Despite being one of the smallest areas in terms of land mass, the continent of Europe is certainly one of the most important and far-reaching. This begins in the west with the country of Ireland and is generally thought to end with the borders of Ukraine. however the western part of Russia could quite easily be included in this and Turkey sometimes claims to be a part of it too. As the mainland mass begins in Portugal and stretches all the way to Vladivostok on the eastern coast of Russia or even the Korean Peninsula, the actual ending of Europe and the beginning of Asia is somewhat debated.
Europe is a melting pot of cultures, religions and political beliefs. The first superpowers and Empire builders came from Europe. The British Empire, for example, was the largest in physical size ever recorded. France, Germany and The Netherlands all claimed colonies in Southeast Asia and Africa. The Spanish and Portuguese dominated South America. This has left a lasting legacy throughout the world that is still felt today.
Europeans are now seen as more progressive. To get a good insight into Europe one should read Alastair Campbell in theneweuropean.co.uk/contributor/alastair-campbell. This will give anybody new to the continent a sense of thought and Culture that is relevant there. It is clear that such a diverse and special collection of countries will still provide much in the way of thought and economic strength throughout the rest of the 21st century.