1. Human Geography of Europe

2. Human Geography 47 countries and micro-states 800 million people
One of the most densely populated regions in the world.
The core of Western civilization: Greece and Rome

3. Population Dilemma -0.2 natural increase (Stage 5) 9% drop by 2050
Aging/graying population
More people over 60 in some countries than under 20
Immigration from North Africa and Middle East is complicated and divisive.

7. Population Density Netherlands over 1000 ppsm United Kingdom 630 ppsm
Germany 599 ppsm
France 282 ppsm
United States 80 ppsm

8. The European Union 28 countries
Brought together primarily as an economic and political venture.
Capitals – Brussels and Strasbourg
Seemingly borderless continent
Dropping of tariffs but increasingly legalistic with rules and controls
Cultural nation-state issues are still very important.

9. The EURO 22 European countries use the currency UK, Denmark, Sweden
16 EU countries plus several smaller non-EU countries use it.
Which major EU countries chose not to use it?
UK, Denmark, Sweden
Established in 1999
Banknotes and coins began in 2002
Paper money looks the same throughout, coins have national symbols on them.

10. The EURO

11. Nation-States
Related to the ethnic and cultural aspects that have evolved throughout history.
Directly tied to a piece of territory.
Conflict and war have been associated with boundary systems of the nation-state.
Dates to the Peace of Westphalia in 1648

12. Multi-Lingual Region
Latin (Romance): Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Romanian
Germanic: German, English, Dutch, Scandinavian (N,S,I,D)
Slavic: Russian, Polish, Czech, Ukrainian, Slovenian, Serbo-Croatian

13. Celtic: Irish Gaelic, Scot Gaelic, Welsh
Finno-Ugric: Finnish, Estonian, Hungarian
Hellenic: Greek

14. Religion dominated by Christianity

15. Religion’s Geographic Division
Division of Europe is essentially a North/South divide.
Southern Europe remains largely Catholic as a result of the influence of the Roman Empire and the Vatican City’s importance.
Northern Europe developed into a Protestant region after the Protestant Reformation beginning with Martin Luther in 1519.

16. Eastern Orthodox Christianity
Primarily found in Eastern Europe.
Countries such as: Greece, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Romania, and Moldova.

17. Islam in Europe
Islam is on the rise with over 30 million in Europe today.
Primarily coming from North Africa, Middle East, and South Asia.
Significant numbers in France, United Kingdom, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark.
Pre-dominant Muslim countries include: Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia.

18. Clash of Cultures France and the headscarf issue
Train bombing in Spain – post 9/11
Subway and bus bombings in the UK
Murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh
Danish cartoon controversy
Paris 11/13/15

19. The Jews of Europe Jews once numbered over 9.5 million.
The Holocaust cost 6 million Jews their lives
Only 1.2 million Jews remain in Europe (excluding Russia).
Largest concentrations in cities such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Antwerp.

20. Recent Conflict & Resolution
The Cold War and the Fall of the Iron Curtain
The Balkanization (Break-up) of Yugoslavia
The “Troubles” of Northern Ireland

21. The Iron Curtain and its Fall
Communist Soviet Union set up satellite governments in Eastern Europe after WWII

22. East Germany becomes a flashpoint of the Cold War
Berlin Blockade: June 1948 – May 1949 – the Soviets & E Germans cut off road & rail routes to W Berlin – why?
Berlin Airlift: US, UK, Aussies, Kiwis, & SA fly 200,000 flights to supply W Berlin
USSR embarrassed by fiasco , lift blockade
1st major conflict of Cold War

23. The Berlin Wall
Erected in 1961 in an attempt by the East German government to prevent people from fleeing to the West; another crisis

24. The Fall of the Wall
After the failure of communism becomes evident, East German police no longer stop people as they begin to tear down the wall.
Starts on the night of November 9, 1989

26. The Chain Effect
From 1989 – 1991 a domino effect across E Europe & the Soviet Union led to the dissolution of communist governments.
Subsequently, new (old) nations emerged, boundaries changed, & new maps were created.

27. On the Map
15 independent countries came from the 1 former Soviet Union
Germany was re-unified as one country
Czechoslovakia would become two nations
Yugoslavia would violently become 7 independent nations

28. The Balkanization of Yugoslavia
10 years after the death of Yugoslavia’s dictator Marshal Joseph Tito, & as the Iron Curtain fell, Yugoslavia would begin a violent implosion.
Several former independent nations starting with Slovenia & Croatia in 1991, begin to declare their independence.
Yugoslav President and Serbian nationalist Slobodan Milosevic reacts with military force.

29. The Bosnian War
After Bosnia-Herzegovina declares its independence, Serb militias, with the backing from Slobodan Milosevic, begin an attack on ethnic Bosnian Muslims that became a modern day genocide (ethnic cleansing).
From over 250,000 people would be killed & the beautiful capital city of Sarajevo would be nearly destroyed.

30. Sarajevo – 1984 Winter Olympics

32. Kosovo (90% ethnic Albanian)

33. Northern Ireland Part of the United Kingdom
Northern 6 counties of Ireland
Only part of the UK in 1921
1960’s began to see violence in Northern Ireland between Catholic/Irish and Protestant/British.
3,400 people were killed in fighting over the years.
Irish Republican Army v Ulster Defense League

36. Future? Currently approximately 48% British/Protestant
45% Irish/Catholic
Birthrates suggest a more balanced and possible Irish majority in the years to come.
Will it lead to Ulster becoming part of the Republic of Ireland?