Europe The Birthplace of Western Civilization -A peninsula of peninsulas -A troubled history -A United Europe Countries as ranked by GDP Luxembourg Norway Countries ranked by land size U K R A I N E Countries ranked by Population Physical Characteristics of Europe Part of a large landmass called Eurasia A Peninsula of Peninsulas • Iberian: Spain and Portugal • Italian: Italy • Scandinavian: Norway and Sweden • Jutland: Denmark • Balkan: Greece and others Large Islands in Europe: Iceland British Isles Sicily Fjords in Norway Carved by glaciers as they receded Mountains: • Alps: Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and France • Pyrenees: form a natural border between France and Spain. North European Plain FARMING: North European Plain • Advanced farming techniques increased crop yields • Rich, black soil called Chernozem Rivers • Danube: The longest river in the EU-starts in the Black Forest of Germany and flows through Austria, Hungary, Romania, etc. before emptying into the Black Sea. • Rhine: originates in the Swiss Alpsflowing through Germany and the Netherlands on its way to the North Sea. • Seine: Originates in Burgundy and flows through Paris on its way to the English Channel. • Volga: Originates in the hills north of Moscow and flows through western Russia past Volgograd and into the Caspian Sea. It is the national river of Russia. Seas • Adriatic: contained by the Italian and Balkan Peninsula Venice is located at the northern end. Aegean: flows through the many Greek islands • Mediterranean: Bounds North Africa, Southwest Asia, and, of course, Southern Europe. It also connects to the Atlantic through the Strait of Gibraltar and to the Red Sea through the Suez Canal. • Baltic: Bounded by the Northern coast of Europe and the Scandinavian countries of Finland, Sweden, and Norway. • Black: Bounded by the Balkan Peninsula, Turkey, and the Eurasian Republics to the southwest. It connects to the Mediterranean Sea via the Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits. • North: Bounded by Great Britain, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark-Connects with the Baltic Sea and the English Channel. Climate Regions in Europe From Tundra in Scandinavia to Mediterranean in the South Effects of the North Atlantic Drift and westerly's on climate • The N.A.D. is an extension of the Gulf Stream and the prevailing westerly’s blow across these currents generating Western Europe’s weather and having a wet and moderating influence in the region. Human Environment Interaction Polders in the Netherlands Land reclaimed from the sea Acid Rain:Results of unchecked industrial emissions Air pollution and destruction of forests. Acid Rain has damaged many historical statues and buildings. Areas threatened by air and water pollution: Black Forest-Germany Venice Rhine, Danube, and Seine Venice is suffering from severe pollution and it is sinking into the Adriatic. The Chunnel A tunnel under the English Channel • A tunnel boring machine. High speed trains move people and goods from Britain to France From Dover England to Calais France • Physically uniting Britain to continental Europe Cultural Characteristics of Europe Cultural Characteristics Tiled Roofs in the Mediterranean Reflect heat/rain runoff Chalets in Switzerland Heavy snows slide off Ballooning in Switzerland. Castles Remnants of Medieval history Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Esp. Great Britain Birthplace of Western Democracy • Greece and Rome • Republican forms of government were formulated there. Spread of European Culture: 1. Exploration 2. Colonization 3. Imperialism Urbanization • Many densely populated cities in Europe. NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization: Intended to form a military alliance against Communism in Western Europe. Roman Catholicism The unifying faith of Europe Religion as a divisive force. • Conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. The Protestants in N.I. want to remain part of the U.K. , but the Catholics wan to unify all of Ireland as a Catholic state. Ethnic Heritage and diversity • Yugoslavia: Serbs, Croats, Bosnians, and Albanians • Conflict: War in Bosnia, “Ethnic Cleansing.” Language • Multiple languages in Switzerland. Why? • Cities as Centers of Culture and Trade Venice: Queen of the Adriatic built on islands and connected with various canals. A gondola on the Grand Canal Berlin • Capital of Germany and located on the Spree River. Brandenburg Gate: built as a monument to peace. Berlin Wall: divided Communist East Berlin from democratic West Berlin for almost a generation. An artificial boundary. Paris: Capital of France and built on an island in the Seine river. Eiffel Tower: built for the 1889 Centennial Exposition. Louvre: French art museum in Paris. Home to the Mona Lisa. The Louvre also has a large collection of Impressionist Paintings Arc de Triomphe • War Memorial • Napoleonic Era Notre Dame: Catholic cathedral in Paris. Front view of Notre Dame Madrid: Europe's highest capital (Spain) London: Capital of Great Britain and site were the Thames river narrows Big Ben: Clock and tower in London. Westminster Abbey: where most of the monarchs have been crowned. Rome: The eternal city. Capital of Italy and location of the Vatican Citycapital of the Roman Catholic Church. Colosseum: Where gladiators fought and Christians were persecuted. Inside the Colosseum Warsaw: capital of Poland, located on the Vistula River. Athens: A hilltop site and capital of Greece. The birthplace of western Civilization. Acropolis: hilltop site that contains the ruins of the ancient city-state of Athens. Parthenon: temple of Athena. Economics Economic Characteristics • Well-educated workface • Industrial and technological societies • Banking in Switzerland: limited natural resources. • High-Tech farming • Well-developed infrastructure • Fertile soils The European Union: an attempt to rebuild Europe economically through cooperation rather than competition. Lower trade barriers, free borders, etc. A Political/Economic Force A United States of Europe. Mountain Regions: Tourism, recreation(Skiing), and mineral resources. Rivers and canals serve as major transportation links. Oil Reserves in the North Sea. Differences in Western vs. Eastern European economic Development • Due to the failure of communist economic systems • Communism is now being replaced with capitalism in eastern Europe Development of industrial and transportation centers near mineral deposits, coal, and iron ore. • Ruhr Valley: Germany • Po Valley: Italy Demographics of Developed Countries: 1. High Per Capita GDP 2. High Life Expectancy 3. Low Population Growth Rate 4. Low Infant Mortality 5. Low % of population under the age of 15 6. High Literacy Rate A Converse All-Star Production Edited by: Cheri LaPorte