Europe
Welcome to Europe
Europe has been a world leader from the beginning of recorded history and today little has changed. From the Greeks to the Romans, Europe has seemingly been in the middle of the world when it comes to recorded histories, but more than this written word, it has been the leader of the world in terms of technology, communication, infrastructure, architecture, politics, and in numerous other ways.
It’s the long history and the monuments that have been erected that make Europe such an intriguing destination, but it’s the people that have created this history, these monuments, and these varying cultures. Since the Greeks, the Europeans as a whole have been adventurers and explorers. The Romans, the Vikings, the Crusaders, and later during the “Age of Discovery” and world exploration, Europe has led the world and has incorporated aspects of these foreign influences into their own culture, while leaving traces of themselves in all these foreign places.
Much of the Americas and Australasia today are the result of European colonization as Portuguese, Spanish, English, and French are the dominate languages, but more importantly, these countries are truly based on European culture. Although Europeans also colonized much of Africa and Asia, they didn’t dominate the locals nor did they install their own culture in place of the local’s. However, what the Europeans did do in these areas was to give them their knowledge, while taking back with them varying foods, spices, minerals, and ways of life.
It has always been the Europeans’ ability to adapt to foreign cultures, while recognizing the value in the differences and embracing those differences for their own gain or enjoyment. Unlike the Europe of 1,000 years ago, Europe today is truly a reflection of the world. In many large cities this is easy to see in minorities, foreign languages, and ethnic foods. However, deeper down, European society has accepted more than just this.
Despite Europe’s ability to adopt foreign influences, the people have found ways to incorporate only enough of these influences, never replacing their culture altogether. These adaptations and a need to forever lead the world have struck a balance in Europe between outside influence and traditional aspects of everyday life. Europe remains truly authentic to itself and this is best spotted when moving from a quaint village to the bustling cities that display modernism like never before, whether that be in the form of a building or a teenager’s outfit. Europe is forever adaptable and the people you find in the busy train station or in a hidden village shop will show you what Europe truly has to offer.