As a student
of European History, I have learned about the vibrant
history of the continent. For centuries it was a center
of, religion, culture, and learning. It has given the
world spectacular artists such as Mozart, Michelangelo,
and Picasso, as well as the great scientific minds of
Newton, Einstein, and Da Vinci. Europe has given birth
to architectural marvels such as the soaring ceilings
at Chartres Cathedral, the awe inspiring ceiling of the
Sistine Chapel, and the grand Chateaux of the Loire. Great
European thinkers such as Voltaire, Aristotle, and Aquinas
have influenced thought throughout the world and inspired
a revolutionary way of thinking which shaped the course
of my nation’s history. Unfortunately, the history
of Europe also has a very dark side. While turning through
the pages of my textbook, I see images of mankind soaring
to new heights alongside images of death and destruction,
and of inspiring figures alongside those who propagated
fear, intolerance, and hatred. Europe’s history
was one shaped by war, and for the most part of its history
was a continent of war. Nations were pitted against nations,
all divided, unified only in their pursuits of self interest.
Religious differences caused conflict within nations as
well as between them. This fear, hatred, violence, and
intolerance reached its peak at the outbreak of the Second
World War. The technologies of modern warfare coupled
with intolerance wreaked destruction upon the continent,
leveling cities and leading to the slaughter of millions.
This turning point caused Europe to examine where it was
headed and what lay in its future. The horrors of the
Second World War changed the mindsets of Europeans and
forever altered the history of Europe. Seeing what division
and conflict led to, the countries of the continent sought
to form a political and economic union. This Union has
been going strong for roughly half a century and has,
in my opinion, brought about the greatest period in European
history. There have been fifty years of economic and social
progress across the continent. Europeans have some of
the highest standards of living and Europe is regarded
as a beacon of hope, opportunity, and tolerance. The political,
social, and economic bonds created between the European
nations decrease the need to go to war. Consequently,
Europe has had far fewer conflicts as compared to the
rest of its history. The European Union has brought about
decades of lasting peace. To me, the European Union means
peace. It means rejecting a violent past and writing a
new chapter in history. The European Union has caused
the continent to move away from war, and caused it to
focus on the things that have made it great throughout
its history. These things are the intelligence, creativity,
and ingenuity of Europeans which have changed history.
It has created an environment of social progress and economic
equality. The European Union has made the world a better
and safer place to live in, and it is a model which the
world to aspire to.
