Is europe actually a continent?   stance: yes, it has been designated as one for centuries so it is:
Europe In physical geography terms in not a continent. Rather it is a cultural realm. There is no major division between Europe and Asia. Some might argue for the Ural Mountains as a barrier if you look at it from a satellite view, but no other continents are divided by a single mountain chain. Continents are divided by vast oceans and seas.
Powerful Europeans just didn't want to be associated with Asia and wanted to be considered their own physical continent.