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Regions of Europe

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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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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.

Biomes and Land Use in Europe

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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 conceptsPrimate 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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SupranationalisSupranationalismmA venture involving three or more nations

Political, economic, and/or cultural cooperation to promote shared objectives

New “Euro”Currency

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European European Union (EU)Union (EU)

Original Members: (12) Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UKEstablished: 1992Aimed to coordinate policy among the members in three ways:

-- economics -- defense-- justice and home affairs

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SupranationalismSupranationalismProblemsProblemsLoss 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 Indo-European language familyThe 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- 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.

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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 tribesIreland 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 AgesWorld Conquests: to the Americas, Africa, South Asia (India), SE Asia, Australia, South Pacific. STRONG NAVYThe 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 nationalities- it 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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Denmark (Greenland)

SwedenNorwayFinlandIcelandEstonia*

Northern Europe

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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 REGIONON THE PERIPHERYCULTURAL CONTINUITY DATES FROM GRECO-ROMAN TIMESMEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE

HOT - DRY SUMMERSWARM/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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ITALYMOST POPULATED OF MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIESBEST CONNECTED TO THE EUROPEAN COREMOST ECONOMICALLY ADVANCEDDISPLAYS A SHARP NORTH/SOUTH CONTRAST

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EASTERN EUROPE

Europe’s poorest regionInfluenced by RussiaMany 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 FORCESFORCES 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 EUROPECOUNTRIES ON THE BALTIC SEATHE LANDLOCKED CORECOUNTRIES ON THE ADRIATIC SEACOUNTRIES ON THE BLACK SEA

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COUNTRIES ON THE BALTIC SEAPOLAND

A CLASSIC NATION-STATETRADITIONALLY A FARMING COUNTRY

LITHUANIALATVIAESTONIABELARUS: Still strongly influenced by Russia

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THE LANDLOCKED CORE

CZECH REPUBLICThe region’s most westernized

SLOVAKIALess 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 TOURISMBOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA: CENTRALLY POSITIONED

SERBIA-MONTENEGRO: INCLUDES SERBIA, KOSOVO, AND MONTENEGRO

MACEDONIAALBANIA: 70% MUSLIMS; LOWEST ECONOMIC RANKING IN EUROPE