Regions of Europe
© 2009, TESCCC
Geographic
Characteristics
Western edge of Eurasia
Pervasive world influence
Industrialized
Numerous nation-states
Urbanized population
High standards of living in more developed
countries
East v. West differences
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Importance of Location
Centrally located with capability of
contact with rest of world.
Every part of Europe is close to the
sea (within 300 miles).
Navigable waterways
Moderate distances
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Generalizations on Climate
• Countries closer to warm Atlantic ocean
currents and winds have milder temperatures
than those farther east and north.
• European climates vary according to
distance from the sea (idea of
continentality).
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Biomes and Land Use in Europe
Most of Europe is Temperate Mixed Forest, that is
typically cleared for farming. Areas of Scandinavia
are Coniferous forests while the Mediterranean
coastline has scrubby vegetation known as chaparral.
Land Use is typically Mixed Farming or Dairy Farming.
Mediterranean farming would include the wine
industry and olive oil production. Much of the
highlands in the British Isles is used for grazing.
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AGRARIAN REVOLUTION
Began in Europe in the 1750s
Based on new agricultural innovations
Enabled increased food production
Enabled sustained population increase
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INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Developed in the UK between 1750-1850
Evolved from technical innovations that
occurred in British industry
Proved to be a major catalyst towards
increased urbanization
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URBAN TRADITION
Urbanization- 73% of Europe is urbanized.
Related concepts
Primate city- largest city that encompasses
the cultural ideals
CBD- downtown (business and commerce)
Metropolis- terms used to describe central
city and suburbs
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Supernationalism
A venture involving three or more nations
Political, economic, and/or cultural
cooperation to promote shared objectives
New “Euro”Currency
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European
Union (EU)
Original Members: (12) Belgium, Denmark,
France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK
Established: 1992
Aimed to coordinate policy among
the members in three ways:
-- economics
-- defense
-- justice and home affairs
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Supranationalism
Problems
Loss of autonomy and control
Differences in levels of economic
development
Cultural barriers
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Languages
In Europe, there are about 50 different
languages and more than 100 dialects,
most of which belong to the IndoEuropean language family
The Slavic languages of eastern Europe,
the Germanic languages of northern
Europe, and the Romance languages of
southern Europe are Indo-European
languages.
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Religions
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- Europe is predominantly Christian.
- Most of southern/western Europe’s
Christians are Roman Catholics,
whereas most northern European
Christians are Protestants.
- In much of southeastern Europe,
Eastern Orthodox Christians
predominate.
- Many Muslims also live in southeastern
Europe (Turkish influence), and Jewish
communities exist in all major European
cities.
Break Between Culture and Environment
of Europe
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European Regions
Western Europe
The British Isles
Nordic Europe
Mediterranean
Europe
Eastern Europe
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British Isles
Two Islands:
•Britain
•Ireland
Two Nations:
•United Kingdom
•Ireland
United Kingdom:
•England
•Scotland
•Wales
•Northern Ireland
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Climate
Marine West Coast:
Humid, moist Climate
that is moderated by
warm ocean currents
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Historical Geography
• Pagan tribes were settled in the British Isles prior
to the Roman arrival in the 1st century BCE. Romans
remained for about 5 centuries (remnants include
Hadrians Wall).
•Anglos and Saxons settled as the Romans departed,
followed by Nordic tribes (Vikings) in the 9th
century, who plundered the Christian churches in the
area.
•England gets its name from the Anglos or Engles,
which were Germanic tribes from the Mainland.
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Hadrian’s Wall
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Continued
Ireland was less affected by the
Anglo-Saxons and Nordic tribes
Ireland retained its Gaelic heritage.
Most Irish were converted to Roman
Catholicism in the 5th and 6th
centuries (recall St. Patrick)
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British Empire
Grew in strength throughout the
Middle Ages
World Conquests: to the Americas,
Africa, South Asia (India), SE Asia,
Australia, South Pacific. STRONG
NAVY
The British built a presence in every
part of the world. Empire declined
during the 20th century
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Modern Germany
• Suffered greatly after the World Wars
from political and cultural conflicts.
• Germany is known for its scholarship and
hard work ethic.
• Welcomes immigrants from all nationalitiesit is now an open, liberal society.
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Switzerland and Austria
German influenced, although
Switzerland is also influenced by
Italy and France.
Alps- In Western Austria and all
of Switzerland.
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Northern Europe
Denmark
(Greenland)
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Iceland
Estonia*
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Physical Geography of Scandinavia
• Ice Age glaciers melted here leaving
thousands of lakes.
• Other glaciers carved out fjords
along the coastline.
• Jutland, the peninsula on which
mainland Denmark lies, is mostly flat.
• The Scandinavian Peninsula in
northern Europe is mountainous.
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MEDITERRANEAN EUROPE
•Consists of the Iberian, Italian
and Balkan Peninsula
•Many islands are associated with
this Region.
•The Climate is….Mediterranean!
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MEDITERRANEAN EUROPE
A DISCONTINUOUS REGION
ON THE PERIPHERY
CULTURAL CONTINUITY DATES
FROM GRECO-ROMAN TIMES
MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE
HOT - DRY SUMMERS
WARM/COOL - MOIST WINTERS
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Iberian Peninsula
Most of the peninsula is a plateau, but the
Pyrenees Mountains form a barrier
between it and the rest of Europe.
Southwestern Europe’s Iberian Peninsula,
home to Spain and Portugal, separates the
Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic
Ocean.
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ITALY
MOST POPULATED OF MEDITERRANEAN
COUNTRIES
BEST CONNECTED TO THE EUROPEAN
CORE
MOST ECONOMICALLY ADVANCED
DISPLAYS A SHARP NORTH/SOUTH
CONTRAST
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EASTERN EUROPE
Europe’s poorest region
Influenced by Russia
Many areas have had political and
economic instability during the
last 2 decades.
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UNDERLYING FORCES
CENTRIFUGAL FORCES
REFER TO FORCES THAT TEND TO
DIVIDE A COUNTRY
Religious, linguistic, ethnic, or ideological
differences
CENTRIPETAL FORCES
FORCES THAT UNITE AND BIND A
COUNTRY TOGETHER
A strong national culture, shared ideological
objectives, and a common faith
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SUBREGIONS OF
EASTERN EUROPE
COUNTRIES ON THE BALTIC SEA
THE LANDLOCKED CORE
COUNTRIES ON THE ADRIATIC
SEA
COUNTRIES ON THE BLACK SEA
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COUNTRIES ON THE BALTIC SEA
POLAND
A CLASSIC NATION-STATE
TRADITIONALLY A FARMING COUNTRY
LITHUANIA
LATVIA
ESTONIA
BELARUS: Still strongly influenced by
Russia
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THE LANDLOCKED CORE
CZECH REPUBLIC
The region’s most westernized
SLOVAKIA
Less developed, more rural than Czech
Republic
HUNGARY
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COUNTRIES FACING THE BLACK SEA
BULGARIA: Freed from Russia in 1878.
ROMANIA: Formerly Roman
MOLDOVA: Agrarian
UKRAINE: Agrarian; largest and most
populated of these countries
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COUNTRIES ON THE
ADRIATIC SEA
SLOVENIA: FIRST TO SECEDE; ETHNICALLY
MOST HOMOGENEOUS
CROATIA: BOOMING TOURISM
BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: CENTRALLY
POSITIONED
SERBIA-MONTENEGRO: INCLUDES SERBIA,
KOSOVO, AND MONTENEGRO
MACEDONIA
ALBANIA: 70% MUSLIMS; LOWEST ECONOMIC
RANKING IN EUROPE
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