Question of the Day

How big is Europe in comparison with the 48

contiguous United States?

Unit 5: EUROPE

TOP TEN NOTESTOP TEN NOTES

Chapter 4Pages 196-255

#1: Physical Geography of Europe

•Peninsula of peninsulas - western arm of larger Eurasian landmass & 5 peninsulas within

•Relative Location - perfect for contact with rest of world - no country more than 300 miles from sea – political/economic global domination

•Landforms – important mountain ranges (Ural Mts divide Europe/Asia), North European Plain is agricultural belt, rivers navigable

•Vegetation – nearly all original forests are gone

•Climate – North Atlantic Drift makes Europe warmer than it should be latitude-wise (warm water to coasts, air above is warm/wet)

#2: Environmental Issues•Natural Nonrenewable Resources – coal, petroleum, natural gas --> from Russia

•Alternative Sources of Energy – nuclear power, wind power, solar power, geothermal power

•Air Pollution – acid rain over North European Plain

•Water Pollution – pours into Mediterranean Sea & can’t leave

•Food – Europeans prefer European farm food more than imported food so they pay more for food than people in US

•Smaller family farms are giving way to large corporate farms

#3: Climate Change

•Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Europe produces 25% of world emissions

•Energy Consumption – Europeans average ½ of US consumption

•European Union – pledged to reduce CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020.

#4: European Union (EU)

•Economic Organization – free flow of goods and people across borders

•Member Nations – 28 (Croatia is new – 2013)

•People – 492 million

•EU Currency – EURO (not all 28 countries use this)

•No taxes (tariffs)

•Trade among countries has increased the standard of living in the member nation populations.

#5: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

•Military Cooperation – between Europe and North America during Cold War•Alliance - used to counter influence of Soviet Union (SU)•Since SU Breakup – NATO expanded membership to include Eastern European countries & Turkey•Main Focus – provide international security & cooperation needed to expand European Union

#6: Labor Force

•European economies are dominated by services (70%)

•Industrial jobs declining

#7: Population

•525 million

•Urbanized (80% live in cities)

•Fastest aging population and long life expectancy

•One of the world’s largest population clusters

•Families have fewer children:

•Women – professional careers delay marriage and lower birth rates (double day – work outside home and do domestic work at home)

•Some governments giving 10 month maternity/paternity leave, free day care and other incentives

#8: NATION-STATES

•Definition: A country whose population possesses a substantial degree of cultural similarity and unity.

•Nation-States have lots of NATIONALISM (great pride in one’s country nation or state).

Many nation- states in Europe.

#9: Highly Developed Infrastructure

•Western European countries have efficient transportation systems:

•Chunnel

•Bullet Trains

•Autobahn

•Communication networks promote extensive trade and international cooperation.

#10: Social Welfare (Protection)•Definition – tax supported systems provide citizens with benefits•Basic health care•Pensions•Child care•Free or low cost higher education•Affordable housing•Old age and disability pension benefits

•Average income taxes of citizens in European countries:•40% (in some countries, it’s more than 50%)•Compared to US – 27%