Chapter 6 continent in the ocean

All of us, without exception, live on this island of the earth.However, the area of ​​some islands far exceeds the area of ​​other islands, and these large islands are classified into one category, called "mainland".A continent, as the name implies, is a large piece of land that "owns" or "combines" more land than other small pieces of land, such as England, Madagascar, or a small island like Manhattan. However, the classification criteria are not strictly consistent.The three largest land masses on Earth—America, Asia, and Africa—are called continents for good reason.However, in the eyes of astronomers on Mars, Europe is just a peninsula jutting out of the Asian continent (it may be a little bigger than India), but it always calls itself a continent.As for Australia, if someone dares to say that this island is not big enough and not populous enough to be called a mainland, its residents will obviously go all out for their small island.In contrast, although Greenland is twice the size of the two largest islands on Earth—New Guinea and Borneo—combined, Eskimos are still willing to be ordinary people.The land area of ​​the Antarctic region is indeed the same size as the land area between the Arctic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. If the penguins in the Antarctic region were not so humble and docile, they could claim to be animals living on the mainland.

How these confusions came about is not known, but the development of geography has indeed suffered centuries of prejudice and ignorance.In those times, erroneous ideas abounded in geographical sources like those barnacles attached to the hulks (the ignorant ignorant) The Dark Ages lasted 1,400 years), barnacles continued to grow, and eventually they may be considered part of the hull of the ship. However, in order not to create new confusion, the continent is divided into five parts according to the generally popular view: Asia, America, Africa, Europe and Australia.In terms of area, Asia is 4.5 times that of Europe, America is 4 times that of Europe, Africa is 3 times, and Australia is hundreds of thousands of square miles smaller than Europe.In the geography manual, Asia, America, and Africa should all be ranked ahead of Europe. However, if not only the size of the area is considered, but also the influence of a region on the historical development of the entire world is taken into account, Europe must be ranked first. first place.

Let's look at the map first.You should look at the map more than read the text.As musical instruments are to music, water is to swimming, maps are to geography, they are all indispensable.When you look at the map carefully, of course, it is best to use a globe, you will find that the European peninsula is located in the center of the northern hemisphere with the most land, lying in the embrace of the three oceans of the Arctic Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea; It is located in the heart of the southern hemisphere, exactly in the center of the southern hemisphere with the widest sea surface.

Facing so many seas is Europe's greatest advantage, and it's not just that!Although Asia is four or five times larger than Europe, 25% of its land is too hot, and 25% of its land is located in the Arctic region, where there are no permanent residents except reindeer and polar bears. And in this regard, Europe is unique.The tip of Italy's toes, the southernmost tip of Europe, is 800 miles away from the tropics, though it's hot.Although Sweden and Norway in northern Europe have large territories within the Arctic Circle, thanks to the warmth and caress of the Gulf Stream, their coastal areas have a mild climate all year round, while Labrador Island at the same latitude is A world of ice and snow.

Moreover, Europe has oceans and more peninsulas that jut out into the interior.Think of Spain, Italy, Greece, the Baltic Sea, Denmark, Scandinavia, the North Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of ​​Marmara, the Bay of Biscay, and the Black Sea, and think of such things as Africa and South America, those What the mainland lacks most is these things.In Europe, almost every part of the continent can be embraced by the ocean, so winter is not cold and summer is not hot --- such a warm and pleasant climate is formed. The life is not easy, but it is not difficult. People are not as overwhelmed, and they are not as idle as Africans. The residents here, more than the common people anywhere, combine work and entertainment just right and effectively.

However, giving the Europeans world dominance (which they had killed themselves after the disastrous civil war of 1914-1918) did not Climate is just one factor, and geography played an important role in the rise of Europe.Of course, the formation of such a geographical location is purely accidental, and it is by no means the credit of any individual, but this does not affect the Europeans' profit from it.The mountains, rivers and waters of Europe today are shaped by ferocious volcanic eruptions, large-scale glacier invasions, and terrible flash floods. Countries naturally regard mountains as national boundaries; Trade flourished as a result, until the age of railroads and automobiles.

The Iberian Peninsula is cut off from the European continent by the Pyrenees Mountains, which are also the natural barriers of Spain and Portugal; the Alps also have the same effect on Italy; while hiding in the Cevennes, the Jura Sierra and Vosges Mountains Behind the three mountains lies the Great Plains of western France.The Carpathian Mountains face the vast Russian Great Plains, but they also protect Hungary behind them like a fortress.The Austrian Empire, which has played an important role in the history of the past 800 years, is at best a circular plain, but its neighbors are shut out by the mountains around it. If this wall did not exist, perhaps Austria The country would never have emerged.Germany, too, is not simply a product of politics.Its vast territory is backed by the ridges of the Alps and Bohemia, all the way to the Baltic Sea.And those islands, such as England or the small countries in the Aegean Sea of ​​ancient Greece, and the water city-states such as the Netherlands and Venice, are all natural fortresses. These seem to be the ingenuity of the creator, so that they can develop into independent political entities.

Not even Russia is an exception.It is often said that the centralization of personal power led to the birth of this country (for example, Peter the Great of the Romanov dynasty), but, in fact, it is the inevitable result of the development of natural forces.The Arctic Ocean, the Ural Mountains, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Carpathian Mountains and the Baltic Sea are surrounded by the vast Russian Great Plain. Putting this Great Plain under its own protection is just right for the birth of a highly centralized empire .After the collapse of the Romanov dynasty, the smooth preservation of the newly established Soviet Republic is a clear proof.

The flow direction of European rivers also plays the most important and most beneficial role in the economic development of the European continent.From Madrid to Moscow, all the rivers run from north to south, and every inland area can reach the sea directly.The determining factor in the formation of civilizations is often water rather than land.The prosperity and prosperity of Europe was brought about by these god-given waters, and the world hegemony of the European continent was also achieved by these god-given waters. The coveted crown of the Overlord is lost.Let the map prove my words. Compared with Europe, North America has two tall and majestic mountain ranges stretching parallel along the coastline on its east and west coasts. Between the two ranges is the vast and empty Midwestern Great Plains, where the Mississippi River and its tributaries are located. The only human sea channel, and their destination is the Gulf of Mexico (it can only be regarded as an inland sea) which is far away from the Atlantic Ocean and far away from the Pacific Ocean.Looking at Asia again, the surface structure is chaotic, the direction of the mountains is arbitrary, and the rivers flow in all directions in a chaotic manner.Among these numerous water systems, the most important rivers traverse the vast Siberian Great Plain and discharge into the Arctic Ocean. Except for some blessings for local fishermen, Asia has not gained any benefits from them.Compared with Europe, Australia has almost no rivers.In Africa, the rivers are squeezed by the vast central plains into the coastal mountains, and the rivers are forced to rush east and west between the cliffs, winding and twisting, and it is difficult for sea transportation to reach the inland through these rivers.In contrast, Europe has favorable river systems, suitable mountainous terrain, and because of the rugged coastal terrain, it has also created a coastline nine times longer than a neat coast (like Africa and Australia).In addition, its climate is warm and pleasant, and its geographical location is favorable in the center of the continental group.All of this destined the European continent to become the world leader.

However, innate conditions are not the decisive factor in all this. Human ingenuity also played an important role in European hegemony.The Nordic climate is comfortable and refreshing, which is very beneficial to people's mental activities.The climate of this place is neither too cold nor too hot, neither to interfere with leisure and comfort, nor to interfere with daily work, which can just rightly motivate people to do something.It is precisely because of this that as soon as the country is stable and laws and regulations are established (legal order is the basic guarantee for engaging in mental work), the Nordic residents immediately devote themselves to scientific exploration, and eventually use this to enslave and exploit the other four continents.

They are proficient in mathematics, astronomy and trigonometry, so they can confidently sail in the seven seas, no longer worry about not being able to find the return route; ), with which they could kill men and animals faster and more accurately than any other people or tribe in the world; they studied medicine, and were thus spared from the diseases that so often decimate populations around the world. Attack of the disease.Due to the barrenness of the land (compared to the Ganges plain and the mountains of Java) and the insatiable pursuit of quality of life, a deep-rooted habit of thrift and greed gradually breeds and develops in them, so that they often do whatever they can to get rich .For, without wealth, they are regarded as unfortunate losers and despised by their neighbors. Because of the introduction of the magical compass, Europeans got rid of the shackles of church spires and familiar coastlines, and began to gallop freely on the vast sea; because of the improvement of moving the rudder from the side to the stern (this innovation happened In the first half of the 14th century, it was the most important feat in the history of mankind, and it made people enjoy the joy of steering like never before), Europeans were taken out of those narrow inland seas, and from the Mediterranean The , North Sea, and Baltic Seas came out, and the vast Atlantic Ocean was used as a shipping route, and more distant military and commercial conquests began.Just in the middle of the planet's continental group --- this lucky geographical arrangement, they were finally able to make full use of it. Europeans maintained this advantage for 500 years.Steamships replaced sailing ships, and Europe's preeminence continued because cheap means of transportation were always favored by trade.Ancient military strategists believed that if a country can have the most powerful navy, the whole world will be dominated by the will of this country.They were right, and this law has been confirmed by history.First, Venice and Genoa replaced Norway, and in a blink of an eye, Venice and Genoa became the defeats of Portugal. Later, the Spaniards took the crown of world supremacy from the Portuguese, and the Netherlands became the new maritime supremacy. In the end, the British seized the supremacy again and drove the Dutch out of power.Every country that has ever dominated the world has at one time had the most powerful navy in the world at one time.However, today, the former glory of the ocean is gone, and the vast sky has rapidly risen to become the second largest commercial highway.Perhaps, the relegation of Europe to a second-rate continent is not all due to the World War. Once the machine that is heavier than air but can fly in the air comes out, its impact on the fate of Europe cannot be ignored. The son of a wool merchant in Genoa (Columbus——Translator's Note) discovered the infinite potential of the ocean, thereby rewriting the course of human history. And the infinite value of the sky is the owner of a humble bicycle repair shop in the suburbs of Dayton, Ohio (the Wright brothers, the pioneers of human aviation, and the inventors of airplanes. In 1903, they successfully piloted the first powered airplane, thus proclaiming The advent of the age of human flight --- Translator's Note) discovered.Perhaps, future children may not know who Columbus is, but they will not be unfamiliar with the names of Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright.Because, it was the talent and patience of these two brothers that gradually shifted the center of human civilization from the old world to the new world.