Europe has had a rather good run – for about 545 years. That is, from the Renaissance (1400s) to the end of the second world war (1945)
Until the Renaissance, Europe was a backwater. It remained in the shadows of India (world’s richest country) (source) and the technological prowess of China.
This all changed with the Renaissance. The Gutenberg printing press, scientific revolution and aerodynamic sails, gave birth to a 545-year period of innovation and dominance.
As young as Europe was, relative to Asia and the Middle East, it gave mankind several important contributions.
Through technology it perfected the science of warfare.
Through hard fought gains Europe created revolutionary political concepts. One of them was the concept of the unalienable rights of man. Not to mention the concept that the right to rule came from consent of the governed, not God. This paved the way for the separation of Church and State not to mention the basic tenets of Western Democracy.
Through the logic of the Enlightenment, Europe challenged Royals to be accountable to the rule of law. No one was above the law. Not even the head of state.
During this 545-year run, one European civilization after another built upon the achievements and concepts of their predecessors. Thus, the Greeks were followed by the Romans who were followed by nation-states like England, France, Holland and Germany.
No travel to Europe is complete without the context of world history. It is this very context which makes European contributions worthy of being experienced by the traveler.