Last Updated on March 9, 2021 by Filip Poutintsev
Situated completely in the northern hemisphere, the continent of Europe ranks sixth in the world in terms of area. It was from here that the industrial revolution started in the eighteenth century.
Since then, the countries in Europe had set up colonies in almost every continent of the world. Europe has been a great influence on the history of the world in the development of politics, culture, geographical discoveries, and scientific research.
European History
Often referred to as ‘the old continent’, the first humans appeared in this area about 35,000 BC. Then in the 27th century B.C., the Minoan civilization began flourishing in the Crete as a literate society. Minoans had a system of administration and built elaborate palaces for it. At around 16,000 BCE, the Mycenaean civilization followed the Minoans. Cities were built and the system of warrior aristocracy was established.
Roughly around 7th century BC, Ancient Greece dawned. The culture of the ancient Greeks, along with some influences from the ancient Orient, prevailed throughout classical antiquity Great minds like Socrates and Plato were born. King Philip II united the Greek states, and his son, Alexander the Great, extended the great culture to other states. These ideals were well preserved and imitated by the Romans.
Later during the Middle Ages, the population increased due to the Vikings, Mongols, Huns, and many other people that arrived and settled in the area. This era was filled with even more conflict and dark times. Around the year 500, the majority of Europe had accepted Christianity, but Rome had continually weakened.
Dark Ages began and culture and economy began deteriorating. It took hundreds of years for Europe to show signs of recovery. In the 14th century, the Renaissance brought about awakening and philosophy, arts, science, and social studies began flourishing. The Renaissance spread to many countries and lasted until the 17th century.
The industrial revolution in the 18th century and wars such as the 30-Year-War (1618-1648), the French Revolution (1789) and the two World Wars in the 20th century largely shape Europe’s modern history. After the wars ended, Europe aimed for a more united group of nations. This led to the establishment of the European Union in 1993. Today, Europe is one of the most prosperous and civilized places in the world.
Disadvantages of Living in Europe
Home to some of the most-visited countries in the world, fascinating history, spectacular art and towering feats of nature, Europe houses 50 countries and more than 742 million inhabitants. However, living in Europe is remarkably different from living in any other continent on Earth especially because of diverse cultures and languages. Despite numerous upsides, there are a few cons of living in Europe. Let’s take a look at some.
1. Bureaucracy
The bad side of Europe is its vast bureaucracy. In most cases, the state sees itself as far more important than its citizens. Worried about security and prosperity, people are losing trust in democratic institutions due to weak leadership and oversized bureaucracy.
2. High Tax
The taxes exceed 40 per cent in some European countries. Although government services are comparatively better, high tax rates hit a lot of people’s lives hard.
3. High Cost of Living
The cost of living in Europe is generally much higher than in the rest of the world. Although there are are plenty of exceptions, you should expect to pay a lot more for basics like clothes, food, and properties if you plan on moving to Europe.
4. Language
In Europe, very few people can speak any other language apart from the local language, which can be frustrating as a tourist. Besides, you can almost say that there is a new language is every other city. Even the authorities are unable to solve your issues if you don’t speak in the local language.
5. Everything is Old
Europe is an old continent and it won’t be wrong to say that everything here is old. This includes plumbing, electrical systems, and facilities in general. Even in England, the great colonizer of nations, they are still working on getting hot and cold water to come out of the same tap at the same time.
6. Customer Service
In Europe, customers are viewed as an obstacle to a quiet day. This means the customer service you get in Europe may not be quite as friendly, smiling, and helpful as you’d expect.
7. Smoking Habit
While Europe is very progressive and environmentally and health-conscious, they sure do love their cigarettes. Everyone smokes and they do it everywhere. It is very difficult to get a smoking-free zone, cabin or a rental car. Your clothes will likely end up smelling like an ashtray.
8. Entertainment
The whole world is obsessed with the entertainment industry. However, in Europe the majority of films, TV shows, and music are American exports, often sadly overdubbed with mismatching voices.
9. Weather
Major parts of Europe gets cold and chilly weather throughout the year. Those who love the summer beach sessions would find Europe a bit boring. Additionally, the average time spent outdoors is much less in the central and northern European countries.
10. Health and Food
There is an irony about health in Europe. Normally, Europe is seen to be the healthiest region in the world with all the countries doing economically very well, people with good living standards, clean environment and no pollution whatsoever. Moreover, most of the European countries claim to be equipped with the best healthcare facilities.
But the virus outbreak like COVID 19 (2019-2020), has raised some questions about the immunity power of the people living in Europe. With the majority of the European population being above 45 years, the type of food eaten in Europe gives no evidence that they boost their immunity power to fight diseases.
Conclusion
Living in Europe means a whole new range of exciting cultures and architecture. Although living in all of the European countries isn’t the same, life in Europe isn’t suitable for everyone. Not everything is as cheery and great in Europe, and you must look through the details and learn the language before making the move.
