Western EuropeClimate, physical features, culture & history

Overview – Ch. 14•History

▫Migration cultural diffusion▫Ancient civilizations

Greece – advances in art & science, colonies along Mediterranean – Rome (conquered vast empire)

Germanic tribes – conquered much of western Roman empire (c. 500 A.D.)

Centuries of poverty, warfare & political change▫Renaissance - rediscovery of arts, sciences &

technology (“rebirth”); states started traveling the seas & colonizing the world (c. 1400)

▫Religious change – Europe was unified under Roman Catholic Church; but people began to question & formed new churches (Protestant)

•Industrial Revolution – use of machine power (water, steam, fuel); began in England (1700s)

•Conflict & cooperation▫WWI & WWII, Cold War – conflicts as

nations developed, sought more power, & disagreed on major issues

▫European Union – organization formed to promote trade & political cooperation

Overview• People & Culture

▫Cultural diffusion – culture spreading as people inhabit new places

▫Ancient civilizations: Ancient Greece (Roman empire) & Germanic tribes

• Physical Geography▫Mountains – Alps, Pyrenees▫Rivers – Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Loire, Danube,

Elbe, Ebro, Po▫Coasts – jagged (cliffs), eroded drastically by

the ocean Form peninsulas: Iberian, Scandinavian, Greek,

Italian

Overview

•Climates▫Humid continental, subarctic, mediterranean,

marine west coast▫North Atlantic Drift = ocean current (W to E);

prevailing westerlies = constant pattern of temperate winds (W to E)

•Ecosystems▫Grasslands, forests, wetlands, tundra, highlands▫Reforestation – replanting of protected forests▫Elevation – affects what plants & animals can

thrive

European cooperation• The Euro

▫ Introduced Jan. 1, 2002▫ 0.72 euro = 1 dollar (US)▫ Replaced: the Belgian

Franc, the German Mark, the Greek Drachma, the Spanish Peseta, the French Franc, the Irish Punt, the Italian Lira, the Luxembourgish Franc, the Dutch Guilder, the Austrian Schilling, the Portuguese Escudo, and the Finnish Markka

▫ These other currencies were collected

• Countries using the euro: http://geography.about.com/od/lists/a/euro.htm

• These countries joined the “Euro Area” (branch of the European Union) & agreed to use this common currency

• Countries that have joined the EU since then have been required to adopt the euro, once they meet certain criteria (price stability, long-term interest rates, public finances)

• Changes:▫No exchange rates between countries▫More price stability▫Easier for travelers▫Strength as a unified market/economy

•Who doesn’t use the euro?▫Any country not in the EU or “Euro Area”▫Any country that hasn’t yet met the criteria▫Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden have

chosen not to use it Don’t like the communal nature of it Value of their currency is high & culturally

significant

The United Nations• “The United Nations is an international organization

founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.” – www.un.org

• Now has 192 member countries• 4 goals of the UN:

▫ To keep peace throughout the world ▫ To develop friendly relations among nations ▫ To help nations work together to improve the lives of poor

people, to conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and to encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms

▫ To be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations to achieve these goals

•Many different endeavors around the world▫Environmental▫Sustainability▫Urban development▫Conflict resolution▫Disaster relief▫Antiterrorism▫International policing▫Human rights

•To address Kony & the LRA, the UN has:▫Help children who have escaped the LRA

Rehabilitation, food, healthcare, reuniting with family

▫Keep thorough record of injustices as evidence to support continued aid effort

▫Communication campaign Try to get LRA combatants to defect &

disarm Has gotten hundreds to agree so far RISKY campaign

The British Isles: England• Terms to know:The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern

Ireland

ore fertile Industrial Revolution

tertiary economic activities

•Physical▫Highlands (west coast) – hard rock, 3000 ft.

elevation; not good for farming▫Midlands – coal deposits that fueled the

Industrial Revolution; high population density

▫Lowlands (SE region) – fertile area of rolling hills, marine west coast climate; great for farming

•Population▫England = most populated part of UK▫Most of England’s people live in or around

London or in fertile lowland regions

• Political▫Traditionally a monarchy; later developed

democratic parliament system (parliament + Prime Minister)

▫Part of UK; member of UN & EU• History

▫Celts Roman empire Angles & Saxons Normans (11th century)

▫Addition of Wales (1284), Scotland (1707) & Ireland (1801) In 1922, a portion of Ireland broke away to form the

independent Republic of Ireland. The portion that remained in the UK is now called “Northern Ireland”

▫England became important trading center (1500s) As sea travel grew & civilizations expanded, they

traveled west into the Atlantic, making England a prime port location

• Economy▫Surplus of goods + ideal location + coal/industry =

manufacture & export of LOTS of goods▫London = major port; industrial center & great

location on the Thames estuary (easy to bring ships in)

▫ Industries: farming (wheat, vegetables, sheep & cattle) mining (coal & iron ore); recently oil & natural gas, tourism & finance

• Culture▫Language = English▫Religion = mostly Christian (Roman Catholic +

Protestant)▫Long tradition of art, literature & theater▫Major cities = London, Liverpool, Newcastle,

Newport, Nottingham

• Rural England▫“Our England is a garden that is full of stately views,

Of borders, beds and shrubberies and lawns and avenues” - Kipling, “The Glory of the Garden” (1827)

• Industrial England▫“Coketown lay shrouded in a haze of its own, which

appeared impervious to the sun’s rays. You only knew the town was there because you knew there could have been no such sulky blotch upon the prospect without a town. A blur of soot and smoke, now confusedly tending this way, now that way, now aspiring to the vault of Heaven, now murkily creeping along the earth, as the wind rose and fell, or changed its quarter: a dense formless jumble…” - Dickens, Hard Times (1854)

The British Isles: Scotland & Wales•Terms to know:

Moor Bog

Glen Peat

The British Isles: Scotland

•Physical▫1/3 UK’s land area▫Rough landscape▫3 regions = northern highlands (moors &

bogs), central lowlands (plains), southern uplands (plateaus)

▫Tweed River & Cheviot Hills separate Scotland from England

• Economic▫Fishing, sheep (wool textiles – tweed), potato &

barley farming▫Old industries = mining, shipbuilding (Clyde R.)▫New industries = oil, tourism, high-tech

(“Silicon Glen”)• Historical

▫Tied to England over 300 years 11th century (Normans)=English & Scots living

together (cultural convergence) C. 1290=power struggle over Scottish land 1328=Scottish independence 1707=Act of Union (became part of the UK)

▫Retains Celtic culture

• Political▫Part of UK parliament (since 1707)▫Seat of gov’t = Edinburgh

• Cultural▫Language = English (but many still speak Gaelic –

traditional Celtic language)▫Religion = mostly Christian (Presbyterian & Catholic)▫Major cities = Edinburgh, Glasgow▫Strong connection to Celtic heritage▫Edinburgh Festival (international music & drama

festival) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m90xPjh3oXE

• Population▫Only 10% of UK’s population▫Most Scots (75%) live in central lowlands

The British Isles: Wales

•Physical▫Peninsula of Great Britain▫Similar landscape to Scotland: highlands,

lowlands, Cambrian Mountains)▫Marine west coast climate – LOTS of rain

•Economic▫Old industries = coal mining & heavy

manufacturing▫New industries = high-tech, tourism

•Historical▫Once ruled by Celts▫Conquered by England in 1294▫Members in British parliament since 1500s

•Political▫Now part of UK’s parliament▫Capital city = Cardiff

•Cultural▫Language = English (but many still speak

Welsh, the traditional Celtic language)▫Religion = Christian (Protestant)▫Major cities = Cardiff, Swansea

•Population▫Most Welsh live on the southern coast (near

Cardiff)

The British Isles: Ireland & Northern Ireland

•Physical geography▫Hills ring coastline; central lowlands▫Marine west coast climate = rich green

vegetation most of the year “The Emerald Isle”

▫1/6 of land covered in peat; Irish farmers cut & dried blocks of peat to burn as fuel; recently, used in power plants to create ¼ nation’s electricity

•Economy▫1990s – Irish gov’t invested in education &

telecommunications and encouraged foreign investment HUGE economic growth low unemployment

Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland

• Independent nation (not part of UK)

• Catholic majority• Supports reunification

(of Ireland)• Descendents of Celts

• Part of the United Kingdom

• Protestant majority• Opposes reunification • Descendents of English

& Scottish immigrants• Protestants controlled

wealth

•Celtic tribes Viking raids (c. 800 – 1000) Normans invade England (c. 1066) & claim parts of Ireland English kings saw Ireland as theirs Reformation (c. 1500), Protestants broke from Catholic church potato famine (c. 1840) Irish rebellions (1916 & 1921) Republic of Ireland = free nation in 1949 continued fighting over Northern Ireland steps toward peace (c. 1990s)

•Both sides have used violence to win control of Northern Ireland

The Nordic Nations

•Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, & Iceland

•Terms to knowFjords – steep-walled, flooded glacial valleysGeothermal energy – energy produced by the

earth’s interior heatMixed economies – economic systems that

combine different amounts of government regulation

• Culture▫Viking/Nordic ancestry▫Were once all united under Denmark (1397), then

gradually broke apart▫Common religion = Lutheran & other Protestant▫Languages are similar (have the same root); many

learn English to bridge international gaps• Gov’t & Economy

▫All are democracies & remain politically neutral in international disputes

▫Mixed economies – some institutions & industries are gov’t-run, some are private.

▫ Industries: Agriculture in southern areas of Denmark & Sweden Forestry, oil & gas The sea = major source of income (fishing, shipping)

Nicknamed “the Blue Meadow”

• Physical ▫Collection of peninsulas & islands separated by

seas, gulfs, & oceans)▫Varied terrain (flat plains, steep mountains,

rocky soil, lakes carved by glaciers – fjords)▫ Iceland = “land of fire & ice”

Volcanoes exist alongside glaciers Geothermal energy is used for much of the

country’s power & heat• Climate

▫Long winters, short summers▫Southern areas are fairly mild b/c of the North

Atlantic Drift (ocean current)▫Northern areas are bitter subarctic & tundra▫Aurora borealis can be seen in the winter

What are Northern Lights? • The bright dancing lights of the aurora are actually collisions

between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth's atmosphere. The lights are seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. They are known as 'Aurora borealis' in the north and 'Aurora australis' in the south.. Auroral displays appear in many colours although pale green and pink are the most common.

What causes the Northern Lights? • The Northern Lights are actually the result of collisions between

gaseous particles in the Earth's atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun's atmosphere. Variations in colour are due to the type of gas particles that are colliding. The most common auroral color, a pale yellowish-green, is produced by oxygen molecules located about 60 miles above the earth. Rare, all-red auroras are produced by high-altitude oxygen, at heights of up to 200 miles. Nitrogen produces blue or purplish-red aurora. ▫ http://www.northernlightscentre.ca/northernlights.html

• http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/news/norway-aurora-borealis-vin

Central Western Europe

•France, Germany, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands

•Terms to know:Dialects nationalizedRecession confederationReparations inflationLignite poldersDecentralize cantonsNeutral strip mining

Central Western Europe: France•Regions/Economies

▫Northern/Paris Basin = manufacturing, commerce

▫Southwest = winemaking▫Southern mountains = farming, tourism▫Mediterranean coast = tourism, oil

refineries, shipping▫East/Rhine Valley = mining (iron ore),

shipping

•History/Government▫Roman/ “Holy Roman” empire▫Constitutional monarchy▫Napoleonic empire▫Democracy (republic of the people)

•Culture▫National language = French▫Strong sense of national identity▫Pride in intellectual & artistic

achievements (philosophy, government, arts, fashion)

▫Paris is the political & cultural center

Central Western Europe: FranceREGION PHYSICAL

FEATURESCITIES ECONOMIC

ACTIVITIES

NORTH -Paris Basin (European Plain)- Seine River

-Paris- Lille-Versailles

-Commerce-Manufacturing-tourism

SOUTHWEST -Vineyards -Bordeaux -Winemaking

SOUTH -Massif Central- Pyrenees- Rhone River

-Avignon-Lyon-Arles

-Farming- manufacturing- tourism

MEDITERRANEAN - French Riviera -Nice- Cannes- Saint-Tropez- Marseille

-Tourism- shipping- oil refineries

EAST -Rhine River- Rhine Valley- Alps Mtns

-Strasbourg -Mining (coal, iron)- shipping

Central Western Europe: Germany• History

▫Separate states for most of its history (loose confederation in 1700s)

▫Losses in WWI & WWII (reparations)▫Divided into East & West Germany (1949)▫Reunification (1990)

• Regions/Economy▫Northern German Plain = farming,

manufacturing, trade▫Central Germany (Ruhr Valley) = manufacturing

(textiles, auto), coal▫Southern Germany/Alps = tourism, cultural

center

•Germany Today▫Europe’s leading industrial center▫Technologically strong economy (after U.S. &

China)▫Leading member of UN; strong economic ties

to other countries (many markets worldwide)•Problems

▫Aging population (costing $)▫Lots of $ spent to improve eastern Germany’s

economy▫Unemployment▫Violence against foreign workers▫pollution

Central Western Europe: The Benelux Countries

•Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg•“The low countries” – made up of low, flat

land•Densely populated•Strongly influenced by water & the sea•Pg. 337-339

Central Western Europe: Switzerland & Austria• Physical

▫Alps Mountains Minerals (iron ore, coal) Strip mining

▫Pop. concentrated in lowland regions• Political

▫Politically neutral Do not take sides in international conflict Neither is a member of NATO

▫Switzerland is divided into cantons with strong sovereignty

▫Austria got new borders at the end of WWI (when Austria-Hungary was broken up)

•Cultural▫Switzerland is very diverse

3 official languages: French, German, Italian Many different cultures exist; facilitated by

independent cantons▫Vienna is Austria’s cultural center

•Economic▫Switzerland has one of the highest standards

of living in the world Dairy farming (milk, cheese, chocolate) Manufacturing of specialized goods: jewelry,

scientific tools Banking

▫Austria has recovered economically Manufacturing, chemicals, textiles, mining

Mediterranean Europe: Spain & Portugal•Mediterranean climate = warm, dry

summers & cool winters•Terms to know:

▫Navigable – can be traveled ▫Dry farming – leaving fields unplanted for 1

or 2 years to replace moisture▫Siroccos – hot dry winds from Northern

Africa▫Hub – center of activity & influence

•Iberian Peninsula separated from Europe (difficult to access)▫By land: Pyrenees Mountains (between

France & Spain)▫By sea: steep cliffs along coastline

•Portugal has had great influence overseas▫15th century explorers colonized Africa & S.

America (Brazil)▫Now a major trading nation (ideal location)

•Economies moving from agriculture to industry▫Spain: steel, textiles, plastics▫Portugal: automobiles, textiles, CORK

Mediterranean Europe: Greece•Physical characteristics

▫Mediterranean climate▫2,000 islands▫Northern mountains (Alps & Pindus)▫Grabens = land that has sunk between

fault lines•Economic activities

▫Shipping▫Fishing▫Agriculture (wheat, olive, citrus, livestock)▫tourism

•Culture▫Mix of East & West cultures▫History of empires: Roman, Byzantine,

Norman, Turkish▫Mysterious disappearance of Mionian

culture on Crete

Vocab Review1. Nationalize2. Cantons3. Fjord4. Bog5. Peat6. Confederatio

n7. Recession8. Geothermal9. Renaissance10. Compulsory11. Balkanize12. Privatize

a) Wet, spongy materialb) Flooded glacial valleyc) Period of enlightenment (arts &

science)d) Swampy area found on a moore) Energy form used in Iceland

(underground heat)f) Political units in Switzerland (like

states)g) Required; mandatoryh) To bring under government controli) To bring under control of

people/companiesj) To split up into mutually hostile

groupsk) A loose alliance of statesl) A period of economic decline