Do Now
• Read the article and do the following:
– Highlight and/or underline three main ideas of
the article
– Circle or Make a Star around facts you think
are interesting
– Put a ? Around ideas that you may be
confused about or what you want to know
more.
Do Now: Name the Country!
9.
7.
8.
10.
5.
2.
4.
3.
1.
6.
Northern
Ireland
Ireland
Scotland
The British Isles
England
Wales
Europe
The British Isles
• They are made up of two
independent countries: The Republic
of Ireland and the United Kingdom
of Great Britain
• The United Kingdom includes Four
Political Regions: England, Wales,
Scotland, and Northern Ireland
– Also divided into Lowland Britain and
Highland Britain
• Lowland Britain has a complex cultural geography
• Also home of Stonehenge
Successive Settlement Groups
• Celts
• Romans
• Angles and Saxons
• Vikings
• 1066 William of Normandy conquered England
• Each of these left an imprint on lowland Britain
• This is called sequent occupance, where each
group created a distinctive cultural landscape
The British Empire
• In the 1600s & 1700s,
British explorers and
settlers founded
colonies around the
world.
• During the 1800s, more
than 1/4th of the world’s
land was ruled by British
Empire.
• The empire spread the
English language,
Christianity, and British
law, and sports around
the globe.
• Colonies of the US were part of the British Empire, declared
independent in 1776
• Most former colonies became members of the Commonwealth
of Nations
• Ireland did not gain
independence from the
British until 1921.
• A famine almost destroyed
the population of Ireland by
destroying the potato crop.
This also caused the people of
Ireland to migrate to the United States.
Culture of the British Isles
• Sports: soccer, rugby, and cricket
• Language: English
• Government:
– Great Britain has a constitutional monarchy that is,
a king or queen, is the head of the state, but a
parliament led by a prime minister serves as the
lawmaking branch of government
– Ireland is a republic and the president is the head of
the state.
Who will
be the
next
king?????
How long
will she
live???
She is 89!!! She
became Queen at 25
and has ruled
since!!!! (64 years!!)
• Religion:
– Vast majority of people in Ireland are Roman Catholic
– Protestants make up a majority of the population in
Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom
• Cities:
– Dublin is Ireland’s capital (most populous city)
– London is the largest city, cultural center, world
financial center, and the capital of United Kingdom
– Both are great for tourism… amazing site seeing!!!
Economy
• The Industrial Revolution began in Britain
• Early industries included iron and steel, shipbuilding, and
textiles
• Through 1700s and 1800s Britain dominated global trade.
By 1900, Britain lost their dominance to foreign trade
• After WWII, the United Kingdom nationalized many
industries…. Industries are owned and operated by the
government
• Today, Britain has returned most industry to private
ownership and the British economy is strong
• Ireland’s economy is traditionally based on farming but
today has become one of the Europe’s most developing
economies
France
France
• One of Europe’s largest and most influential
countries
• Most of the people of France speak French
along with some cultural and regional dialect
• 90% of the population is Roman Catholic.
• France has had a long and friendly relationship
with the United States
– Some are worried about how the American culture is
spreading to France
– They want to maintain a strong French culture
• Paris is the capital and primate city (one that
ranks first and dominates a country in terms of
population and economy) of France
• About 11 million people live in Paris
• Paris is France’s center for banking, business,
communications, education, government, and
transportation.
• The Eiffel Tower was once, for 41 years, the tallest
structure in the world.
Economy
• The economy is highly diversified and
developed.
• France is the center for fashion, tourism, and
culture.
• Farming is also a major part of the economy.
• France is second to the US in agricultural
exports
The Benelux Countries
• Belgium, the Netherlands, and
Luxembourg
• All three have been fought over by
foreign powers
• After WWII, the Benelux countries
established a political and
economic union, this was a seed
for the creation of the European
Union
– An organization of countries
interested in increasing economic
and political cooperation between
its members.
• Dutch is spoken in the Netherlands and northern
Belgium (here it is called Flemish)
• About 40% speak French
• Luxembourg has three official languages:
German, French, and Luxembourgian (related to
German and Dutch)
Scandinavia
• Norway, Sweden, Denmark,
Finland, and Iceland
• Known in the past for fierce Viking
sailors but today is known for its
high standards of living
• Almost all Scandinavians are
Protestant Lutheran
• Most Scandinavians live in the
southern part (warmer climates)
• Far north it becomes
uninhabitable (too cold to live)
Group Assignment
• Read your section and write a 25 word or less
summary
• Discuss Section and Summary with Group--- This
is important! Your other group members did not
read your section so TEACH them!!
• Write a group summary (length not specified) of
all sections
What to Read:
• Turn in Group Summary with
1-History
all summaries stapled to it. Make
2-Government
Sure all names are on the summaries 3-Queen
4-Weather