Europe

The only continent on [[earth]] not starting with a capital [[A]], but a capital [[E]] instead.

Continent stretching from the [[North Sea]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in the west to the [[Ural Mountains]] in the east. From the [[Mediterranean Sea]] in the south to the [[North Pole]]. Europe is the western fifth of the [[Eurasian]] landmass.

Perhaps the name Europe is derived from [[Europa]], but probably things are the other way around or the explanation is based on a coincidence (as with the [[Myrmidons]]).

Europe hat a long history of great cultural and economic achievement, starting as far back as the [[Bronze Age]]. From the 15th century European nations, particularly [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[France]], and [[Britain]], built large colonial empires, with vast holdings in [[Africa]], [[America]], and [[Asia]]. The [[Industrialization]] started in 18th century from here. After [[World War Two]] and in the ColdWar Europe was divided in two major political and economic blocs. [[Communist]] nations in Eastern Europe and [[Capitalistic]] countries in Western Europe. Arround 1990 the Eastern bloc broke up.   See HistoryOfEurope.

Europe comprises at the beginning of the year 2001 the following countries:
    AlbaniA,
    AndorrA,
    AustriA,
    [[Belarus]],
    [[Belgium]],
    [[Bosnia Herzegovina]],
    [[Bulgaria]],
    [[Croatia]],
    [[Czech Republic]],
    [[Denmark]],
    [[Estonia]],
    [[Finland]],
    [[France]],
    [[Germany]] (Federal Republic of)
    [[Greece]],
    [[Hungary]],
    [[Iceland]],
    [[Ireland]] (Republic of),
    [[Italy]],
    [[Latvia]],
    [[Liechtenstein]],
    [[Lithuania]],
    [[Luxemburg]],
    [[Macedonia]] (Former Yugoslav Republic of)
    [[Moldova]],
    [[Monaco]],
    [[Netherlands]] (sometimes called [[Holland]]),
    [[Norway]],
    [[Poland]],
    [[Portugal]],
    [[Romania]],
    [[Russia]],
    [[Slovakia]],
    [[San Marino]],
    [[Slovenia]],
    [[Spain]],
    [[Sweden]],
    [[Switzerland]],
    [[Turkey]] (Republic of)
    [[Ukraine]],
    [[United Kingdom]] (sometimes called [[Britain]] or [[Great Britain]],
    [[Vatican]],
    [[Yugoslavia]] (Federal Republic of)