lEurope

l'Europe, the French name for the continent Europe, is a landmass largely in the northern hemisphere. Its conventional boundaries are the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic to the west, the Mediterranean to the south, and the Ural Mountains to the east, separating it from Asia. Definitions vary, with some transcontinental areas included or excluded.

Europe comprises about 44 to 50 sovereign states, depending on whether transcontinental areas are included. The European Union has 27 member states as of 2024, and coordinates trade, regulation, and policy across much of western, southern, and central Europe. Other regional bodies include the Council of Europe and NATO; Russia and Turkey are often described as transcontinental.

Europe is home to roughly 750 million people and has highly developed economies with extensive urbanization and high living standards. The EU operates a single market and, for many members, the euro. Economic activity spans manufacturing, services, finance, and technology, though regional variation remains.

Historically, Europe shaped global civilization through ancient Greece and Rome, the medieval and Renaissance periods, the Scientific and Industrial Revolutions, and the modern era of nation-states and democracy. In the 20th century, Europe rebuilt after the world wars and moved toward regional integration culminating in the European Union.

Languages belong predominantly to the Indo-European family, with major tongues including English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Portuguese, and many others. Europe displays substantial cultural variety in art, literature, music, cuisine, and regional identities, alongside shared legal and political frameworks that promote cooperation, mobility, and cultural exchange.