Aristotle
Julius Caesar
Ch. 12:1 - Physical Geography of Southern Europe
Landforms
• Southern Europe is made up of three
peninsulas: Spain and Portugal on the Iberian
Peninsula, Italy on the Italian Peninsula, and
Greece on the southernmost part of the Balkan
Peninsula.
• Andorra, San Marino, and Vatican City are
smaller countries in the interior, while the island
nations of Malta and Cyprus serve important
functions in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Mountain ranges like the Pyrenees and the
Alps form a natural border with Northwestern
Europe.
Swiss Alps
Ch. 12:1 - Physical Geography of Southern Europe
Water Systems
• Although important to the ecology of the region,
Southern Europe’s shallow rivers are not
viable transportation or trade routes.
• The Ebro River in Spain provides hydroelectric
power and water for agriculture.
• The drainage from the Po River in Italy feeds
the country’s most fertile plain.
• Italy’s Tiber River is the primary water source
for the capital city of Rome.
Ch. 12:1 - Physical Geography of Southern Europe
Climate, Biomes, & Resources
• The Alps block Atlantic winds from the north,
causing the warm, dry summers and mild, rainy
winters of this Mediterranean climate.
• The subregion is well suited for growing grapes,
olives, shrub herbs, and raising livestock.
• Tungsten, one of Spain’s many natural
resources, is essential to the high-tech industry.
• Italy has few mineral resources, while Portugal
has large deposits of copper.
Italian Farm near the Mediterranean Sea
Ch. 12:2 - Human Geography of Southern Europe
History and Government
• The civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome
laid the foundation for Western civilization.
• The Renaissance marked a period of cultural
revival and enlightenment.
• Spain and Portugal became leaders in the Age
of Exploration, establishing new empires.
• Nationalism and unification in the 1800s and
1900s brought political stability to the area.
• Recent economic challenges include high
unemployment rates and credit problems.
GREEK EMPIRE
Ancient Athens
The Acropolis, Athens, Greece
ROMAN EMPIRE
Ancient Rome
Roman Forum
Italian Renaissance Painting
1400’s – 1700’s A.D.
Ch. 12:2 - Human Geography of Southern Europe
Population Patterns
• Southern Europe is one of the most populated
regions of the world.
• As the populations of Greece, Italy, and Spain
age and the birthrates fall, care for the elderly
is straining the social welfare systems.
• Demand for labor is being met by migrants
within the European Union.
• Economic migration throughout the EU has
resulted in a growing diversity of cultures.
Ch. 12:2 - Human Geography of Southern Europe
Society & Culture Today
• Education in Southern Europe is mandatory for
all children.
• The cultures of Greece, Spain, and Italy are
centered on the family and are influenced by
the Roman Catholic religion.
• Women have achieved a high level of gender
equality in higher education and business,
though their success in politics has been slower
to develop.
• The Greeks and Romans developed many
important elements of art and architecture.
Ch. 12:2 - Human Geography of Southern Europe
Economic Activities
• The global recession of 2008 hit Southern
Europe hard.
• Spain and Italy continue to face challenges.
• As one of the least developed in the area,
Greece’s economy remains weak as it grapples
with high public spending, low productivity, and
tax evasion.
• The EU is facing its first test of economic
stability with Southern Europe suffering from
record national debt and high unemployment.
Ch. 12:3 - People and Their Environment: Southern Europe
Managing Resources
• Large algae blooms are damaging the delicate
marine biomes of the Adriatic Sea.
• Changes in the global climate has made
weather more unpredictable.
• Effects of climate change include increased
erosion, higher risk of fires, increased
deforestation, and the loss of glaciers at high
altitudes.
Typical Algae Bloom
Ch. 12:3 - People and Their Environment: Southern Europe
Human Impact
• The decline of fish stocks has adversely
affected the overall health of the marine biome.
• Manufacturing and tourism cause pollution
that is a major threat to surrounding seas and
agricultural resources.
• Pollutants and other human impacts have led to
pollution hot spots, the extreme damage or
even death of the local ecosystem.
Air Pollution in Athens, Greece
Ch. 12:3 - People and Their Environment: Southern Europe
Addressing the Issues
• The EU created the European Environmental
Agency to effectively deal with environmental
issues.
• Many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs),
such as Earthwatch, are working on solutions
to environmental problems.
• Certification is a way to combat deforestation
and to ensure that forest resources are being
used responsibly.