Europe is a continent had a total population of about 746 million (about 10% of the world population) in 2018.
European culture is the root of Western civilization, which traces its lineage back to ancient Greece and ancient Rome. Renaissance humanism, exploration, art, and science led to the modern era. Since the Age of Discovery, started by Portugal and Spain, Europe played a predominant role in global affairs. The EU originated in Western Europe but has been expanding eastward since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. The currency of most countries of the European Union, the euro, is the most commonly used among Europeans; and the EU’s Schengen Area abolishes border and immigration controls between most of its member states and some non-member states. There exists a political movement favoring the evolution of the European Union into a single federation encompassing.