1. Cultural Geography of Europe

3. Northern Europe
United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Sweden, Finland and Denmark
Population patterns shaped by migration and distinct ethnic groups
Over 160 different ethnic groups across Europe
United Kingdom one of the most ethnically diverse and densely populated
Other countries dominated mainly one ethnic group

4. Northern Europe
UK has been conquered by different groups for thousands of years
Recently welcomed immigrants from across former British Empire
Scandinavian countries have less diversity
Ireland, UK have temperate climates and fertile soil that have supported a large population
Internal and external migration has affected the region
Internal migration has brought people to urban areas for opportunity
Major cities and economic centers and capitals - London, England; Stockholm, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark

5. Northern Europe Mid 1700’s Industrial Revolution
Began in England, transformed manufacturing in Europe and across the world
Transportation, communication developed
Rise of Industrial capitalism (profits used to expand companies)
Rise of middle class, rise of material comforts
Factory workers- poor, lived in crowded slums
Social problems led to ideas of communism
Idea based on economic equality, workers control factories and industrial production
By end of 1800’s many gov’ts began to pass laws to improve workers lives

6. Northern Europe
Since the end of World War II northern European countries have built stable democracies and strong economies
All northern European countries are members of the European Union
Languages all have Indo-European language
Most countries are Protestant and allow religious freedom
School is mandatory for at least 10 years and literacy rates are around 100%
Countries offer complete social welfare to citizens
Welfare States- tax supported programs for higher education, health care, social security
Large portions of national budget spent to provide services
Because of recent economic pressures governments have had to limit services

7. Western Europe
France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Germany
Germany and Austria historically have been homogeneous
Other countries reflect traditions of many different groups
Countries welcome many different immigrant groups
Germany uses foreign guest workers (workers temporarily allowed into country) to fill industrial jobs because of low population growth and ageing population
Many French immigrants are from former French colonies and are predominantly Muslim
Situations cause ethnic tension in region

8. Western Europe
Subregion densely populated, good farmland support large populations
Germany most populous country in Europe
Netherlands and Belgium have highest population densities
Most of region has an aging and shrinking population
Immigrants and people from rural areas moving to urban areas for opportunity
Major urban areas Paris, Brussels, Munich, Berlin, Amsterdam

9. Western Europe
Subregion part of Roman, Empire, Holy Roman Empire and place where Protestant Reformation began
France, Prussia (modern Germany and Poland) were once major European powers
Countries suffered heavily during two World Wars
End of WW II left Europe divided, ruined
Eastern Europe came under Communist control (USSR)
Most of Western Europe helped by aid from the US
Struggle between non- communist world and communist world –Cold War
Germany at center of tensions
After WWII Germany divided for almost 50 years
West Germany was democratic, East Germany was communist (reunited 1991)
West Germany prospered at this time by becoming a member of the EU and a player in the world economy
Economic development lags behind in the former East Germany

10. Cold War Europe

11. Western Europe Region home of artistic and literary movements
Realism, impressionism
Languages of region Indo-European in origin
Primarily Christian, tolerant of other religions and with a growing Muslim population
High literacy rate, high standard of living
Economy based in manufacturing and service industries
Governments provide social services to citizens

13. Southern Europe
Mediterranean home to some of the oldest civilizations in Europe
Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Vatican City
Italy most populated country
Vatican City world’s smallest independent state, and the seat of the Catholic Church
Population in Spain concentrated near coast
Millions from this region left in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and came to the US for economic opportunity
Most of the population is urban

14. Southern Europe
Capitals Rome and Athens ancient cities once centers of great empires
Athens introduced the world to democracy
Rome made breakthroughs in law and government
Renaissance began in Italy in the 1300’s
1800’s and 1900’s were a time of nationalism and World War
1990’s political and economic stability across subregion through democratically elected governments and membership in the European Union

15. Southern Europe
Literacy rates are high and the governments of the Southern European countries provide free, compulsory education
Governments provide healthcare and social services to citizens
2010 economic collapse in Greece and Portugal has led to reduction of social services
Romance languages dominate (languages based in Latin)
Majority of population is Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox, growing Muslim population due to immigration
Greeks and Romans developed the basics of architecture and great works of art have been produced by Italian artists

16. Eastern Europe
Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus and Russia
Sub region shaped by wars, migration and changing borders
Most people of region are ethnic Slavs
Many religious groups are represented (Catholic, Muslim, Eastern Orthodox)
Minority group found in Bulgaria are Roma people (Gypsies)

17. Eastern Europe Population density affected by geographic factors
Ukraine, Poland have fertile soils and support large populations (part of Northern European Plain)
Ukraine regions largest nation
Slavs settled region thousands of years ago, Romans conquered region, under the control of the Byzantine Empire, for over 500 years Balkan region controlled by Ottoman Empire
After WWII the region was part of the Soviet Bloc
Political circumstances caused large scale internal immigration and migration
Since the end of the Cold War many countries are experiencing economic growth

18. Eastern Europe
Modern Eastern Europe has suffered instability because of ethnic division, and power struggles
Balkan peninsula seen most instability
Balkanization term used to describe the division of a region into smaller regions that are often hostile toward one another
After WWI Yugoslavia was established that united all countries of Balkan region
Country was under communist control after WWII
After decline of Soviet Union in early 1990’s region fractured along ethnic lines
Some republics declared independence and ethnic and religious tension sparked violence
Serbs accused of ethnic cleansing of Muslim Bosnians
International peacekeeping efforts brought some peace

19. Eastern Europe Economy did improve during 1990’s
Countries encouraged free market reforms and free elections installed democratic leaders
Many countries faced challenges to health care in the transition from communism but most Eastern Europeans have access to government sponsored health care
Literacy rates are not quite as high as they are in Western Europe
Religious diversity has caused conflict across the region

20. Europe
The Region Today

21. The Economy
Industrial Revolution made Europe birthplace of modern industry
Availability of raw materials helped develop industry in parts of Europe
Major industrial centers of Ruhr district in Germany, Po Basin in Italy and the Upper Silesia district in the Czech Republic and Poland
Service industry provides a large percentage of the GDP (Gross domestic product, the value of goods and services produced by a country in a year) across Europe
60% of workers in service industry
Banking and finance, high tech industries and tourism, leading service sector industries

22. The Economy Europe has fertile farmland
Numbers involved in farming is dropping
Crops vary across Europe
Farmers use advanced techniques to make best use of limited space
Mixed farming common- several crops and livestock on one farm
Farm cooperatives- farmers share growing and selling products, reduces costs, increases profits
Under communism collective farms, government owned farms, workers received wages and a share of products
Out dated equipment, lack of incentive resulted in low yields
Debate over new farming methods from genetically modified foods to organic practices
Government subsidies for agriculture are an issue
Many think it causes overproduction and artificial price protection

23. Transportation and Communication
One of the best transportation systems in the world
Many are government owned, standards vary from country to country
Quality higher in Western Europe
Rail network links continent
High speed trains more economical than auto, air travel
Well developed highway system
Autobahn one of the best roads in the world (Germany)
Long tradition of seafaring, many major ports
Economies along Danube and Rhine River depend on trade
Handles over half of the worlds international shipping
Rotterdam in the Netherlands , at the mouth of the Rhine, the largest port in the world
Well developed cell phone network across Europe

24. Trade and Interdependence
European Union (EU) unites Europe into one trading community
Greater volume of trade than any single country in the world
Movement arose from WWII to rebuild ruined economies
1957 first countries joined (Belgium, West Germany, France, Luxembourg, Italy, Netherlands) to integrate economies
1992- Maastricht Treaty, set up EU
Get rid of trade restrictions, have common foreign policy, currency, works to scale down welfare state
Member countries work to boost trade and make economy more efficient and productivity

25. Eastern European Economy
During Cold War (1940’s-1991) Eastern Europe run under a command economy, were loyal to the USSR
Government made all economic decisions, workers had a lack of incentive to work
After the fall of communism- too many workers, too little technology, needed to retrain workers, adopt energy conservation measures
Countries needed to modernize to compete
Social benefits have been cut, population dropping since the early 1990’s

26. People and Their Environment
Europeans face challenges from the physical environment and most of Europe has been altered by human use
Physical environment: Earthquakes frequent in southern Europe, Iberian peninsula is an arid region makes agriculture difficult
Human interaction:
High concentration of industry has had an impact on land, air and water
Soil erosion due to deforestation and overgrazing is a problem in the arid Mediterranean region
Most of Europe’s forests have been removed, especially in Southern and industrial Western Europe to create cities, industry and farms
Delta Project- large scale, 30 year project to prevent flooding in the Netherlands

27. Water Pollution Agricultural ,industrial runoff problems across Europe
Industrial pollution, raw sewage and agricultural runoff have harmed river systems
Destroyed fish species, contaminated ecosystems
Biggest concern along Mediterranean
Recent times many have moved near the sea, tourism popular, has caused an increase in environmental problems
Used for transportation, recreation also a dumping ground for waste, sewage, industrial waste
Small tides, weak currents do not disperse pollution

28. People and Their Environment
Black Triangle (Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia) where industrial pollution has had the highest impact
Before 1989 most of Eastern Europe had no laws to control pollution
Communist emphasis on rapid industrial growth affected public health
Western European countries have dumped industrial waste in water and air
Industry contributed to acid rain, drifted across borders and affected other countries
Auto exhaust also contributes
Most severe in E. Europe where they burn more coal
Acid rain has damaged many historic sites in Europe
Worries about global warming

29. People and their Environment
Many European governments have made an effort to clean up the environment
EU requires environmental protection and cleanup from its members
EU members face legal actions for not following environmental protection laws
Countries wishing to join the EU are required to meet environmental standards
Many Western European countries and the US are providing technology and investment to clean up the environment
Financing and cleanup is expensive and difficult because of the number of countries involved
Many European countries are using alternative energy resources