Europe: Historical Currents

The beginnings of civilization in Europe can be traced to very ancient times; the necropolis at Varna in Bulgaria and Stonehenge in England are among the remains of early European cultures that are otherwise lost. Greek and Roman cultures subsequently flourished in Europe, and European civilization—language, technology, political concepts, and the Christian religion—have been spread throughout the world by European colonists and immigrants. Throughout history, Europe has been the scene of many great and destructive wars that have ravaged both rural and urban areas. Once embraced by vast and powerful empires and kingdoms, successful nationalistic uprisings (especially in the 19th cent.) divided the continent into many sovereign states. The political fragmentation led to economic competition and political strife among the states.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Modern History
• Historical Currents
• Economy and Transportation
• People
• Regions
• Climate
• Physical Geography
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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