1. Discuss how the multiple competing states in Western Europe shape European civilization.

Competition among Western European states has driven each state to become more developed in order to be able to hold up.

Explanation:

For example, when the Industrial Revolution kicked in England, in the late nineteenth century, Belgium, France and Germany soon followed in the early nineteenth century, since they needed to keep up with Britain, otherwise they would be surpassed and lose its competitiveness.

And the same has happened in other periods in history. Competition has simply helped Western Europe become what it is today: one of the most developed regions in the world.