LEARNING EUROPE

The presentations Learning Europe created by the five teams have shown
how people in every partner country have contributed to social, cultural and scientific
life and, of course, will continue to work for humanity. We have understood that
although the results of their activity are both different and similar to one another, the
mirrored remarkable personalities have added a value to the world so as to make it
better and more beautiful.
Culture and science are the milestones of countries. Artists, poets, writers,
musicians, scientists, inventors, engineers, philosophers, architects gave a sense to our
common European roots and tried to improve mankind with their new ideas and
dreams.
This step of our project taught everybody a lot of things. o, at this moment
we know more things about our partners! identity than before. We learned about
outstanding aspects of culture and civili"ation that had changed the face of the world.
# # #
The culture of Europe might better be described as a series of multiple
cultures, often competing$ geographical regions opposing one another, %rthodo&y as
opposed to Catholicism as opposed to 'rotestantism as opposed to ecularism as
opposed to (udaism as opposed to )slam. There have been many discoveries, cultural
innovations and movements. Thus the *uestion of +common culture, or +common
values, is far more comple& than it seems to be. -ecause of its global connection, the
European culture grew with an all.inclusive urge to adopt, adapt and ultimately
influence other trends of culture. As a matter of fact, therefore, from the middle of the
nineteenth century with the e&pansion of European education and the spread of
Christianity, European culture and way of life, to a great e&tent, turned into +global
culture,.
)n literature Europe has produced some of the most prominent or popular
fiction and non.fiction writers of all times/ Eugne Ionesco, Mircea Eliade, Mihai
Eminescu, Paul Celan, Emil Cioran, Herta Muller 01omania2$ Lus de Cames, Jos
Maria de Ea de Queiro, !ernando Pessoa, Jos "aramago 0'ortugal2$ Petrarca,
#ante $lighieri, %io&anni 'occaccio, Carlo %oldoni, %iacomo Leo(ardi, "al&atore
Quasimodo, )m*erto Eco 0)taly2.
3usic is found in every known culture, past and present, varying between
times and places. A culture!s music is influenced by all other aspects of that culture,
including social and economic organi"ation and e&perience, climate and access to
technology. The emotions and ideas that music e&presses, the situation in which music
is played and listened to and the attitudes toward music players and composers all
vary between regions and periods. )mportant classical composers were born in
Europe/ Paganini, +erdi, Puccini 0)taly2, Lit, 'art,- 04ungary2, Enescu, Ligeti,
Celi*idache 01omania2, etc. The music of )taly and 'ortugal are similar, it is very
rhythmic and temperamental, as their way of life. )n )taly nowadays Eros .amaotti
and $ndrea 'ocelli are famous, while in 'ortugal the so.called +5ueen of fado,,
$malia .ogrigues. )n 1omania and 4ungary folk music and dance is very popular,
and it is similar, too. 3usic in Turkey is very versatile.
The arts are important in the culture of all countries, but )taly is outstanding
with its famous 1enaissance painters like 3ichelangelo and 6eonardo da 7inci.
Turkey is very rich in historical monuments that are left of the Anti*uity, and the
)slamic art is very special/ the beautifully painted tiles, the mos*ues and towers are
splendid and make it a special place. )t is interesting that in 'ortugal there are also
buildings decorated with tiles, and there the modern art, like secessionist paintings
and decoration is significant. As to architecture, in the 1enaissance and -aro*ue
period, beautiful cathedrals and palaces were built.
Europe has produced some of the greatest scientists, inventors and intellectuals
in history/ Leonardo da +inci, %alileo %alilei, $lessandro +olta, %uglielmo Marconi,
Enrico !ermi 0)taly2$ /tt, 'l0th1, Le, "il0rd, Ed2ard 3eller, 4n1os Jedli-
04ungary2, etc. Each country has 8obel 'ri"e winners/ in Turkey, /rhan Pamu- 9
writer$ in 4ungary, 5erts Imre 9 writer$ in 'ortugal, Jos "aramago 9 writer$ in
1omania, %eorge Palade 9 biologist, and in )taly, %uglielmo Marconi 9 inventor.
The cuisines of the European countries are diverse, although there are
common characteristics/ meat, fish, vegetables cooked in different ways. teak in
particular is a common dish across Europe. European cuisines also put substantial
emphasis on sauces as condiments, seasonings or accompaniments. 3any diary
products are used in the cooking process. Wheat.flour bread, along with pasta,
dumplings and pastries are common in the diet of Europeans. 1eligious food laws can
also e&ercise a strong influence on such culinary practices. A cuisine is primarily
influenced by the ingredients that are available locally or through trade. The
gastronomy of the 3editerranean countries is also almost the same 9 in 'ortugal and
)taly they eat lots of seafood. )n the 1omanian and 4ungarian cuisine it is typical to
use lots of meat, so it is a bit more greasy and spicy. )n Turkey there are lots of
vegetables and fruits, they use lamb, and the country is famous for sweet delicacies.
)ndeed, it is difficult to think of a modern sport, apart from basketball and
related sports. European sports include/ football, soccer, cricket, cycling, fencing,
tennis, field hockey, etc. The %lympics, both ancient and modern, have their origins in
Europe and have a massive influence globally. )n Turkey the most popular sport is
football, since the country has some very good football clubs that are on international
level. %ther ones are basketball and volleyball. imilarly, in )taly, it is football that
has the most fans but the country is also very successful in the modern %lympic
:ames. 'ortugal also boasts of famous and successful football teams, just like
1omania, where this sport is also very widespread. 1omania is also one of the most
successful countries of the %lympic :ames being on of the best in gymnastics while
4ungary is very successful in water sports, athletics and fencing.
)n terms of holidays, there are big differences and similarities, too. 4ungary,
1omania, )taly and 'ortugal are Christian countries when it comes to culture and
religion$ therefore they celebrate all the important Christian holidays. Turkey, on the
other hand, is a 3uslim country, and keeps the 3uslim 1amadan, for e&ample.
-esides, all the countries celebrate their own important national holidays, for e&ample
it is common to celebrate the foundation of the republic or the country. Apart from
that, they commemorate significant historical events.
As to the economy of the countries, it seems that agriculture is very significant
in each of them. Therefore most of them have a good food industry. )n terms of other
industry, almost all countries have problems with raw materials, so they rely on
import. 4ungary has good chemical industry, but its te&tile industry used to be better.
Turkey has more significant te&tile industry based on domestic production, and it also
has its own brands. 'ortugal is also an important te&tile producer. ince )taly and
'ortugal are 3editerranean countries, they both produce wine, but 4ungary is also a
world.famous wine e&porter. 4eavy industry is more important in 1omania and
Turkey. They both produce cars and they have metallurgy.
Culture is measured by indicators of individual values and beliefs, such as
trust and respect for others and confidence in individual self determination. The
political and social history of Europe provides a rich source of cultural differences, at
national level, that make the European ;nion a uni*ue and interesting place where to
live.
# # #
This segment of the project called LEARNING EUROPE has provided us,
students, with information about other European cultures, countries and has helped us
establish new relationships with people from other countries, generating and inducing
the feelings of respect, tolerance, understanding, comprehension and pride of being
European citi"ens. -y discovering new cultures, we become aware of our cultural
heritage and other European cultures and find many similarities that unite us and, at
the same time, many differences that enrich us.
European knowledge, discovery and interest in other cultures help to eliminate
prejudices and create a new strong feeling of active European Citi"enship among
people that speak different languages and that live in far countries but who live, feel,
dream much in the same way.
haring the same values and ideals, we have in common the respect and love
for our history and ancestors, for our customs and traditions, for the remarkable men
and women who, by using their minds and souls, spread the seeds of geniality in
science and arts creating what we can proudly call our ama"ing Europe.
All the famous Hungarian, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian and ur!ish
personalities " artists and s#ientists " had and ha$e onl% one purpose& to
#ontri'ute to the progress of humanit%, to ma!e life easier through their
in$entions and to add a spot of #olour, 'eaut% and sensi'ilit% to the (orld)