"Why do we have continents?"

Whilst we were walking to the 6^th Form block my friend paused, then asked ‘Immy…why do we have continents?’

I replied, ‘I don’t actually know’. 

Continents are something we learn of from a very early age.  This makes it particularly peculiar that one would not know the answer to my friend’s question.

Evidence suggests that continents were first described by the Ancient Greeks.  Since then, the continents have increased in number from 3 to 7, but the boundary lines between the original continents have stayed broadly similar, with some changes for political and other reasons.

 

One definition of continents is ‘large continuous discrete masses of land, ideally separated by expanses of water’.  This definition is, however, flawed – take the example of Europe and Asia, which are part of the same land mass. 

But can you imagine calling yourself a Eurasian? 

Others argue that continents are a way of dividing the world culturally.  Yet, are countries such as Pakistan and Japan truly culturally similar?

This generalisation may have worked in years gone by when people knew very little about those on the other side of the globe;  however, today, in our ever more globalised world, when we are ‘Skyping’ our friends in China and we can watch in real time the events in Syria unfold, it has very little meaning.

So having given my friend’s question some thought, I have concluded that today we have continents as a way of explaining the different parts of the world to small children. It is now much more useful to use different and more specific groupings of people and places as these better reflect the needs of the world today rather than those of Ancient Greece.

Imogen 13W