Europe Sandwiched between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic circle, Europe's temperate climate and proximity to the fertile crescent made it a natural target for crops and animals which had been domesticated in the middle east - such as wheat, barley, goats, sheep and cattle. Exported to Europe throughout the bronze age, these crops and animals provided the basis for sophisticated agricultural economies, and therefore vast political power - allowing European rulers to trade, conquer and explore other peoples around the world. Back | Next