1. Chapter 12 Southern Europe Section 1: Physical Geography

2. Physical Features
Southern Europe has three large peninsulas; Iberian peninsula, Italian peninsula and the Balkan peninsula.
Southern Europe is also known as Mediterranean Europe.
All of Southern Europe have long coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea.

3. Physical Features: Landforms
All three peninsulas are largely covered with rugged mountains.
Iberian Peninsula: Pyrenees (Pir-uh-neez) mountains that form a barrier between Spain and France.
Italian Peninsula: Apennines (A-puh-nynz) (run along the whole peninsula) and Alps (Europe's highest mountains)
Alps
Pyrenees
Apennines

4. Physical Features: Landforms
Southern Europe’s mountains extend into the sea forming islands. There are over 2,00 islands in the Aegean Sea east of Greece.
There are also flat plains along the coasts and river valleys throughout this region:
Good for farming
Where most of the population lives

5. Water Features
Water is central to the regions geography, no place in Southern Europe is far from a major body of water.
Seas have given people in this region food and easy access to travel around the region.
The largest body of water in the region is the Mediterranean sea. Other seas include the:
Adriatic sea
Aegean sea
Ionian sea
Only a few rivers run through the region:
Tagus (tay-guhs) regions longest river, flows across the Iberian peninsula.
Po river, runs through the Italian peninsula

7. Climate and Resources Climate: Mediterranean Climate Resources:
Mild and sunny climate
Mild winters
Little rain in the summer, more rain in the winter
Resources:
Climate is the most valuable resource; ideal for growing crops (citrus fruits, grapes, olives and wheat)
Tourism: Millions of tourists are drawn to the region every year for its climate, beaches and scenery.

8. Climate and Resources Seas:
Seas are another resource in Southern Europe
Largest cities are ports that ship goods all over the world
Food:
Variety of Fish and shellfish that provide the basis for a profitable fishing industries.

9. Section 2: Greece

10. History: Ancient Greece
The Greeks were pioneers in many fields that have shaped the modern world
Theater: Tragedies and Comedies
Philosophy: Created a system of reasoning that is the foundation for modern sciences.
Democracy: Future governments all around the world will use the Greek’s ideals of democracy into their own governments.
Olympics: 776 BC Olympia, in honor or Zeus
Art: life like paintings and statues that served as examples for later artists to imitate.
Architecture: Built stately temples of marble that continue to inspire architects around the world.
Literature: New forms in history and drama
Math: Made advances in geometry

11. History: The Romans and the Turks
300’s Greece become part of Alexander the Great’s empire.
Under Alexander’s rule Greek culture spread throughout his empire.
When the empire broke up Greece became part of the Roman Empire
After AD 400 Roman Empire divided into two parts, Greece became part of the Byzantine Empire.
Apart of Byzantine Empire for about 1,000 years
1300’s-1400’s Greece was taken over by the Ottoman Turks from Central Asia
Turks were Muslim but allowed people of Greece to remain Christian .

12. History: Independent Greece
Greeks were not happy under the Turkish rule; rose up against the Turks in the 1800’s.
Greeks received help from other European countries to help drive the Turks out
After rebellion Greece became a monarchy
Greece experienced instability in the 1900’s, falling to a military dictatorship from , but more recently has returned to a democracy.

13. Culture Factors that have shaped Greece’s culture
Greek Language
Christianity
Customs adopted from the many groups who have ruled Greece.
Language and Religion:
Speak Greek- one of the oldest languages spoken in Europe today
Orthodox Church- Branch of Christianity that dates back to Byzantine Empire (nearly everyone belongs to)

14. Culture
Customs:
Food: Influenced by products native to Greece and groups who have ruled Greece over time
Lamb/ Olives/ Vegetables- grow in Greece
Yogurt/ Honey- From the Turks
Family: Central to Greek culture and Greek society

15. Greece Today Urban and Rural Greece Greece’s Economy
3/5 of all people in Greece live in cities today
Athens- The nations capital, is the largest city and home to 1/3 of the country's entire population.
Outside of the city people live in isolated mountain villages where they grow crops, raise animals such as sheep and goats.
Village life center around a village square- People meet there to discuss local events and make decisions.
Greece’s Economy
Experiencing economic growth but not as much as other European countries.
Lack of resources- Few mineral resources and rugged landscape
Tourism- Very profitable industry for Greece
Millions of people per year come to vacation in Greece
Shipping-largest shipping fleet in the world that ships products all over the world

16. Section 3: Italy

17. History: Ancient Rome
According to legend, the city of Rome was built in the 700’s BC.
Greatest civilization developed in Italy was Rome
The Romans created a huge empire. At it’s height, the empire included parts of Europe, Southwest Asia and Northern Africa.
Roman art, architecture, literature, and law still influence people today.
Christianity arose sand spread in the Roman Empire.

19. History: The Renaissance
The Renaissance was a period of great advances in art, architecture, and literature
Began in the 1300’s cities like Florence.
From Italy, the Renaissance spread to other parts of Europe.
Some of the world’s greatest works of art were created at this time.

20. History: Unified Italy
Since the Middle ages, Italy had been divided into small states.
In the mid-1800’s, increased feelings of nationalism led people across Italy to fight for unification.
The fight for unification was led by Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Italy was officially unified in 1861

21. Culture Local Traditions: Religion:
Italian Food: All over Italy people eat many o the same foods; olives, tomatoes, rice, pasta. However the way they prepare the food differs depending on the region you are in.
South- serve pasta with tomato sauces
North- creamy sauces are more common.
Center for the arts: Italy has produced some the worlds greatest painters, designers, sculptors, authors, composers, fashion designers and film makers.
Leaders in contemporary art forms
Religion:
Most people in Italy belong to the Roman Catholic Church
Historically religion has been the strongest influence on Italian culture
Pope- The spiritual head of the Roman Catholic Church
Current Pope- Pope Francis
Lives in Vatican city, located in Rome.
100’s of churches throughout the city of Rome all periods in history

22. Italy Today
A shared language, the Roman Catholic church and strong family ties help bind Italians together.
Southern Italy
Country’s poorer half
Heavily dependent on agriculture
Sicily-island of the tip of Italy
Naples- the most important city in southern Italy; major port and manufacturing center.
Northern Italy
Strong economy due to; Fertile farm lands, major trade centers and most popular tourist destinations.
Rome- Capital of Italy (central part of the country)
Major center for banking and industry and one of the world’s most popular tourist sites.
Milan- Largest city in Italy and global fashion capital
Cloths created in Milan influence fashion designers around the world

23. Section 4: Spain and Portugal

24. History
Time Line
Spain and Portugal share the Iberian Peninsula or Iberia.
Many powerful empires controlled all or part of the Iberian peninsula in the past:
700 BC Phoenicians colonized coastal area of what is now Spain
Greeks
Roman Empire
After Roman Empire fell apart, Iberia was invaded by the Moors ( Muslim group from North Africa. For 600 years much of Iberian peninsula was under Muslim rule.
End of the 1400’s the Muslims were driven out of Iberia and the rulers of the Christian kingdoms of Spain and Portugal banned together to force non- Christians to leave Iberia.
Spain and Portugal went on to build huge empire that spanned the oceans having territories in the Americas, Africa and Asia.
Colonies of Spain and Portugal broke away in the 1800’s and 1900’s and became independent.

25. Culture Language: Religion: Music and Art:
Most widely spoken languages are Spanish and Portuguese
Different dialects of each are spoken differently in different parts of the region.
Religion:
Most people in Spain and Portugal are Roman Catholic
Celebrate Christmas/ Easter
Hold festivals in honor of their patron saints
Music and Art:
Portuguese are famous for sad folk songs called fados
Spanish are known for a style of song and dance called flamenco
Many elements of Iberia’s art and architecture reflect its Muslim past
Round arches
Elaborate tile work
(flamenco)
(fados)

26. Spain and Portugal Today
Still governed by a king (descendent of kings who ruled long ago)
Parliamentary Monarchy- The king rules with the help of an elected parliament
Agriculture was once the major economic activity, now they create automobiles and high tech products
Major cities like Madrid and Barcelona are centers for industry, tourism and culture
Portugal
Republic with elected leaders
Economy based largely on industries centered in large cities like Lisbon
In rural areas many people depend on agriculture as a source of income