How Many Continents Are There?

[LightFang]

How many?

Traditionally I learned in school that there were seven: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica.

I'm being told now that there are six: North America, South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, and Eurasia.

What do you guys think? What's the definition of a continent then? I thought it was just an arbitrary term that people use to describe the world. It didn't matter that Europe and Asia might technically be called one continent because it's like a cultural distinction or something.

To me, there will always be seven, just like how Pluto's always going to be a planet to me.

 

[Love]

With atlantis or without atlantis?

 

[Rossiya]

Europe, America, Antarctica, Asia and Africa. Oh and Oceania.

 

[Arwon]

There's always Zealandia and the Kerguelen Plateau.

And alternatively, there's a case for 4: Eurasiafrica, America, Australia and Antarctica.

 

[Shadylookin]

i learned North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica in school as well. sometimes i hear australia replaced with oceania

 

[Love]

AND ATLANTIS, DIDN'T THEY TEACH ABOUT ATLANTIS IN SCHOOL ALSO???

:rant:

 

[Perfection]

PERFECTION STRIKES AGAIN!

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=96106

 

[Babbler]

From high school: North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia (or Australasia or Oceania if extended to the Pacific Islands) and Antarctica. Europe and Asia can be combined to make Eurasia (although I heard the term used for the Central Asian nations).

 

[Swedishguy]

Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Oceania. From a political point of view, that is.

 

[Serutan]

Just remember that some geographic organization may come along and decide that
Australia is really an island.

 

[Arwon]

Oceania isn't a continent, it's a region like "The Americas". None of those Pacific Islands sit on the Australia-New Guinea continental shelf, and New Zealand has its own mostly submerged continent called Zealandia.

 

[a_propagandist]

Who exactly told you there were only six?

 

[LucyDuke]

Six.

And there are five oceans!

 

[LightFang]

Who exactly told you there were only six?

Does it matter?

 

[West 36]

I've been taught 7, but I'd settle for 6.

And there are five oceans!

THE SOUTHERN OCEAN IS A SHAM!



What were the 7 seas anyway?

 

[Contempo]

I learned there were seven until I got married. She told me there five. I have to believe her, or she will beat me. America, Eurasia, Oceania, Africa, and Antarctica. I enjoy this better politically because it forces North America to be joined with South America. Americas, we need to hug and allow for the healing to begin. Wait . . . what?

 

[LightFang]

The Seven Seas:

* the Red Sea
* the Mediterranean Sea
* the Persian Gulf
* the Black Sea
* the Adriatic Sea
* the Caspian Sea
* the Indian Ocean

Realize that to the ancients, "seven" often meant "many". So actually the point is in contention.

 

[Godwynn]

What were the 7 seas anyway?

Fear me you lords and living creatures. I descend upon your Earth from the skies. I command your very souls you unbelievers.

I'll take you to the Seven Seas of Rhye.

+10 awesome points to those who know the song.

 

[Simple Simon]

the term 'continent' is as meaningless as the term 'hot' without a proper reference system and definition. Therefore: as many as you like, provided you are smart enough to give the proper definition.

I personally use the term 'continent' for a landmass that contains at least one old craton, or a large part of one. Also, it must be larger than anything I consider an island, which is a term reserved for anything that is insufficiently large to contain a megafauna.

Eurasia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Australia. End of list. But that can change rapidly (in geological terms).

 

[kulade]

Growing up I was taught seven: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica and Oceania.

However, Europe and Asia are basically one continent; but I suppose differences in cultures prompted a relabeling of Eurasia into two continents.