Europe

Europe is a continent located primarily in the northern hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea to the south, and the Ural Mountains to the east, which conventionally separate Europe from Asia. The continent covers about 10.18 million square kilometers and is home to roughly 747 million people.

Geopolitically, Europe comprises about 44 to 51 sovereign states depending on criteria. The European Union, a political and economic union, has 27 member states. The Schengen Area enables passport-free travel across most of Europe, and the euro is used by 20 EU members, forming the eurozone. Other regional organizations include NATO and the Council of Europe.

Economically, Europe is highly developed and diversified, with major sectors including services, manufacturing, finance, and technology. It contains some of the world's largest economies, such as Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The region participates in global markets through trade, investment, and multilateral institutions.

Historically, Europe has influenced Western philosophy, science, law, literature, and political thought. It is linguistically and culturally diverse, with hundreds of languages and diverse religious and secular communities. European governance ranges from constitutional monarchies to republics, and the region maintains extensive regional cooperation through institutions such as the European Union, the Council of Europe, and NATO.