Europe as an autonomous region of the world has no cultural reality but involves much rewriting of history.
Greece, the imagined birthplace of Europe, was an outpost of the Near East and Egypt, and in fact engaged with the principal cultures there. I suggest that many of the stories within the Old Testament, bear the hand of Greek literary styles and techniques as Greek writings wear the impress of Near Eastern and Egyptian literature. The Greek gods came from Anatolia and the Near East. As did of course the god-human collaboration of Christianity.
Of course, Greece had been deeply involved in the Near East since Minoan and Mycenean times. Of interest is the turned up shoes of the Etruscans, known now to be indigenous, which resemble Hittite footware.
In Iberia, different ethnic groups had settled there, some from Anatolia and others from North Africa. While the modern concept of European, white with fair hair, emerged in northern Europe from the plains of present day Russia these were still mixed groups. To any extent it is applicable and indicates environments rather than innate differences European types mingled with Tatars and out of that combination political systems arose. Many Europeans are and have been for centuries Muslim, most living in the peninsula are not white (sic) or had white ancestors. The expression of the Crusaders was derived from the rampaging Vikings and not of a superior culture. European dominance arrived only recently.
Very good introduction Stanley Wilkin Reformation and enlightenment are Europe; otherwise, it does not exist. Formula=No enlightenment=no Europe.
Stephen, even that cannot be accepted but I guess you might have a point. Reformations nevertheless were known in China. What is not clear is democracy as Athens does not quite fit this.
More on oppression: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382214794_NEW_EDITION'_Antifragility_Anti-Aging_ANTI-racism
This opening of the discussion provides a terrible picture of "European" culture: As if all of it was "stolen" from others. As if "European" had to do with "whiteness". Etc. It is just ridiculous, and this terrible and ridiculous depiction reflects the "woke" myths of our times, not any reality in the past.
So, short answer to this discussion: This is a wrong myth about Europe.
The correct narrative about Europe should consider e.g.: Taking up the heritage of antiquity in the Latin West. By Charlemagne's Karolingean Renaissance, e.g., then by the Renaissance. The key concept of this ancient heritage is philosophy, especially rationalism. Therefore, the Enlightenment.
This "Western" civilization is open for all the world. The Europeans were only the first ones to develop it. It is not necessarily bound to the "West". Everybody is invited to develop accordingly. It is just like with the invention of writing: It had to happen somewhere, but all others were happy to take over the invention.
Thorwald,
Words such as 'terrible' and 'stolen' can hardly reflect what i wrote rather than my attempt to demystify the concepts and constructs behind our understanding of Europe based on the dubious perception of inhabitation by a single race exampled by Western Europe. The trouble is, this is not history or anthropology or cultural truth.
Not sure where 'woke' comes into this as its unproblematic history I push and greater historical understanding. Many different 'racial' and 'cultural' groups inhabit the continent and awareness of that should be welcomed.
I think it is important to remember what "myth" is. Myth is used often in popular culture to mean something that is false or deceptive, a made-up story that is not true. In anthropology, however, myth is defined as a well-known story that explains primary principles, beliefs, and values outside of chronological time. Pieces of a myth may or may not be true. Its veracity is not what matters; it is most important for what it teaches. Myths shape a society’s worldview, explain its origins, and also teach and affirm social norms (Moro 2012). Anthropology approaches the study of myth by examining each story for its primary messages about the society and culture it comes from. So, to say that the "myth of Europe" has no cultural reality is demonstrably untrue. It may have no historical reality but culturally it is a very powerful myth in modern day Europe. The more important questions are not around is this myth true or not, but how is the myth used, by whom, and for what purposes. Of course, the same questions need to be asked of those who challenge the myth and present alternative myths.
Sherrie-Lee,
You are right and surely wrong at the same time.
Lets look at one point in Europe. The Slavs are said to occupy the region now called Ukraine and there are extensive nationalist views that come from this point. A myth was created from the dynasties particularly Volodymyr I, given sainthood. Although the Ukrainian peoples have come and gone as a nation state, the nation state is not a fixed political entity. Thereby myths and the object of myths come and go and are various. Aspects of this group and national group can include political systems but much of which we see as belonging to Kyiv Rus belonged elsewhere.
Their political systems were just as likely to have been Tatar, as these groups occupied much of present day Ukraine. Also the area around Moscow the dynastic groups there intermarried with Tatar groups that stretched into the plains. Si were these Europeans in the sense of white and western. Actually no.
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