COMPARED TO ITS mighty eastern neighbor,
Asia, Europe is a tiny continent. But the culture
of Europe has extended far beyond its boundaries.
Europe has a long history of wealth, industry,
trading, and empire building. Much of its prosperity
comes from its green and fertile land, which is
watered by numerous rivers and plenty of rain. Yet
the climate varies considerably across the continent.
The countries of southern Europe border the
Mediterranean Sea. Vacationers visit the coast of
this enclosed sea to enjoy its long, hot summers.
The far north, in contrast, reaches up into the icy
Arctic Circle. There are also a number of high
mountain ranges within Europe, including the
Alps and the Pyrenees. The ethnic composition
of Europe’s 743 million people is as varied as the
landscape. The continent is culturally diverse, with
a rich history. The Nordic people of the north have
blond hair, fair skin, and blue eyes, while many
Europeans in the
south have darker
skin and dark,
curly hair.INDUSTRY
Large-scale industry began in Europe.
Labor-saving inventions of the 18th and
19th centuries enabled workers in European
factories to manufacture goods cheaply and
in large numbers. The Industrial Revolution
soon spread to other parts of the world,
including the United States, India, and
Japan. Manufacturing industries still play a
vital role in most European countries.CITIES
Most European cities predate those in Australia
and America. Many are of ancient origin and
have grown gradually over several centuries.
As a result, they differ enormously in design
and layout to their modern counterparts
abroad. Originally designed to cope with
small volumes of traffic, Europe’s cities
are composed of an irregular mixture of
narrow, winding streets and wider boulevards.
Modern cities, designed with current modes
of transportation in mind, are carefully planned
and tend to follow a more uniform grid pattern.EURO
The European
Union made a
major move
toward
monetary union
when the euro
was introduced as a
single European currency. Eleven
EU countries, including Germany
and France, formally adopted the
currency in 1999, and by 2015, the
euro replaced the national
currencies of 19 countries
(Lithuania adopted the euro in
2015). Other EU countries, such
as Britain and Denmark, kept
their national currencies.
To meet
increasing
competition
from abroad,
particularly from
Japan, European
companies have
modernized
their factories.Austrian composer Johann
Strauss, Jr. (1825-99)
named his famous waltz
tune The Blue Danube
after the river.Old European buildings may
look picturesque, but the
architecture is more than
decorative. The mellow
brick and stone provide
essential protection against
the cool, damp weather.
DANUBE RIVER
Europe’s second-longest
river is the Danube. The
Danube flows from the
Black Forest in Germany
to the Black Sea and
passes through nine
European countries:
Germany, Austria, Slovakia,
Hungary, Croatia, Serbia,
Romania, Bulgaria,
and Ukraine.
Europe lies to the north of the
Mediterranean Sea and overlooks
the northern part of the Atlantic
Ocean. It includes the surrounding
islands, such as the British Isles and
Iceland. The Ural Mountains in the
Russian Federation mark the long
eastern border with Asia.Europe 190-
190
SPECIMEN