Europe is the second smallest continent on Earth. But its effect on the world is much larger. Humans arrived in Europe around 35,000 years ago. Since then, it has gone through lots of changes.
Early humans arrived in Europe around 35,000 years ago. They are called the Cro-Magnon. They lived in what is now France, Italy, and Germany. For thousands of years after that, many new groups came and went. There were many migrations.
In around 2,000 BC, we transitioned from Prehistoric to Ancient Europe. The first literate European civilization can be found here. They were called the Minoans. They were good at trading.
But in 1,600 BC they were taken over by the Mycenaean civilization. They were warriors. They conquered and controlled the Minoans. But this did not last for long. By 1,200 BC, they were gone.
After that, we see some of the most powerful civilizations of Europe. The Ancient Greeks and Romans. Ancient Greece was the birthplace of many modern practices. They studied math. They created new sports. They wrote plays and music.
The Romans changed the world, too. They created many new innovations such as roads through Europe. The Romans went through two main stages. First, they were a republic. There was no single leader of Rome. There was a government.
Then came the Roman Empire. It was first led by Augustus. It was during this time that Rome quickly grew. Between 98-117 AD, it included most of Europe and parts of Asia and Africa. It was not until 476 AD that Rome fell to Northern European armies.
The next important stage in Europe's history is medieval Europe, or the Middle Ages. It lasted for around 1,000 years. It is often called the Dark Ages. It is seen as a time of no scientific discovery. During this time, a disease known as Black Death killed 30% of Europe's population .
During the Middle Ages, the Church had lots of power. This power was given to Kings and Queens who ruled the land. Normal people gave 10% of their earnings to the Church. It made the Church very rich.
In the Middle Ages, Islam grew large. Cities such as Cairo and Baghdad became full of culture and intelligence. The Church was not happy about this. This was the start of the Crusades, religious wars lasting around 200 years.
Many religious buildings were built in the Middle Ages. Gothic cathedrals can be found all over the continent.
The Renaissance brought the end of the Middle Ages. It was a period of time inspired by the art and culture of Ancient Rome and Greece. Thinkers and artists challenged the Church's traditional doctrines. Many new discoveries were made during this time.
In the last 300 years, modern Europe has seen many changes too. The industrial revolution brought money to Britain and Western Europe. We saw the colonization of most of the world countries such as Spain and Britain. In the last 20 years, migrants have come from all over the world to live in Europe for a better life.
Europe's history is large and complex. Much of the modern world has its roots in Europe. Its influence, for good or bad, is hard to miss.