A continent defined more by cultures than by geography, Europe derives its name from the mythic seduction of Queen Europa by Zeus, king of the ancient Greek gods. From there, all roads lead to Rome, which spreads its empire across Europe as paganism gives way to Christianity. A uniform legal system, common currency, trading economy and culture arise and provide shared identity. With time, the power of Rome slowly declines, giving way to the increasingly dominant Germanic tribes of the Northwest.
