1 For this essay, I would take the definition of Europe to be what the ruling entity at that time is.

Yan Brekilien wrote The meaning of the word Europe has never changed. Everyone knows what it is and has the same notion of Europe as someone from the Middle Ages or the Enlightenment.1 This statement would not hold true in comparison between the Europe of the Middle Ages and the Europe during the Enlightenment period. This is due to many reasons and because of the fact that the definition of Europe is fluid, changing with each time period. The reasons could be the maps and the ruling entities available during the each time period. For example, in the Middle Ages, the definition was one that involved Christendom. A definition that contrasts with the definition of Europe in the Middle Ages in the one during the Enlightenment period. The definition was one that encompassed a weakening Holy Roman Empire about to turn over its reign to France2.

As stated in the introduction, maps are one of the many reasons that change the definition of Europe. This is because a nation or an entity is defined by boundaries, and boundaries were subject to change due to geopolitical events, reflecting the concerns of the times 3. Despite what Yan Breklilien stated, the definition of Europe does change. As evident by appendix A and B, even the maps show that what was defined as Europe in the beginning of the Middle Ages was not the same as the definition at the end of it. At the start of the Middle Ages, beginning of the 5th Century, Europe was defined in the maps as being the Roman Empire. Even then, the word Europe does not have the same meaning that it does in todays society; and the definition of Europe was restricted to the tribes that the Roman Empire had united

1 2

Mia Rodriguez-Salgado, Europe and 1992: In search of Europe History Today, 42, Feb 1992 Department of Black Studies.,The Holy Roman Empire University of California, Santa Barbara http://www.blackstudies.ucsb.edu/antillians/holyroman.html (19/05/2011) 3 Henk van Houtum, James Scott., Boundaries and the Europeanization of Space: The EU, Integration, and evolving Theoretical Perspectives on Borders, http://www.exlinea.comparativeresearch.net/fileadmin/user_upload/reports_and_publications/State_of%20the_art_exlinea.pdf (19/05/2011)

2 during its reign. 4 In addition, what the maps had essentially defined as Europe in the 5 th Century had changed by the end of the Middle Ages, which was around the 15th Century.

The maps in the 15th century showed the boundaries of Europe to be what was considered the Holy Roman Empire5. (See Appendix B) The Holy Roman Empire lasted from the year 800 to 1806 and were ruled German kings who usually received imperial coronation by the Roman popes.6 During this time, the geographical borders had shifted and shrunk due to the Reformation and the Thirty Year War 7. At the end of the Middle Ages the maps of the empire consisted of many small states and larger states such as Bohemia, Savoy, Milan, Provence. The larger states further prove that Yan Brekiliens statement is not valid because the states of Milan and Provence, in the Enlightenment were already part of Renaissance Italy, which was not created during the 15th Century. Therefore, it would be wrong to say that the definition of Europe has remained the same because by the end of the Middle Ages, Europe was no longer defined as the Roman Empire, it was defined as the Holy Roman Empire. It is also because Europe can be defined by its member states, thus, the creation or demise of the states would have changed the meaning of Europe. The definition of Europe in the Middle Ages is contrasted with the Europe in the Enlightenment.

The beginning of the enlightenment is usually given as the 18 th Century8. In the Enlightenment, Europe still consisted of the Holy Roman Empire. However, their boundaries have greatly shrunk, as evident in Appendix B and C. This shrinkage, as stated in the
4

Marcus Wischik, Establishing The Boundaries of Europe: Religion, Human Rights & Democracy, Marcel Wischikhttp://www.wischik.com/marcus/essay/europe.html (19/05/2011) 5 Britannica Encyclopaedia,The Holy Roman Empire , Britannica Encyclopaedia http://www.britannica.com.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/EBchecked/topic/269851/Holy-Roman-Empire (19.05/2011) 6 Department of Black Studies.,The Holy Roman Empire University of California, Santa Barbara http://www.blackstudies.ucsb.edu/antillians/holyroman.html (19/05/2011) 7 Ibid., 8 Richard Hooker, Seventeenth Century Enlightenment Thought, Washington State University http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ENLIGHT/PREPHIL.HTM (19/05/2011)

3 paragraph above, was due to the Reformation and the Thirty Years War, both of which happened before the Enlightenment. The reason that the definition of Europe during the Enlightenment changed is more to do with the fact that the power and influence of the Holy Roman Empire has wane and thus, the axis of power shifted from the Holy Roman Empire to France. 9 Ergo, with the shifting of power, the definition of Europe would have been changed once again because in relation to maps, each empire would have created boundaries that were specific to their empire. In addition, it is during the Enlightenment that the identity of modern Europe has started to form. In addition to maps changing the definition of Europe, the ruling entities of the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment would have also changed the notion of Europe because they would have brought in their customs, religion and their political systems. This would have impacted to the mode of living in the geographic region.

The beginning of the Middle Ages was ruled by the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire definition of Europe in the Middle Ages with customs, religion and political system. Some of the customs of the Roman Empire in the Middle Ages was wearing the toga, carrying the bride over the threshold of their home 10, and the class system. The class systems was a hierarchy of citizens with the emperor at the top, followed by the senate, the equestrians and lastly, the plebeians and the slaves 11. Towards the end of the Roman Empire, just before and during the start of the Middle Ages, Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire. This would have further impact because Christianity would be part of the defining characteristics of Europe in the later years. 12 The political system that was part of this empire
9

Department of Black Studies.,The Holy Roman Empire University of California, Santa Barbara http://www.blackstudies.ucsb.edu/antillians/holyroman.html (19/05/2011) 10 Public Broadcasting Services, Wedding Marriage & Divorce, Public Broadcasting Services, http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/weddings.html (19/05/2011) 11 Channel 4, Time Travellers Guide to the Roman Empire Channel 4 http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide03/part05.html (19/05/2011) 12 Gerald Delanty, Is there a European Identity?, Center for World Dialogue, 5, 3-4, 2003. http://www.worlddialogue.org/print.php?id=269&PHPSESSID=cf62c52da6fab30468dbbb0d31db74cc (19/05/2011)

4 consisted of an autocratic rule with the emperor making most of the decisions. Towards the end of the Middle ages and for most of the Enlightenment, the Holy Roman empire came into power, and with it, another set of changes.

The Holy Roman Empire had also brought their customs, religion and political system when they came into power. Many new customs would have been introduced because the new empire has its background in the Germanic tribes. 13 Some of the customs included tribal institutions, ethnic patterns and oral and artistic traditions 14. While the Germanic tribes that eventually made up the Holy Roman Empire adopted Christianity as their religion15, the religion of the Holy Roman Empire was Roman Catholicism. The political system at that time was elective monarchy. The Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empires differing customs, religion and political system would have changed the notion of Europe because as the introduction stated, the definition of Europe is fluid, always changing.

In addition to being defined by maps and ruling entities, Europe can also be defined by a number of categories such as geographically, by language, the political atmosphere or by cultural ovement. Europe geographically has always remained the same. It is bordered by Asia, Arctic, Africa and by North America, and unlike the other definitions of Europe, the geographical definition is independent of other factors. Besides geography, language could also define Europe.

13

Britannica Encyclopaedia, Middle Ages , Britannica Encyclopaedia http://www.britannica.com.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/EBchecked/topic/380873/Middle-Ages (19/05/2011) 14 Britannica Encyclopaedia,The Middle Ages , Britannica Encyclopaedia http://www.britannica.com.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/EBchecked/topic/195896/history-of-Europe/58260/TheMiddle-Ages#toc58260 (19/05/2011) 15 Britannica Encyclopaedia, Middle Ages , Britannica Encyclopaedia http://www.britannica.com.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/EBchecked/topic/380873/Middle-Ages (19/05/2011)

5 Language could determine the definition of Europe because it is dependent on the ruling entity or empire at the time. This is because the lingua franca would reflect who the current empire or the superpower is.16 Besides reflecting the empire or the superpower, lingua franca changes the definition of Europe because if Yan Brekiliens statement is true, it would mean that Europes lingua franca would always remain the same. With this statement in mind, the meaning of Europe would be different in the Middle Ages and in the Enlightenment period. This is because in the Middle Ages, the lingua franca at the beginning would have Latin due to the rule of the Roman Empire. After the collapse of the Roman Empire and the establishment of the Holy Roman Empire, the lingua franca then would have been German, as it is the language of the German kings who ruled the Holy Roman Empire. In the Enlightenment period, after the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire, the lingua franca then would be French. This is due to the fact that after the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire, the French was the dominant power in Europe.

Another factor that caused a change in the definition of Europe in the Middle Ages and in the Enlightenment is the political atmosphere. Political atmosphere or environment is defined as political events affecting opportunities at an international or local level17. In the Middle Ages, after the fall of the Roman Empire, the political atmosphere was one of the crusades. The crusades were religiously sanctioned military campaigns against the Muslims because Pope Urban II wanted to regain the holy land of Jerusalem. 18 This particularly defined Europe in

16

Britannica Encyclopaedia,Lingua Franca , Britannica Encyclopaedia http://www.britannica.com.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/EBchecked/topic/342377/lingua-franca (19/05/2011) 17 McGraw-Hill, Key Terms, McGraw-Hill http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0070916667/student_view0/chapter4/key_terms.html (20/05/2011)(the term I used is found in the downloaded word document on the page) 18 http://history-world.org/midcrusades.htm (19/05/2011)

6 the Middle Ages because during this time, the papacy had political influence with the monarchy as they had the right to elect, crown, and even depose emperors.19

In contrast, the political atmosphere in the Enlightenment was one that was moving away from the church, to a more scientific thought. In addition, this was the time where there was a sense of logic; that Truth can be arrived at through empirical observation, the use of reason, and systematic doubt. 20 Moving away from the church could be seen as a change in the political atmosphere because the church in the Middle Ages had a political association with the monarchies. Thus, as a consequence of this move, people began to rely more on science, reason and logic. This move away from the church is also seen as a difference in defining Europe. Another area of the political atmosphere in the Enlightenment is that with the move away from the church, the people of Europe began to define themselves as being Europeans; they started to have an identity that bound them together.21 This also marks an important change in the definition of Europe because before the Enlightenment, the people that lived on the continent of Europe have not defined themselves as being European22, they were defined as part of the Roman Empire, or after that, part of the Holy Roman Empire. Therefore, Yan Brekiliens statement that Europe in the Middle Ages had the same definition of Europe in the Enlightenment in not accurate.

A fourth way that caused the difference in definition of Europe in the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment is in the cultural movement. The definition of cultural movement is given as

19

Department of Black Studies.,The Holy Roman Empire University of California, Santa Barbara http://www.blackstudies.ucsb.edu/antillians/holyroman.html (19/05/2011) 20 Richard Hooker, Seventeenth Century Enlightenment Thought, Washington State University http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ENLIGHT/PREPHIL.HTM (19/052011) 21 Mia Rodriguez-Salgado, Europe and 1992: In search of Europe History Today, 42, Feb 1992 22 Ibid.,

7 a group of people working together to advance certain cultural goals 23 The cultural movement would cause a difference in definition because Europe is defined by the happenings inside its borders. Therefore, a change in a cultural movement would cause a change in definition. The cultural movement in the Middle Ages was the Renaissance. It was marked by having influences on the science, philosophy, religion and politics 24. In the Enlightenment period, the cultural movement was the Age of Enlightenment. This movement brought industrial revolution and the rise of the public sphere.25 Thus, because of the different events that took place in Europe at both historical periods, the definition at both periods would be different because each cultural movement would come to symbolize what Europe of the time was doing.

At the end of this essay, there is a lot of evidence that show that Yan Brekiliens statement that the definition of Europe will remain the same throughout the ages is inaccurate. This is because Europe is influenced by maps, ruling entities, language, political atmosphere and cultural movement. In addition, further evidence is given against Brekiliens statement because even within the same time period, the definition of Europe is also shifting. The example for this statement is for the Middle Ages because the start of the Middle Ages was ruled by the Roman Empire but the end was ruled by the Germanic kings of the Holy Roman Empire.

23

cultural movement. Dictionary.com. WordNet 3.0. Princeton University. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cultural movement (accessed: May 19, 2011). 24 Medieval Times, The End of the Middle Ages, Medieval Times http://www.medievaltimes.info/aboutmiddle-ages/end-of-middle-ages.html (20/05/2011) 25 http://lazacode.com/ism-terms-d-f/enlightenment-age-social-and-cultural-interpretation (20/05/2011)

8 Appendix A26 Map of Europe in 5th Century (Start of the Middle Ages) 27

26
27

Please note that for appendixes A, the pink part is the Roman Empire

Euratlas, A Historical Atlas and Gazetteer of Europe from Year 1 to 2000 Euratlas, http://historymedren.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.euratlas.com/summary.htm (19/05/11)

9 Appendix B - Map of Europe in the 15th century (End of the Middle Ages) 28 29

28

Euratlas, A Historical Atlas and Gazetteer of Europe from Year 1 to 2000 Euratlas, http://historymedren.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.euratlas.com/summary.htm (19/05/11) 29 For appendixes B & C, the states inside the purple line delineates What was considered to be Europe for that time period

10

Appendix C Map of Europe during the Enlightenment 30

30

Euratlas, A Historical Atlas and Gazetteer of Europe from Year 1 to 2000 Euratlas, http://historymedren.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.euratlas.com/summary.htm (19/05/2011)

11

BIBLIOGRAPHY Britannica Encyclopaedia,The Middle Ages , Britannica Encyclopaedia http://www.britannica.com.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/EBchecked/topic/195896/history-ofEurope/58260/The-Middle-Ages#toc58260 Britannica Encyclopaedia, Middle Ages , Britannica Encyclopaedia http://www.britannica.com.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/EBchecked/topic/380873/Middle-Ages Britannica Encyclopaedia,Lingua Franca , Britannica Encyclopaedia http://www.britannica.com.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/EBchecked/topic/342377/lingua-franca http://history-world.org/midcrusades.htm

Britannica Encyclopaedia,The Holy Roman Empire , Britannica Encyclopaedia http://www.britannica.com.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/EBchecked/topic/269851/Holy-RomanEmpire Channel 4, Time Travellers Guide to the Roman Empire Channel 4 http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide03/part05.html Department of Black Studies.,The Holy Roman Empire University of California, Santa Barbara http://www.blackstudies.ucsb.edu/antillians/holyroman.html Euratlas, A Historical Atlas and Gazetteer of Europe from Year 1 to 2000 Euratlas, http://historymedren.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.euratlas.com/summa ry.htm Gerald Delanty, Is there a European Identity?, Center for World Dialogue, 5, 3-4, 2003 http://www.worlddialogue.org/print.php?id=269&PHPSESSID=cf62c52da6fab30468dbbb0d 31db74cc

12 Henk van Houtum, James Scott., Boundaries and the Europeanization of Space: The EU, Integration, and evolving Theoretical Perspectives on Borders, http://www.exlinea.comparativeresearch.net/fileadmin/user_upload/reports_and_publications/State_of%20the_art_exlinea.pd f Public Broadcasting Services, Wedding Marriage & Divorce, Public Broadcasting Services, http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/weddings.html Richard Hooker, Seventeenth Century Enlightenment Thought, Washington State University http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ENLIGHT/PREPHIL.HTM Marcus Wischik, Establishing The Boundaries of Europe: Religion, Human Rights & Democracy, Marcel Wischik http://www.wischik.com/marcus/essay/europe.html McGraw-Hill, Key Terms, McGraw-Hill http://highered.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0070916667/student_view0/chapter4/key_terms.html Medieval Times, The End of the Middle Ages, Medieval Times http://www.medievaltimes.info/about-middle-ages/end-of-middle-ages.html Mia Rodriguez-Salgado, Europe and 1992: In search of Europe History Today, 42, Feb 1992 cultural movement. Dictionary.com. WordNet 3.0. Princeton University. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cultural movement Lazacode, Enlightenment Age: Social and Cultural Interpretation, Lazacode, http://lazacode.com/ism-terms-d-f/enlightenment-age-social-and-cultural-interpretation