Introduction: Europe in the World

One of the best ways to understand the significance of Europe's world position is to play with a globe, a tool much neglected nowadays by geographers. We see how Europe — conventionally and traditionally a continent — comprises in reality a collection of peninsulas, islands and epicontinental seas that form the western flank of the immense Eurasian landmass, itself truly the 'world island'. The globe's spherical form shows us clearly how fortunately situated Europe is amid the landmasses that form a mere three-tenths of the surface of our planet. It lies between the Americas and Africa and is firmly attached to Asia; centrally and focally located in the hemisphere that contains the greatest proportion of the earth's land and within…