Der Alte Kontinent und das Meer

Europe, the continent most permeated by the sea, has developed close links with the seas since time immemorial. But what may seem a given to most inhabitants of western Europe is not always present to many people in the center of the continent or even in eastern Europe. While people everywhere dream of beaches and seaside vacations, the sea is far more than just a cipher for longings and dream journeys. Without the sea and seafaring, there would be little or no interaction with the worlds of other continents. It was only with the European discovery of America by Columbus that the development of a modern world system began, which has cumulated in the "globalization" of recent decades and led to a worldwide exchange of goods. For decades, 90% of Germany's imports and exports of raw materials and goods have come and gone through its port edges, and the situation is similar in most European countries.