Regional Study 3Western and Eastern Europe

A Continent in Transition

European OverviewCovers over 3.8 million square miles Second smallest continentSeparated from Asia by the Ural Mountains of

Russia and bounded by sea to the north, west, and south

Chain of mountains, the Pyrenees, Alps, and Carpathians stretch across the continent west to east

Separates the rugged lands that fringe the island filled Mediterranean Sea from the North European Plain, a belt of flat land that extends from the English Channel to the Urals

Farther north lie the broad, glacier-carved Scandinavian Peninsula and the large islands of Great Britain, Ireland and Iceland

European Overview

Europe is located on the western side of the Eurasian Plate and beneath Mediterranean Sea, the plate is colliding with the African Plate and the smaller Anatolian Plate

Southern Europe has quite a few earthquakes because of this movement

European ClimatePolar winds bring cold weather to northern

Europe but a warm ocean current called the Gulf Stream helps create more temperate conditions in the west

Eastern interior experiences more extreme weather, very cold winters and hot summers

Southern Europe is protected from the northerly winds by the Alps, so it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters

Rainfall is uniformly distributed across Europe, but by the time the currents reach Eastern Europe, northeast of the Black sea, much of the moisture is gone

Vegetation of EuropeMost of western and central Europe were once

covered with broadleaf deciduous forests of oak, ash, elm, beech, and birch

Boreal forests of fir, spruce, and pine still cloak extensive ares of Scandinavia and northwestern Russia, giving way in the far north to tundra

Steppe grasslands cover dry areas of the east In the far south, on the shore of the

Mediterranean Sea, the sparse woodlands and scrub are common

Emissions from the many cars, trucks, and factories in Europe have led to problems with air pollution and acid rain over a large part of the continent

Pollution in Europe

Land and water pollution from fertilizers, pesticides, and industrial waste is also widespread

Since 1960s, the amount of forest area in Western and Central Europe has increased, but nearly 60% are damaged due to acidification, pollution, drought, or fires

Overfishing, especially in the North Sea, is a serious problem for marine ecosystems

Pollution in Europe50 out of 69 rivers are in poor ecological quality85% of the coastline is threatened by

development1/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions,

especially in Eastern EuropeCzech Republic has the continent’s highest

levels of industrial wasteMoldovia has the highest levels of organic

water pollutants260 species are on the brink of extinction and

the populations of 1/3 of bird species are in decline

Improvements in Recent YearsRecent legislation has resulted in significant

progress in reducing pollution Greenhouse emissions have fallen 2% between

1990-1998Carbon dioxide emissions declined 8% in

Eastern Europe between 1990-2000Use of pesticides have declined in Eastern

Europe and phosphorous discharges have dropped by 50 to 80% in western Europe in the past 20 years

Levels of heavy metals, including mercury in seas fell by 80% in the 1990s.

Protected areas grow each year and Western Europe legislation has protected over 54 million acres of farmland

People of EuropeEurope has a population of about 720 million

and has been one of the most densely populated areas in the world

Thousands of years of migrations, invasions, wars and changing alliances have made the cities’ architecture, art, languages, cultures and people diverse

42 nations as well as the Eastern Thrace region of Turkey and eastern part of Russian Federation, often referred to as European Turkey and European Russia

Standards of living tend to be high, particularly in the northwest

Natural resources are high

Language Groups of Western Europe2 chief Indo-European language

groups: Romance and GermanicFrench and Italian are Romance

languages along with Spanish, Romanian and Portuguese

German, English are GermanicSlavic Languages are separate

category

Western EuropeIreland, United Kingdom, Germany,

Sweden, Iceland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, France, Netherlands, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain Norway, Greece, Portugal, Denmark, Austria

3 sides by water: North by Arctic Ocean, South by Mediterranean Sea and East by Atlantic Ocean.

North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Celtic Sea, English Channel and Bay of Biscay flow into one another off of the west coast of Europe and the Baltic Sea separates Germany from Sweden

Western Europe

North European Plain Region (UK, German, most of France, some of Spain, part of Norway and all countries between Germany and France) have a marine west coast climate

Temperatures fairly warm and rainfall steady

Mediterranean Climate (southern France, southern Italy, southern Spain, Portugal and Greece) hot, dry summers and mild, moist winters

Religions of Europe

Primarily Catholic in Western Europe: France, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Poland

Protestant in most of Germany (where Reformation began), Scandinavia region, Great Britain

Orthodox in Russia, GreeceSunni Islam: Turkey, Middle East

Human Impact on EuropeEarly population growth and subsistence

farming began around 4000 BC increased with the iron plow and commercial farming in the Middle Ages

Grew with industry of 18th Century, known as birthplace of the Industrial Revolution

Humans have removed over half of the continent’s original forest, along with large areas of natural steppe grasslands

Humans have modified about 65% of Europe’s surface—double of any other continent

Abundant ResourcesEurope’s resources include fossil fuels, reliable

supplies of fresh water, and arable landFertile in west, center and southeast produce

large amounts of cereals (20% of world’s supply), root crops (including 2/3 of world’s potatoes), fruit, and livestock products

Dairy and beef cattle dominate in the northSouth has farms of olives, grapes, citrus fruits,

sheep and goatsHalf of the world’s steel, 1/3 of chemicals and

many consumer goods½ of the world’s exports and imports

Western European Economies

Benefited from close proximity to water

Shipping and trade significant along with colonization

Unified by geography, cooperative banking system, a shared transportation system, no trade barriers and under European Union it is hoped to unify currency with Euro Dollar

European Economies

Western Europe is a consolidation of high tech, market-driven, globally connected economies

Manufacturing and commercial agriculture are dominant

Crucial to continental economic integration is the European Union of 25 member nations whose combined economic power is in line with US and Russia

British Isles

United Kingdom (UK) are the three countries of England, Scotland and Wales plus northern Ireland

Great Britain are England, Scotland and Wales

England is the central power of UK- monarchy and parliament based here (London)

England’s ClimateCool and moistSky often grayRains Regularly3 areas: Highlands, hills that run along

England’s west coast, Midlands most densely populated and a lot of coal, Lowlands southern and eastern England fertile soil and home of farms and cow pastures

Center of Industry, London is a natural seaportRiver Thames that runs through London

polluted as a result

Scotland and Wales

Honor Queen and send representatives to Parliament

Certain degrees of independence such as language

Scotland has own system of laws and educational system

Scotland has Highlands with moors (plains) and bogs. Fishing and sheep herding in this area. Central Lowlands most populous

Wales and Northern Ireland

Has Highlands and Lowlands as well, but more rain

Economy: Wales mining and industry along with computers

Northern Ireland source of religious conflict with Catholics and Protestants leading to rise in independence

Nordic NationsIceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and

DenmarkCalled Scandinavia or NordenMostly LutheranArctic conditions“Midnight Sun” summers last for 20

hours and short, winters are long and dark

Climate moderate west coast due to warm currents of the North Atlantic

Moderate temperature below Arctic Circle

Nordic Nations

Iceland “Land of Ice and Fire” very volcanic and a lot of ice

Use geothermal energyStandard of Living in these nations

highest in the world—all have mixed economies, high taxes, but government provides day care, health care and college education

Neutral nations in international disputesFishing and agriculture very important,

particularly whale hunting in Norway

European Unity

Economies of Europe are intertwined Railroads, highways and waterways run across

borders The Chunnel, 31 mile long tunnel that was dug

beneath the English Channel. People can travel by high-speed train from England to France

These things along with the European Union has made Europe closer to one another

Some are afraid of losing national identity and inequalities of EU members

France

France has mixed economy, name comes from Franks, Germanic tribe

Paris artistic, economic, and political capital of France

Diverse regions remain united by language and culture

Each region has its own specialty and contributes to French economy

Recently unemployment reached 14% due to immigration of many North Africans

France

Paris is not just the capital of France, but a world capital for style and fashion

1800s art style called impressionism was born in Paris. Monet, Renoir and Degas painted natural everyday scenes and worked outdoors. They tried to catch first “impressions”

GermanyAfter World War I economic decline and

racism led to rise of Hitler and NazisAfter World War II, Germany divided by

Berlin Wall, part of “Iron Curtain” and reunited in 1990

Land rugged mountains in the south, hills, low mountains and tall plateaus in the center and flat plains in the north

Central Ruhr Valley is base of Germany’s industrial activity, manufactures steel, iron, uses coal to power factories, which causes pollution, particularly in the east.

Germany EconomyOne of first industrialized nationsCenter of culture, art, music, philosophy and

scienceCapitalismWestern Germany used loans from U.S. to

rebuild quickly after World War II and produced steel, automobiles, machinery, electronics and chemicals

Reunification: there was a fear that Germany would build up its military

Eastern German factories tend to be old and many do not have jobs, economy as a whole has weakened because the west has been giving aid

BENELUX CountriesBelgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg

(BE NE LUX)“Low countries”Belgium call selves “the Walloons”-

French speaking people that make up 30% of population

Largest group in Belgium Flemish 55%Flemish and French official languagesGovernment decentralized to regional

powerBENELUX Economic Union is a trade

pact owned by Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg

NetherlandsHolland1/3 of country below sea level

sometimes called DutchElaborate system of canals that allow

them to drain water from the land, pump it out to sea and then block its return with huge dikes

Reclaimed land is called poldersRotterdam and Amsterdam are port

cities on polders2 capitals in Amsterdam and the Hague

Luxembourg

Smallest country-smaller than Rhode Island

2nd highest per capita GNP in the world

Manufacturer of steel and diversified economy in manufacturing, computers and services

Hydroelectric

Switzerland and AustriaBoth neutral and not part of NATOBoth are in the AlpsSwitzerland very ethnically diverse-

Confederation of 26 cantons each have particular religions, customs, economic activities and languages

Majority speak German, but many speak French and Italian

HydroelectricDairy farming important—chocolate and

watchesHas more than 3,000 miles of railroadAustria high in iron ore, hydroelectric

Mediterranean EuropeSpain and Portugal form Iberian Peninsula separated

from rest of Europe by Pyrenees Mts. Very close to Africa, 30 miles Strait of Gibraltar,

where ships go through to get to MediterraneanSpain and Portugal colonized extensivelySpain territory varied: North coast rains after

Sirocco, hot wind that blows over SE Spain from N. Africa makes region semi-arid

Much of Spain has plateaus, many rivers, but only a few are navigable or deep enough for ships

Spain is 1 of 4 European countries with coastlines on Mediterranean Sea along with France, Italy and Greece

Madrid is central hub, has one of largest ranching and grazing areas in Europe

Focus on industry

Basques and other Ethnic Groups in Spain

NE region of SpainAbout 1 millionBasque Language:

not related to any other language in Europe

Many want separation from Spain

Around Barcelona are the Catalonians who speak a mixture of French and Spanish

Portugal, capital Lisbon is in coastal country, fairly damp, fertile soil and has also shifted to industry

ItalyOnce center of Roman EmpireAfter fall of Rome, many independent city-

states until mid 1800s, united in 1861Northern Italy “European Italy”Alps, Venice and fertile agricultural center of

the Po Valley—10% of work forceCentral Italy is where Rome, Florence, Bologna

and Vatican City are locatedVatican City separate country because it is the

center of the Roman Catholic Church and home of the Pope

Florence birthplace of the RenaissanceBologna is a food and agricultural center

Italy

Central and Southern Regions of Italy volcanic, Alps block the cold

Southern Region “Mezzogiorno,” largest city is Naples

Some of the worst unemployment in Europe in Southern Italy

Greece Athens once home of Greek Civilization Middle Ages—Turkish Empire controlled it until 1830

when Greece became independent Many mountains and rocky soil Wheat and grains can grow on coastal plains Economy relies on sea, fishing, shipbuilding and trade One of world’s largest commercial fishing fleets and

ailing important transportation—Greece has many tiny islands

Largest island is Crete where Minos civilization was Island result of tectonic activity Susceptible to volcanic activity and earthquakes Solar energy used extensively 1/3 of population lives in and around Athens

Eastern EuropeArea of ethnic fightingCentrally locatedAfter World War II, location of Eastern

Europe between Soviet Union and Western Europe forced nations of region to act as a buffer

2/3 are descended from Slavs who settles around Carpathian Mts. 2,000 years ago

Magyars arrived in Hungarian Basin from Asia

“Breadbasket of Europe” is eastern Hungary

Eastern Europe

Variety of religions: Muslim, Orthodox Christian, and Roman Catholic

Languages are Slavic1989: Reunification of Germany and the

breaking up of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia

Czech Republic and Slovakia, Yugoslavia, Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia

Communist governments oppressive, restrictive and closed borders

Danube River

4 capital cities of Eastern Europe formed along Danube River: Vienna, Austria, Bratislava, Slovakia, Budapest, Hungary, Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Important to Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Macedonia because they are landlocked

Russia and the New RepublicsBefore 1917, agriculturalExpansive grassland, known as steppes,

farmingRussia biggest country in the worldEntire United States could fit into Russia with

room left over for Western EuropeNorth to South covers 2,800 milesEast to West covers 5,600 milesStretches 11 time zonesPeople in west are waking up when the eastern

edge is having dinnerHuge, low plains divided by Ural Mts. Russia has polar climate in far north and full of

ice most of the timePermafrost, land never melts

RussiaMost of Russia has a continental climate that is

the seasons are sharply differentSimmers are warm but shortWinters are long and very coldJust enough rain for forests In north most trees are evergreens, south are

elms and maplesPorts of Russia freeze in winter and this has

limited Russia’s contacts with the world and restricted trade and economic growth

Land expansion goal was to get control of warm-water ports

SiberiaTwice the size of European Russia

Cold winters and short summers

ForestsSiberia used as a

prisonMany resources:

coal, tin, oil, iron, diamonds

Steel mills, chemical factories and science centers

Russia

Russians are Slavic and Vikings settled there too and adopted Slavic customs

Rurik, Viking prince source of Russian name by many, others say a Slavic group Rukhs-as

First kingdom in late 800s in Kiev on Dneiper River

Mongols invaded in A.D.1238 and ruled for 250 years

Muscovy or Moscow grew as Mongols weakened in 1480

U.S.S.R. Ivan the Third called himself Czar or emperorBy 1800s, Czar ruled empire from Arctic Ocean

to the Black Sea1917 Communist Revolution and government

controlled life—collective farmsRevolution came about because of the

oppressive rule of the czarsCommunist changed the name of Russia to the

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or U.S.S.RSoviets feared outside forces so concentrated

on army and to ensure no enemies from within organized the secret police, Committee of State Security, KGB

New Revolution1980s economy was failing in U.S.S.R1985 Mikhail Gorbachev came to power and

tried to change the Soviet systemGlasnost “openness” for people to say what

they thought without fearPerestroika “restructuring” people could start

private businessEthnic groups grew restless1992 elections held and Communists lost powerRepublics began declaring independenceNew Commonwealth of Independent StatesLithuania, Latvia and Estonia did not join

St. PetersburgConsidered crown jewel of Russia and is

a cultural centerHome of Russia’s ballet dancers and

writersCzar Peter the Great ordered its

construction in 1703 and became capital in 1712 for 200 years

Peter the Great named it for the patron saint

During WWI, the name changed to Petrograd and Soviets named it Leningrad

1991 changed back to St. Petersburg

Former soviet States

Soviet Union was made up of 15 separate republics or states

12 of these formed the Commonwealth of Independent States

To establish common rules for all states in areas of economics, foreign relations and military

There is a current push for privatization of farms, factories and businesses

Baltic States

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on edge of Baltic Sea

Milder climate than Russia and ports do not freeze and are open for trade all year

Most developed areas of Soviet Union

All 3 have well educated work force and ½ of people live in cities

Baltic StatesLatvia Russians and Belarussians make up

about 39% of populationEstonia Russians are a large minorityRussian is widely spokenLatvia has no natural resources, so it imports

raw materialsLatvia produces steel, ships, cement, fertilizer,

and textilesEstonia is near Finland and most of the people

are FinnsEstonia has high standard of living and strong

agricultureLithuania was part of Poland once and about 7%

are Polish, most are Roman CatholicLithuania has shipbuilding and manufacturing

Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova

Ukraine “Little Russia” Belarussians related to Russians

“Belo” in Russian is whiteBelarus and Ukraine are agricultural:

Potatoes, beets and other roots grow in Belarus, sometimes called the “land of potatoes”

Minsk is important in production of machines, tools and goods

Ukraine

3rd largest republic2nd highest populationWheat and grains known as

“breadbasket” of the Soviet Union due to rich dark soil called chernozem

25% of Soviet Union’s industrial goods produced in Ukraine

Rich resources: oil, natural gas and ironHydroelectric power

Ukrain

12.3 million acres of land affected by radiation that leaked into the air and land at Chernobyl

Vegetation and people as far as Germany affected including genetic mutations, birth defects and cancer

Moldova

Ruled by Turks and then RussiansJoined Romania briefly after World

War IMost Moldovians call themselves

RomanianLanguage is RomanianLarge population of Ukrainians and

Russians

Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan

Rural villagers in the Caucasus Mts.

Tend to live long lives, many live to be more than 100 years old

Historically these republics have been more influenced by Turkey and Iran than Russia

Most are not Slavic

Georgia

Georgians have been warriors and hunters, most Kartvelians with some turke, Greeks, Armenians, Ossets and Kurds

Most are Georgian OrthodoxFarmers with orchards of cherries,

apricots, grapes and other fruitGrain and dairy as well

ArmeniaFirst kingdom to make Christianity its

official religion in A.D.314Education importantLarge pool of trained, educated workersPhysics Institute and other science

centersSoviet doctors, engineers and

astronomers trained hereLong conflict with Azerbaijan over

religion because Azerbaijan is Muslim1988 Armenia had a devastating

earthquake

Azerbaijan

Between Armenia and Caspian SeaMostly Azeris, Turkish people with

strong ties to Persia (Iran)Crafts such as carpet weaving,

metalworking, wood carving and jewelry making

Central Asian Nations of Former U.S.S.R.Kazakstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan,

Kyrgyzsten and TajikistanMostly Turkish—Azeir, Kazakh, Kyrgyz,

Turkish, Uzbek, YakutRussians a minority in allLow-lying grassland and desertNomadic herding tradition and living in

huge, round tents called yiutsForced to live in villages under Soviets

and work in industries

Poland Nationalism high Homogenous Polish and Roman Catholic Many Jews in Poland before WWII “Ghetto” minority group forced to live in confined area 1980 Solidarity Labor Union pushed for reforms 1989 Communism fell and new President elected in

1990 High unemployment and inflation Resources: Coal and sulfur 75% of work in factories Countryside fertile soil

Balkan Peninsula4 Climate Regions: Mediterranean along

water, Humid Subtropical north, Marine West Coast, Humid Continental in east

Thick forestsHigh acid rain in north due to industryAlps along Adriatic Sea and Hungarian

BasinTemperate grasslands in westIncludes countries of Croatia, Albania,

Bulgaria, Montenegro, F.Y.R.O. Macedonia, Greece, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia

Balkan PeninsulaBalkanize: to break up into small, mutually

hostile political unitsSerious ethnic conflictYugoslavia mad up of hostile ethnic groups

after World War ISoon after Yugoslavia turned from Communism

in 1990, violence eruptedNations of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia,

Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro formed

Serbia and Montenegro remained together and referred to selves as Yugoslavia

Slovenia wealthiest of republics and first to secede from Yugoslavia

Balkan Peninsula

1992 brutal ethnic clash with Serbians, Croats and Bosnians in Bosnia-Herzegovina

“Ethnic Cleansing” of Bosnians lasted until 1996 by Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic because he did not want Bosnian region to secede from Yugoslavia

Kosovo in Serbian followed and Milosevic attacked Albanians in Kosovo

Albania

“Europe’s Hermit”Self-imposed isolation from rest of the

worldTransition from Communism very

difficult and people extremely poor1990s food scarcity caused bread riots

Czech and Slovak RepublicsCommunist Czechoslovakia after World

War II“Velvet Revolution” election of

democratic parliament to replace Communist rule without a struggle in 1993

First Prime Minister of Czech Republic philosopher and playwright, Vaclav Haval

Free Market SystemEconomy based on industry which

causes pollution

SlovakiaManufacturing and agricultureRedistributing land to people biggest

challengeBoth areas fairly mountainousEastern region of Czech republic known

as BohemiaWestern half of Czech Republic is

MoraviaDivided in half by mountainsRest of land plateausCarpathian Mts. Define Czech Republic’s

northern border