9781422283912

Europe and Asia meet at the Ural Mountains.

About 300,000 years ago, prehistoric people known as the Neanderthals lived in the area now called Europe. As humans evolved over hundreds of thousands of years, civilization developed. They created organized farms, art, and forms of government. Minoan Crete may be considered Europe’s first civilization. Beginning in 2000 BC, Minoan Crete had a sophisticated culture and trading industry. Over the centuries more nomadic tribespeople settled and developed communities. In the 8th century BC, Greek civilization flourished, with the first Olympic Games held in 776 BC. The ancient Greeks invented an alphabet and

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S OCIAL P ROGRESS IN E UROPE