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The Western world, also known as the West, primarily refers to various nations and states in the regions of Australasia, [ a] Western Europe, [ b] and Northern America; with some debate as to whether those in Eastern Europe and Latin America [ c] also constitute the West. [ 5][ 6][ 7] The Western world likewise is called the Occident (from ...
Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's extent varies depending on context. The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the ancient Mediterranean world, the Roman Empire (both Western and Eastern ), and medieval "Christendom". Beginning with the Renaissance and the ...
Europe, the westernmost portion of Eurasia, is often divided into regions and subregions based on geographical, cultural or historical factors. Since there is no universal agreement on Europe's regional composition, the placement of individual countries may vary based on criteria being used.
The Iberian Peninsula (IPA: / aɪ ˈ b ɪər i ə n /), [a] also known as Iberia, [b] is a peninsula in south-western Europe, defining the westernmost edge of Eurasia.Separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of Peninsular Spain [c] and Continental Portugal, comprising most of the region, as well as the tiny adjuncts of Andorra, the British ...
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east. Europe shares the landmass of Eurasia with Asia, and of Afro-Eurasia with both Asia and Africa.
The coast of Europe is heavily indented with bays and gulfs, as here in Greece. Europe's most significant geological feature is the dichotomy between the highlands and mountains of Southern Europe and a vast, partially underwater, northern plain ranging from Great Britain in the west to the Ural Mountains in the east.
Amerigo Vespucci wakes up "America" in Americae Retectio, engraving by the Flemish artist Jan Galle (circa 1615) Systematic European colonization began in 1492. A Spanish expedition sailed west in order to find a new trade route to the Far East, the source of spices, silks, porcelains, and other rich trade goods.
The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD 500), the Middle Ages (AD 500–1500), and the modern era (since AD 1500). The first early European modern humans appear in the fossil record about 48,000 years ago, during the Paleolithic era.