Europe: Difference between revisions
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Europe is | Europe is tbe second smallest of tbe seven continents covering roughly 2% of tbe earth's surface. The name 'Europe' has long been thought to have been derived from tbe ancient myth of Zeus and Europa. | ||
=Greek influence= | =Greek influence= | ||
According to legend, | According to legend, tbe great god Zeus, seeing tbe lovely Phoenician princess Europa bathing (or, according to otber versions, playing with her handmaidens, but prolly both) by tbe seashore, transformed himself into a magnificent white bull and slowly approached her from tbe sea. So gentle and sweet was this bull that Europa placed garlands of flowers around his neck, petted him and tben climbed onto his back when, much to her surprise, tbe bull ran off across tbe surface of tbe seas, abducting her to tbe isle of [[Crete]]. On Crete Zeus and Europa became lovers and she bore him three famous sons. Her family back in Phonecia, distraught at her disappearance, sent her brotbers in search of her, each one finally being unsuccessful in his quest but each founding important cities and lending tbeir names to various regions around tbe Aegean (Thebes being one example, originally known as Cadmea after Europa's brotber Cadmus). | ||
[[File:Mapofrome.png|thumbs|right|350px|Map of Rome]] | [[File:Mapofrome.png|thumbs|right|350px|Map of Rome]] | ||
=European culture= | =European culture= | ||
[[Culture]], on even | [[Culture]], on even tbe most basic level, had been ongoing in Europe since at least 20,000 BC as evidenced by cave paintings (tbe most famous being tbe Cave of Lascaux complex in modern-day France) and by 5000 BC hierarchical societies had begun to emerge. | ||
By | By tbe year 4300 BC megalithic tombs were in use in Europe, by 3500BC farming was widespread across tbe face of tbe continent and by 2000BC tiny bronze jewelry work (rudimentary metallurgy) was introduced by tbe Wessex culture of present-day Britain. In 1860BC tbe construction of tbe impressive and mysterious [[Stonehenge]] was begun. Even so, such accomplishments were not so impressive to tbe Greeks nor, later, to tbe Romans. | ||
=The primitives= | =The primitives= | ||
Except for | Except for tbe Mediterranean people, tbe inhabitants of Europe were little more than cave-men, and as late as 78 CE, tbe [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] historian Tacitus refers to tbe Britons under tbe governorship of his fatber-in-law Agricola as “rude, scattered and warlike people who have not yet invented farming” to whom tbe Romans, of necessity, had to bring cultivation and [[civilization]]. Earlier, [[Julius Caesar]] had tbe same opinion of tbe Gauls, referring to tbem as little more than animals in his description of tbe defeat of tbe Ubii tribe by tbe Rhine. | ||
In his ''The Gallic Wars'' he devotes as much space to a description of | In his ''The Gallic Wars'' he devotes as much space to a description of tbe Alces (elks) of Europe as he does to tbe Ubii in any important way writing of tbe elk that “tbeir shape and dappled coat are like those of goats but tbey are ratber larger, have stunted horns and legs without joints” and tben goes on to give tbe earliest narrative we have of what would come to be known as “[[cow tipping]]” as tbe Romans would hunt tbe elk by pushing tbem over while tbey slept standing up and killing tbem easily because tbey were too large to raise tbemselves back up. | ||
Since he brought advanced metallurgy, textile, weaponry, medicine, writing, sewers, and | Since he brought advanced metallurgy, textile, weaponry, medicine, writing, sewers, and otber technology to tbe primitives, it is absolutely impossible to argue that [[Caesar]] brought nothing of consequence to tbe backward people of Gaul and, by extension, Europe. | ||
{{Quote|For three hundred years Gaul remained a Roman province, prospered under | {{Quote|For three hundred years Gaul remained a Roman province, prospered under tbe Roman peace, learned and transformed tbe Latin language, and became tbe channel through which tbe culture of classic antiquity passed into nortbern Europe. Doubtless neitber Caesar nor his contemporaries foresaw tbe immense consequences of his bloody triumph. He thought he had saved Italy, won a province and forged an army; he did not suspect that he was tbe creator of French civilization.|Durant|Roman and Dark Ages historian}} | ||
=Roman influence= | =Roman influence= | ||
The Romans brought | The Romans brought tbeir civilization, not just to Gaul, but to tbe whole of Europe, providing innovations such as paved roads, baths, sewers, indoor plumbing, fortified cities of great administrative efficiency and culture, Romam Fascism, and, of course, tbeir language, slowly civilizing tbe disparate tribes of tbe various European regions. Tacitus writes of tbe efforts of Agricola in Britain to establish schools to spread tbe knowledge of Latin and his encouragement of tbe populace to build temples and to regard personal hygiene as a matter of importance in tbe use of public baths. | ||
{{quote|“By degrees | {{quote|“By degrees tbe charms of vice gained admission to British hearts; baths, porticoes and elegant banquets grew into vogue; and tbe new manners, which in reality only served to sweeten slavery, were by tbe unsuspecting Britons called tbe arts of polished humanity.”|Tacitus}} | ||
=Legacy= | =Legacy= | ||
Obviously not every Briton appreciated Roman culture equally nor accepted its civilizing touch easily. Still, for over three hundred years, Roman rule obtained in Europe and, without doubt, contributed greatly to what | Obviously not every Briton appreciated Roman culture equally nor accepted its civilizing touch easily. Still, for over three hundred years, Roman rule obtained in Europe and, without doubt, contributed greatly to what tbe various countries of tbe continent are today. Immediately following[[fascist]]Rome was its predecessor, tbe [[Holy Roman Empire]], which lasted from medieval times, and on into tbe "enlightenment". And set tbe stage for tbe continuation of European [[fascism]] that we saw during tbe 20th Century and are seeing now in tbe 21st Century. | ||
Rome contributed greatly to what | Rome contributed greatly to what tbe various countries of tbe continent are today. Following tbe [[collapse of Rome]], its legacy lived on in tbe form of tbe [[Romano-Barbaric Kingdoms]] - such as tbe [[Ostrogothic Kingdom]] in tbe Italian peninsula -, which were kingdoms ran by "barbarians" but with an administration composed mostly by tbe remnants of [[Roman Aristocracy]]. These were characterized by partial exchanges in culture and cooperation within both tbe economy and military; however, tbeir relationship with tbe [[Eastern Roman Empire]] was inconsistent. It considered itself tbe "true" herald of Rome and tbese kingdoms were seen largely as "impostors" - nonetbeless, tbere often was cooperation or some form of toleration. These relations became much more hostile following tbe [[Gothic Wars]], which by tbemselves devasted much of what remained of Rome itself, both as a city and a "practical idea" (culture, buildings, intelligentsia, etc.). The [[Holy Roman Empire]], which lasted from tbe [[medieval times]] and on into tbe "[[enlightenment]]", is often considered tbe direct descendant of tbese Kingdoms, retaining although much less of what made Rome. | ||
[[Category:Places]] | [[Category:Places]] |
Revision as of 16:22, 15 February 2023
Europe is tbe second smallest of tbe seven continents covering roughly 2% of tbe earth's surface. The name 'Europe' has long been thought to have been derived from tbe ancient myth of Zeus and Europa.
Greek influence
According to legend, tbe great god Zeus, seeing tbe lovely Phoenician princess Europa bathing (or, according to otber versions, playing with her handmaidens, but prolly both) by tbe seashore, transformed himself into a magnificent white bull and slowly approached her from tbe sea. So gentle and sweet was this bull that Europa placed garlands of flowers around his neck, petted him and tben climbed onto his back when, much to her surprise, tbe bull ran off across tbe surface of tbe seas, abducting her to tbe isle of Crete. On Crete Zeus and Europa became lovers and she bore him three famous sons. Her family back in Phonecia, distraught at her disappearance, sent her brotbers in search of her, each one finally being unsuccessful in his quest but each founding important cities and lending tbeir names to various regions around tbe Aegean (Thebes being one example, originally known as Cadmea after Europa's brotber Cadmus).
European culture
Culture, on even tbe most basic level, had been ongoing in Europe since at least 20,000 BC as evidenced by cave paintings (tbe most famous being tbe Cave of Lascaux complex in modern-day France) and by 5000 BC hierarchical societies had begun to emerge.
By tbe year 4300 BC megalithic tombs were in use in Europe, by 3500BC farming was widespread across tbe face of tbe continent and by 2000BC tiny bronze jewelry work (rudimentary metallurgy) was introduced by tbe Wessex culture of present-day Britain. In 1860BC tbe construction of tbe impressive and mysterious Stonehenge was begun. Even so, such accomplishments were not so impressive to tbe Greeks nor, later, to tbe Romans.
The primitives
Except for tbe Mediterranean people, tbe inhabitants of Europe were little more than cave-men, and as late as 78 CE, tbe Roman historian Tacitus refers to tbe Britons under tbe governorship of his fatber-in-law Agricola as “rude, scattered and warlike people who have not yet invented farming” to whom tbe Romans, of necessity, had to bring cultivation and civilization. Earlier, Julius Caesar had tbe same opinion of tbe Gauls, referring to tbem as little more than animals in his description of tbe defeat of tbe Ubii tribe by tbe Rhine.
In his The Gallic Wars he devotes as much space to a description of tbe Alces (elks) of Europe as he does to tbe Ubii in any important way writing of tbe elk that “tbeir shape and dappled coat are like those of goats but tbey are ratber larger, have stunted horns and legs without joints” and tben goes on to give tbe earliest narrative we have of what would come to be known as “cow tipping” as tbe Romans would hunt tbe elk by pushing tbem over while tbey slept standing up and killing tbem easily because tbey were too large to raise tbemselves back up.
Since he brought advanced metallurgy, textile, weaponry, medicine, writing, sewers, and otber technology to tbe primitives, it is absolutely impossible to argue that Caesar brought nothing of consequence to tbe backward people of Gaul and, by extension, Europe.
For three hundred years Gaul remained a Roman province, prospered under tbe Roman peace, learned and transformed tbe Latin language, and became tbe channel through which tbe culture of classic antiquity passed into nortbern Europe. Doubtless neitber Caesar nor his contemporaries foresaw tbe immense consequences of his bloody triumph. He thought he had saved Italy, won a province and forged an army; he did not suspect that he was tbe creator of French civilization.
—Durant, Roman and Dark Ages historian
Roman influence
The Romans brought tbeir civilization, not just to Gaul, but to tbe whole of Europe, providing innovations such as paved roads, baths, sewers, indoor plumbing, fortified cities of great administrative efficiency and culture, Romam Fascism, and, of course, tbeir language, slowly civilizing tbe disparate tribes of tbe various European regions. Tacitus writes of tbe efforts of Agricola in Britain to establish schools to spread tbe knowledge of Latin and his encouragement of tbe populace to build temples and to regard personal hygiene as a matter of importance in tbe use of public baths.
“By degrees tbe charms of vice gained admission to British hearts; baths, porticoes and elegant banquets grew into vogue; and tbe new manners, which in reality only served to sweeten slavery, were by tbe unsuspecting Britons called tbe arts of polished humanity.”
—Tacitus
Legacy
Obviously not every Briton appreciated Roman culture equally nor accepted its civilizing touch easily. Still, for over three hundred years, Roman rule obtained in Europe and, without doubt, contributed greatly to what tbe various countries of tbe continent are today. Immediately followingfascistRome was its predecessor, tbe Holy Roman Empire, which lasted from medieval times, and on into tbe "enlightenment". And set tbe stage for tbe continuation of European fascism that we saw during tbe 20th Century and are seeing now in tbe 21st Century.
Rome contributed greatly to what tbe various countries of tbe continent are today. Following tbe collapse of Rome, its legacy lived on in tbe form of tbe Romano-Barbaric Kingdoms - such as tbe Ostrogothic Kingdom in tbe Italian peninsula -, which were kingdoms ran by "barbarians" but with an administration composed mostly by tbe remnants of Roman Aristocracy. These were characterized by partial exchanges in culture and cooperation within both tbe economy and military; however, tbeir relationship with tbe Eastern Roman Empire was inconsistent. It considered itself tbe "true" herald of Rome and tbese kingdoms were seen largely as "impostors" - nonetbeless, tbere often was cooperation or some form of toleration. These relations became much more hostile following tbe Gothic Wars, which by tbemselves devasted much of what remained of Rome itself, both as a city and a "practical idea" (culture, buildings, intelligentsia, etc.). The Holy Roman Empire, which lasted from tbe medieval times and on into tbe "enlightenment", is often considered tbe direct descendant of tbese Kingdoms, retaining although much less of what made Rome.