Number of Continents in the world

Anchundan

Anchundan

Anchundan

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When I was at school, I was taught there were 7 continents in the world. They were :
Europe
Asia
Africa
Australasia
North America
South America
Antarctica

However, so often now, I see people write 'in all 5 continents of the world'. So I'm really confused. In fact, it now happens that often that I believe I am wrong, and that there are indeed only 5 continents in the world.

So, if there are only 5 continents, what are they? And when did the change happen?
 
Easiest way to get rid of two would be to group the america's as one and australasia (technically oceania i believe) and antarctica as oceania...leaving 5...which is wrong..but still adds up to 5
 
It's probably just an amalgamation of the existing continent's names.

1) Europe & Asia = Eurasia

2) N. America & S. America = America(s)

3) Oceania / Australasia

4) Antartica

5) Africa
 
The Nokia website used to have things like "works on all 5 continents". They seem to have removed this now though.

This website below, talking about the route of the Olympic torch :

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sports/2007-04/26/content_861177.htm

Liu said,the torch will be passed in all the five continents around the world and throughout China.
Click to expand...
I can't imagine some poor runner carrying the torch in Antarctica!
 
I always thought that there is technically seven large land masses,

  • Europe
  • North America
  • South America
  • Asia
  • Oceana
  • Africa
  • Antarctica (south pole)

But they generally forget about the last two because they have tiny, if not no population at all. So they just have the 5 main populated ones. E.G. The five Olympic rings.

I'm preparing to be put right though....

Edit - I'm a moron, I forgot Africa! And the arctic isn't a continent. So I'm not really sure about the five rings now then... :confused:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continents
 
Last edited:
I always assumed it was:

The Americas
Europe
Africa
Antarctica
Australasia (Basically bunging Australia in with Asia)
 
Fergie said:
I always thought that there is technically seven large land masses,

  • Europe
  • North America
  • South America
  • Asia
  • Oceana
  • The Arctic (north pole)
  • Antarctica (south pole)

But they generally forget about the last two because they have tiny, if not no population at all. So they just have the 5 main populated ones. E.G. The five Olympic rings.

I'm preparing to be put right though....
Click to expand...
True, as someone pointed out before Nokia used to say works on all 5 continents, obviously they didnt mean the arctics... So it makes sense that people refer to 5 continents as the other two are not important.

But, I do remember a topic like this coming up somewhere before about american schools / other schools see the americas differently as continents... But I really cant remember who thought what lol... Its too early.
 
Weren't Antarctica and Oceana subcontinents, like India? Which would leave Asia, Africa, North America, South America and Europe.

[edit]Although the Americas and Eurasia are only divided by Isthmii (Isthmuses?) so they could be subcontinents of each other and a single entity when together I suppose.
 
Zip said:
North South East West ;)
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He said he wanted to find them, not know what they were. Point them out on a globe please :)

Besides, all you've mentioned is 4 different points (the cardinal directions) on the compass rose.
 
Gilly said:
He said he wanted to find them, not know what they were. Point them out on a globe please :)

Besides, all you've mentioned is 4 different points on the compass rose.
Click to expand...

If you get the right world map you can see it :)

2004world.jpg


You kinda have to overlap them a bit though, but its cut up quite well to see what i mean :D
 
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