to 1+. @he emph"sis pl"ced on res!rrectin the >est =erm"n economy led to it overt")in the %K "s #!rope's l"r est economy.

1!!17"##1: 6ntegration and reunification

>ith the f"ll of comm!nism in #"stern #!rope in 1551, the post1soci"list st"tes be "n free m"r)et reformsF Col"nd, D!n "ry, "nd *loveni" "dopted them re"son"bly /!ic)ly, while %)r"ine "nd '!ssi" "re still in the process of doin so. $fter #"st "nd >est =erm"ny were re!nited in 1552, the economy of >est =erm"ny str! led "s it h"d to s!pport "nd l"r ely reb!ild the infr"str!ct!re of #"st =erm"ny.

%nemployment in the #!rope"n %nion in +212, "ccordin to #!rost"t. (y the millenni!m ch"n e, the #% domin"ted the economy of #!rope comprisin the five l"r est #!rope"n economies of the time n"mely =erm"ny, the %nited Kin dom, Hr"nce,

?t"ly, "nd *p"in. ?n 1555, 1+ of the 19 members of the #% joined the #!roJone repl"cin their former n"tion"l c!rrencies by the common e!ro. @he three who chose to rem"in o!tside the #!roJone wereF the %nited Kin dom, Aenm"r), "nd *weden.

"## 7"#1#: ;ecession

@his "rticle or section may be slanted to5ards recent e&ents4 Cle"se try to )eep recent events in historic"l perspective. ('a =>2>) &"in "rticlesF G"te +222s recession in #!rope "nd #!rope"n soverei n1debt crisis @he #!roJone entered its first offici"l recession in the third /!"rter of +223, offici"l fi !res confirmed in L"n!"ry +225.[1<:] >hile be innin in the %nited *t"tes the l"te1 +222s recession spre"d to #!rope r"pidly "nd h"s "ffected m!ch of the re ion.[1<9] @he #%1+< !nemployment r"te w"s 12.46 in $pril +21+.[1<7] #!rope's yo!n wor)ers h"ve been especi"lly h"rd hit.[1<<] ?n $pril +21+, the !nemployment r"te in the #%+< for those " ed 19E+: w"s ++.:6.[1<7] ?n e"rly +212, fe"rs of " soverei n debt crisis[1<3] developed concernin some co!ntries in #!rope, especi"lly =reece, ?rel"nd, *p"in, "nd Cort! "l.[1<5] $s " res!lt, me"s!res were t")en especi"lly for =reece by the le"din co!ntries of the #!roJone.[132]

Demographics
&"in "rticleF Aemo r"phics of #!rope *ee "lsoF Gist of #!rope"n co!ntries by pop!l"tion, #thnic ro!ps in #!rope, ?mmi r"tion to #!rope, #mi r"tion from #!rope, "nd $ ein of #!rope

Cop!l"tion rowth "nd decline in "nd "ro!nd #!rope in +212[131] *ince the 'en"iss"nce, #!rope h"s h"d " m"jor infl!ence in c!lt!re, economics "nd soci"l movements in the world. @he most si nific"nt inventions h"d their ori ins in the >estern world, prim"rily #!rope "nd the %nited *t"tes.[13+][134] $ppro8im"tely <2 million #!rope"ns died thro! h w"r, violence "nd f"mine between 151: "nd 15:9.[13:] *ome c!rrent "nd p"st iss!es in #!rope"n demo r"phics h"ve incl!ded reli io!s emi r"tion, r"ce rel"tions, economic immi r"tion, " declinin birth r"te "nd "n " in pop!l"tion.

?n some co!ntries, s!ch "s ?rel"nd "nd Col"nd, "ccess to "bortion is limited. ?t rem"ins ille "l on the isl"nd of &"lt". H!rthermore, three #!rope"n co!ntries (the Betherl"nds, (el i!m, "nd *witJerl"nd) "nd the $!tonomo!s Comm!nity of $nd"l!si" (*p"in)[139][137] h"ve "llowed " limited form of vol!nt"ry e!th"n"si" for some termin"lly ill people.

@he &or"vi"n *lov") cost!mes d!rin festiv"l ?n +229, the pop!l"tion of #!rope w"s estim"ted to be <41 million "ccordin to the %nited B"tions,[13<] which is sli htly more th"n one1ninth of the world's pop!l"tion. $ cent!ry " o, #!rope h"d ne"rly " /!"rter of the world's pop!l"tion.[133] @he pop!l"tion of #!rope h"s rown in the p"st cent!ry, b!t in other "re"s of the world (in p"rtic!l"r $fric" "nd $si") the pop!l"tion h"s rown f"r more /!ic)ly.[13<] $mon the continents, #!rope h"s " rel"tively hi h pop!l"tion density, second only to $si". @he most densely pop!l"ted co!ntry in #!rope ("nd in the world) is &on"co. C"n "nd Cfeil (+22:) co!nt 3< distinct 0peoples of #!rope0, of which 44 form the m"jority pop!l"tion in "t le"st one soverei n st"te, while the rem"inin 9: constit!te ethnic minorities.[135] $ccordin to %B pop!l"tion projection, #!rope's pop!l"tion m"y f"ll to "bo!t <6 of world pop!l"tion by +292, or 794 million people (medi!m v"ri"nt, 997 to <<< million in low "nd hi h v"ri"nts, respectively).[13<] >ithin this conte8t, si nific"nt disp"rities e8ist between re ions in rel"tion to fertility r"tes. @he "ver" e n!mber of children per fem"le of child be"rin " e is 1.9+.[152] $ccordin to some so!rces,[151] this r"te is hi her "mon &!slims in #!rope. @he %B predicts the ste"dy pop!l"tion decline of v"st "re"s of #"stern #!rope.[15+]

="lici"n b" pipers or gaiteiros in *p"in #!rope is home to the hi hest n!mber of mi r"nts of "ll lob"l re ions "t <2.7 million people, the ?,&'s report s"id.[154] ?n +229, the #% h"d "n over"ll net "in from immi r"tion of 1.3 million people. @his "cco!nted for "lmost 396 of #!rope's tot"l pop!l"tion rowth.[15:] @he #!rope"n %nion pl"ns to open the job centres for le "l mi r"nt wor)ers from $fric".[159][157] ?n +223, 757,222 persons were iven citiJenship of "n #%+< member st"te, " decre"se from <2<,222 the previo!s ye"r. @he l"r est ro!ps th"t "c/!ired citiJenship of "n #% member st"te were citiJens of &orocco, @!r)ey, #c!"dor, $l eri" "nd ?r"/.[15<] #mi r"tion from #!rope be "n with *p"nish "nd Cort! !ese settlers in the 17th cent!ry, [153][155] "nd Hrench "nd #n lish settlers in the 1<th cent!ry.[+22] (!t n!mbers rem"ined rel"tively sm"ll !ntil w"ves of m"ss emi r"tion in the 15th cent!ry, when millions of poor f"milies left #!rope.[+21] @od"y, l"r e pop!l"tions of #!rope"n descent "re fo!nd on every continent. #!rope"n "ncestry predomin"tes in Borth $meric", "nd to " lesser de ree in *o!th $meric" (p"rtic!l"rly in %r! !"y, $r entin", Chile "nd (r"Jil, while most of the other G"tin $meric"n co!ntries "lso h"ve " consider"ble pop!l"tion of #!rope"n ori ins). $!str"li" "nd Bew Ne"l"nd h"ve l"r e #!rope"n derived pop!l"tions. $fric" h"s no co!ntries with #!rope"n1derived m"jorities (or with the e8ception of C"pe ;erde "nd prob"bly *zo @om{ "nd Crqncipe, dependin on conte8t), b!t there "re si nific"nt minorities, s!ch "s the >hite *o!th $fric"ns. ?n $si", #!rope"n1derived pop!l"tions predomin"te in Borthern $si" (specific"lly '!ssi"ns), some p"rts of Borthern K"J")hst"n "nd ?sr"el.[+2+] $ddition"lly, tr"nscontinent"l or eo r"phic"lly $si"n co!ntries s!ch "s =eor i", $rmeni", $Jerb"ij"n, Cypr!s "nd @!r)ey h"ve pop!l"tions historic"lly closely rel"ted to #!rope"ns, with consider"ble enetic "nd c!lt!r"l "ffinity.

<anguage
&"in "rticleF G"n !" es of #!rope

&"p of m"jor #!rope"n l"n !" es #!rope"n l"n !" es mostly f"ll within three ?ndo1#!rope"n l"n !" e ro!psF the 'om"nce l"n !" es, derived from the G"tin of the 'om"n #mpireI the =erm"nic

l"n !" es, whose "ncestor l"n !" e c"me from so!thern *c"ndin"vi"I "nd the *l"vic l"n !" es.[194] *l"vic l"n !" es "re most spo)en by the n!mber of n"tive spe")ers in #!rope, they "re spo)en in Centr"l, #"stern, "nd *o!the"stern #!rope. 'om"nce l"n !" es "re spo)en prim"rily in so!th1western #!rope "s well "s in 'om"ni" "nd &oldov", in Centr"l or #"stern #!rope. =erm"nic l"n !" es "re spo)en in Borthern #!rope, the (ritish ?sles "nd some p"rts of Centr"l #!rope.[194] &"ny other l"n !" es o!tside the three m"in ro!ps e8ist in #!rope. ,ther ?ndo1 #!rope"n l"n !" es incl!de the ("ltic ro!p (th"t is, G"tvi"n "nd Gith!"ni"n), the Celtic ro!p (th"t is, ?rish, *cottish ="elic, &"n8, >elsh, Cornish, "nd (reton[194]), =ree), $rmeni"n, "nd $lb"ni"n. ?n "ddition, " distinct ro!p of %r"lic l"n !" es (#stoni"n, Hinnish, "nd D!n "ri"n) is spo)en m"inly in #stoni", Hinl"nd, "nd D!n "ry, while K"rtveli"n l"n !" es (=eor i"n, &in reli"n, "nd *v"n), "re spo)en prim"rily in =eor i", "nd two other l"n !" e f"milies reside in the Borth C"!c"s!s (termed Borthe"st C"!c"si"n, most not"bly incl!din Chechen, $v"r "nd GeJ in "nd Borthwest C"!c"si"n, not"bly incl!din $dy he). &"ltese is the only *emitic l"n !" e th"t is offici"l within the #%, while ("s/!e is the only #!rope"n l"n !" e isol"te. @!r)ic l"n !" es incl!de $Jerb"ij"ni "nd @!r)ish, in "ddition to the l"n !" es of minority n"tions in '!ssi". &!ltilin !"lism "nd the protection of re ion"l "nd minority l"n !" es "re reco niJed politic"l o"ls in #!rope tod"y. @he Co!ncil of #!rope Hr"mewor) Convention for the Crotection of B"tion"l &inorities "nd the Co!ncil of #!rope's #!rope"n Ch"rter for 'e ion"l or &inority G"n !" es set !p " le "l fr"mewor) for l"n !" e ri hts in #!rope.

;eligion

*t. Ceter's ("silic" in 'ome, the l"r est #!rope"n 'om"n C"tholic ch!rch &"in "rticleF 'eli ion in #!rope Distoric"lly, reli ion in #!rope h"s been " m"jor infl!ence on #!rope"n "rt, c!lt!re, philosophy "nd l"w. @he l"r est reli ion in #!rope is Christi"nity, with <7.+6 of #!rope"ns considerin themselves Christi"ns,[+24] incl!din C"tholic, #"stern ,rthodo8 "nd Crotest"nt Ch!rches. Hollowin these is ?sl"m concentr"ted m"inly in the ("l)"ns "nd e"stern #!rope ((osni" "nd DerJe ovin", $lb"ni", Kosovo, K"J")hst"n, Borth Cypr!s, @!r)ey, $Jerb"ij"n, Borth C"!c"s!s, "nd the ;ol "1%r"l re ion). ,ther

reli ions, incl!din L!d"ism, Dind!ism, "nd (!ddhism "re minority reli ions (tho! h @ibet"n (!ddhism is the m"jority reli ion of '!ssi"'s 'ep!blic of K"lmy)i"). @he +2th cent!ry s"w the reviv"l of Beop" "nism thro! h movements s!ch "s >icc" "nd Ar!idry. #!rope h"s become " rel"tively sec!l"r continent, with "n incre"sin n!mber "nd proportion of irreli io!s, "theist "nd " nostic people, "ct!"lly the l"r est[clari!ication needed] in the >estern world. @here "re " p"rtic!l"rly hi h n!mber of self1described non1reli io!s people in the CJech 'ep!blic, #stoni", *weden, =erm"ny (#"st), "nd Hr"nce.[+2:]

Culture
&"in "rticleF C!lt!re of #!rope *ee "lsoF #!rope"n "rt

Dance at &e 'o$lin de la Galette, 13<7, by Cierre1$! !ste 'enoir @he c!lt!re of #!rope c"n be described "s " series of overl"ppin c!lt!resI c!lt!r"l mi8es e8ist "cross the continent. @here "re c!lt!r"l innov"tions "nd movements, sometimes "t odds with e"ch other. @h!s the /!estion of 0common c!lt!re0 or 0common v"l!es0 is comple8. @he fo!nd"tion of #!rope"n c!lt!re w"s l"id by the =ree)s, stren thened by the 'om"ns, st"bilised by Christi"nity, reformed by the 19th1cent!ry 'en"iss"nce "nd 'eform"tion, modernised by the 13th cent!ry $ e of #nli htenment "nd lob"lised by s!ccessive #!rope"n empires between the 17th "nd +2th cent!ries.[citation needed] $ccordin to histori"n Dil"ire (elloc, for sever"l cent!ries the peoples of #!rope b"sed their self1identific"tion on the rem"inin tr"ces of the 'om"n c!lt!re "nd on the concept of Christendom, bec"!se m"ny #!rope"n1wide milit"ry "lli"nces were of reli io!s n"t!reF the Cr!s"des (1259E1+51), the 'econ/!ist" (<1111:5+), the ("ttle of Gep"nto (19<1).[+29]