The Idea of Europe

Stephen Brill

Preliminary

• Europe is both united and divided at the same time

• It’s hard to define Europe vs. European

• Since the Early Middle Ages Monarchs, popes, generals, and philosophers have attempted to implement cooperation between European provinces

Preliminary

• To better understand Europe it’s important to understand Europe’s

• History• Location• Political, Economic and Social “make-

up”• As well as Europe’s Culture

Europe’s Changing Identity

• The word Europe is thought to come from the Greek mythology: Europa

• The peak of the Roman Empire (200 BC to 400 AD) helped spread the concept of Europe as a ‘single cultural complex’

• The birth of Europe is often dated to the Early Middle Ages (500-1050)

• In the High Middle Ages (mid-eleventh century) commerce revived, leading to an increase in agricultural production and population growth

• By the fifteenth century it became more common for scholars to use the term Europe to describe European territories

Europe’s Changing Identity

• The Renaissance (roughly 1350-1550) let Europe to shift from the Church

• By the end of the 16th century Europeans had shifted to individualism and republicanism

• However, European unification had never been as strong as it had after World War II

• Today what unites Europeans is more distinct than what divides them

Where is Europe?

Europeanism

Key Features• Democracy• Parliamentary

government• Constitutional

patriotism• Cosmopolitanism• Multiculturalism• Communitarianism• Capitalism• Collective Society

• Welfarism• Sustainable

development• Secularism• Redefinition of the

family• Multilateralism• Smart power• Civilian power

Conclusions

• Europe has a rich history• The European mind-set after WWII

has dramatically altered the idea of Europe

• Europeans increasingly have more in common thanks to social and economic integration

BONUS: Fun Facts!

• The EU covers ¾ of the land area of Europe and accounts for 93% of economic wealth

• More than 50% of Europeans think of themselves as European

• There is no such thing as a European people or race

• Europe’s natives speak more than 40 different languages with 23 official languages

Questions?