Continents: A History

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If you’re from the United States, it’s likely you were taught that there are seven continents on the Earth. In some other parts of the world, however, there is a six continent model, alternatively combining Europe and Asia into Eurasia, or North and South America into the single continent “America." Putting aside geological definitions, the term ‘continent’ has an ancient history, and its definitions have impacted global politics, science, and education for centuries, and its modern understanding did not fully coalesce until very recently.