Why is Europe a seperate continent from Asia?

I've always wondered this, I always thought that Europe and Asia were just Eurasia, it makes sense, they are both connected. So how come they are considered seperate. I don't think it is because of Plate Tectonics, since they are both on the Eurasian plate. Is it because of ancient cultural differences?

It's all about cultural differences. The people of Europe have never felt like they belonged grouped with the people of Asia. The Europeans inevitably defined the 7 continents (or however many known continents there were at the time) and they separated themselves from Asia. Many (probably most) modern geographers consider them to be the same continent. Some even group Africa with them calling it Afro-Eurasia

It would be nice if you'd added a point of reference http://answers.yahoo.com/question/accuse_write?qid=20080310215119AA4mLwj&kid=NbUvWju4VTcfSixMrElg&s=comm&date=2008-03-12+02%3A31%3A18&.crumb=

It is because Europeans are Eurocentric! In reality there is nothing that physically seperates Asia and Europe. The entire landmass is called Eurasia.

Kindly refer to below links for your answers:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continent

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_spanning_more_than_one_continent

http://www.countriesandcities.com/continents/

I think it is because of the way Europe and Asia were settled--the time, people, etc.

Yes. there are seven continents in the world. Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Australia, and Antartica; you're welcome.

And no, I don't know why.

it is the continent of Eurasia...they are separate countries, of course.

When the two were distinguished, anglos were in the west, and wild mongols in the east.