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Argentina flagFlossie
How many continents were you taught there are?
And what are their names?

For years, I thought we all learned that there are six continents, these being Asia, America, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Antarctica - just like I was taught in school. I didn't even think it was a subject of discussion.
But it turns out that actually there's no universal consensus about this matter. Even the continent I live in, the one I've always referred as "America", it's not a single continent for many people but two, South and North America. I even found out that many geologists state that Europe and Asia should be considered a single continent, "Eurasia", and there are many people that think of Australia as a continent rather than Oceania. It seems it varies depending on where you live, some people learn that there are seven continents while others learn that there are six or even five continents from what I've read. So I was thinking it'd be interesting to bring up this subject here and ask you how many continents people in your country are taught that there are. Just for curiosity, I don't really think there's a "correct answer" since it seems the definition of continent is not that rigid nor so well-defined in the end.

Comments · 4

2
Haha to be honest I totally forgot what I've learned from school. When I heard other people discussing / arguing about the continents I thought that I'm really bad in Geography. Is it 6, 7 or 8 continents? Thanks to your post at least now I know that there isn't a definite answer for this!

This also reminded me of the English Channel, which is called "La Manche" in French. My friend & I would jokingly say that the English is too proud by calling it their channel where as the French will never agree that it's "Le Canal d'Anglais"! 😆
2
There is a common sentence that means that something is widely spread (a piece of information, a knowledge, a belief... a virus) or somebody has traveled a lot: across all five continents.
Therefore, and taking into account what I was taught when I was a child, I remember Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Oceania. However, in my country we often refer to America as two continents: South and North (sorry, friends from Central America).
And regarding Eurasia, what is Europe but just a tiny apendix of Asia?
Anyway, it was easiest when we were Pangea.

Good luck with your thread, I think it would be worth knowing diferent approaches to this topic.
2
Interesting! In the United States we are taught 7: Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Antartica, Africa, Australia. Sometimes we will distinguish Central America, not as a continent, but as a region that includes Mexico and all other countries north of Colombia. People my age, I'm 33, are likely familiar with the words Eurasia and Oceania though because they're used in older maps. I'm not sure what kids are taught in school now.
2
Hi Floosie. Im Kevin, Nice to meet you. Your answer its so much interesting to me ´cause i love these kind of topics to conversation. In my country (Colombia) learn us in the same form than to you: six continents. But we learn that south america and north america are subcontinents of one big continent called América, like subcontinent indian in south asia. Also i´m think that Oceania's continent is more than Australia, ´cause into the deep in the ocean is the most tallest mountains of the planet, between America, Asia and Oceania's continent in the pacific sea, for this turn around of Australia are a lot little islands... Easter island is an example for this.
We can be friends to speak more, i can teach you other things about our world (i´m sociologist) if you want practice english with me.
Have good day/night :) Que tengas buen(a) día/noche.

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