Chapter One: Europe Part Two: Student Notes for Pages 71-105 Please do not write on the T-Lines, those are reserved for the teacher s notes 1. Western Europe Germany: (Pages 71-75) Introduction (Western Europe) Capital: Berlin Creation: Created 1871 from 39 different states following a war with France Influence in the EU: Strongest advocate in the EU Size: Smaller than France territorially Populous: Most populous Reunited Germany West Germany: American-led, democracy, rehabilitating East Germany: Soviet-led, communism, punitive Revival West Germany s Economy: Free market, the economy thrived Centrifugal Forces: Large immigrant population Setback & Shock Problems in West Germany: Rising unemployment, aging population & backlash against foreign workers Germany Restored West Germany Population: 62 Million East Germany Population: 17 Million Effects of reunification on West Germany: Reunification was a rescue mission, cost on West Germany was enormous. 1
The Federal Republic West German States: Ten federal states (Landers), mostly rank in high income categories East German States: 15 districts, low-income categories Stuttgart: One of the Four Motors of Europe France: (Pages 75-77) Introduction Size: Largest Country in the EU Port System: Poor port system, which are a major disadvantage Paris: Single dominant city Capital: Paris Paris: Site & Situation City s Original Settlement: Roman Fort on an island with good surrounding farm land Modern Frances French Industry: High-speed trains, aircraft, fiber optic com systems French Agriculture: One of Europe s most productive French Economic Geography: Marked by high-tech industries Napoleons Legacy French Government: Centralized government, focused power to the capital Decentralizing the State French Government: 22 historically significant regions. Lyon: One of the Four Motors of Europe 2
Benelux (Page 77-79) Netherlands Capital: Amsterdam Location of the Government: Government is run in The Hague Ports: Netherlands has excellent ports Polders : land claimed from the sea, very important to their growth Conurbation : 2 or 3 cities merge to form a large metropolitan complex Belgium Brussels: Headquarters of the EU is located there Cultural Devolution: Flemish & Walloons Capital: Brussels Excellent Ports (Antwerp) Luxembourg Status within EU: One of the greatest beneficiary of the EU, Very strong EU supporter Most prosperous European state (Financial, service, tourism) Alpine States (Page 79) Switzerland Capital: Bern Geographic Features: Landlocked, Mountains Interaction with other nations: Used isolation to their benefit Economy: Global money magnet, LOTS of world banking Zurich & Geneva: Financial center of the German sector & Financial center of the French sector Austria Capital: Vienna Stability: Historically geography similar to unstable Eastern Europe Relationship with Hungary: Close with Hungary, this stems from old Anti-Muslims wars (Think Austro-Hungarian Empire) 3
British Isles (Pages 79-83) Roots of Devolution Examples of Devolution: Irish Catholics & English Protestants often at odds Originated in Ireland, spilled over to England (Terrorist attacks) Countries that make up the UK: England, Wales, Scotland, N. Ireland A Discrete Region Colonial Power: Formed one of the world s largest empires during the colonial time period End of Empire Fate of UK s Empire: The empire dissipated (Worldwide collapse of colonial empires & the resurgence of mainland Europe) The United Kingdom A. Southern England London: Metropolitan area, 1/3 of nations population, top 3 world Cities B. Northern England Focus of this area: Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution Today: Rust belt C. Wales Capital: Cardiff Former Major Export: Coal Example of Devolution: Welsh nationalist, they seek independence D. Scotland Capital: Edinburgh Major Industries: Coal & Iron (Past) Oil, Natural Gas, Shipping (Today) Example of Devolution: Scotland wishes to become independent 4
E. Northern Ireland Examples of Devolution: The Troubles, Catholics vs. Protestants Republic of Ireland Capital: Dublin Economy: Serviced based economy Status in the EU: Benefited from joining the EU Industry in Ireland: Well educated, poorly paid population drew technology industries Northern (Nordic) Europe (Pages 84-86) Introduction Geographic Relation to the rest of Europe: Isolated from the rest of Europe Language: Languages are similar Religion: Lutheran Church Views on Women: Equality of Women Sweden Capital: Stockholm Size: Largest Northern nation in regards to size Population: Largest Northern nation in regard to population as well Industry: Finished products (Automobiles, electronics, stainless steel, furniture) Energy: Energy-Poor originally, pioneer in nuclear engineer Norway Capital: Oslo Industries: Fishing, Oil & Natural Gas from the North Sea Terrain: Limited cultivable soil, rough terrain Wealth: 3rd Richest Country in the World Relationship with the EU: Declined to join the EU, Very independent 5
Denmark Capital: Copenhagen Ports: Fantastic ports on the Baltic Sea Break of Bulk : Collecting, storing, and transshipping large quantities of goods Entrepot : Transfer facility for goods Finland Capital: Helsinki Major Industry: Forests & wood products Linked Country: Close ties to Estonia (Finno-Ugric Languages) Estonia Capital: Tallinn Population Diversity: 1/4 of the population is Russian Relationship with EU: Joined the EU in 2004 Iceland Capital: Reykjavik Population Type: Highly urbanized population Major Industry: Make a living off fishing and the water Mediterranean Europe (Pages 87-95) Introduction Population Size: Large population, 5 times that of Northern Europe Standard of Living: Lower standards of living vs. Northern Europe Natural Resources: Fewer raw materials and natural resources available in this region Italy Capital: Rome Populous: Most populous of the Mediterranean nations Regions: Divided into 20 regions, North: progressive, South: stagnate Industry: Southern Europe s leading manufacturing complex Immigration: Bulk of illegal immigrants in South Milan: One of the Four Motors of Europe 6
Spain Capital: Madrid Government: Democracy, 17 autonomous regions Examples of Devolution: Basques in Northern Spain Barcelona: One of the Four Motors of Europe Gibraltar: Contested between British & Spanish Citizens have the right to transfer sovereignty Ceuta & Melilla: Owned by Spain but in Morocco Portugal Capital: Lisbon Government: Democratic Government Wealth: Poor Nation, Relationship with EU: Benefited greatly from EU membership Population Density: Rural population, poor food production Greece Capital: Athens Influence on Western Civilization: Cradle of Western Civilization Relationships with Neighbors: Between Albania & Turkey, both Muslims countries A very volatile area. Relationship with EU (Past): EU economic success story, agrarian society Relationship with EU (Present): The Locomotive for the Balkans Cyprus Capital: Nicosia Demographics: Greek majority, Turks invaded Conflict: Greeks vs. Turks Great potential conflict International Recognition: Greek side is legitimate by the world Malta Relationship with the EU: New member of the EU Industry: Tourism History: Ancient crossroads of commerce Capital: Valletta 7
Eastern Europe (Pages 95-105) Introduction: History: Soviet domination, Communism, Iron Curtain, Division between East & West Economic Status: Poverty & Struggling Shatter Belt : Persistent splintering and fracturing Balkanization : Recurrent division, fragmentation Ethnic Cleansing : Forcible ouster of ethnic populations from their homelands Cultural Legacies: Empires: Roman Empire Ottoman Empire Austro-Hungarian Empire Soviet Empire: Left behind pollution, poverty, outdated agriculture & industry Poland: Capital: Warsaw Poland Under Soviet Control: Moved from agrarian to industrial under Russia, severe pollution Relationship with the EU: Very important to the EU large population & economy Latvia: Population: Many Russians live there today Relationship with the EU: In the EU today Capital: Riga Lithuania Capital: Vilnius Relationship with Russia: Dependent as a trade partner, Bad relationship overall Economy: Economy is on the rise, improving 8
Belarus Capital: Minsk Population: Belarussians ( White Russians ) Relationship to Moscow: Very close with Moscow, one of their most loyal satellites Government: Reminiscent of communist era Czech Republic Capital: Prague Industry: Technology & Engineering Strengths Relationship with the EU: Member of the European Union (2007) Slovakia Capital: Bratislava Economy: Poorest country in East European region Relationship with the EU: New member of the European Union (2009) Government: Very Corrupt Hungary Capital: Budapest Irredentism : Many Hungarians live in neighboring countries people s Roots: Asian Roots 9
deep indebt Economy: Had a good economy, mismanagement & political intrigue has made Hungary Romania Government: Economy: Very weak, incomes are low. Capital: Bucharest Bulgaria Capital: Sofia Relationship to Moscow: Very close ties to Moscow Views on Turks: Anti-Muslim, discriminatory Immigration: Many are immigrating to other parts of Europe 10
Ukraine Capital: Kiev Populous: The most populous country in Eastern Europe Size: Largest in the realm Industry: Fertile farming land, South & East is industry, coal & iron Conflict of Ideology: Pro-Russia East vs. Pro-EU West Moldova Capital: Chisinau Population: The majority of the population is Romanian Economy: Country is very poor, the poorest in Europe Countries Facing the Adriatic Sea Former Yugoslavia: Through 1990s was split into 5 countries Ethnic Groups: 7 major groups, 17 smaller groups Religion: Slovenes and Croats are Roman Catholic, Serbs are Orthodox 11
Soviet Divided Regions: The Soviets divided the area into ethnic regions Devolutionary Forces: Devolutionary forces are very strong in this area Slovenia Ethnic Diversity: Homogenous Economy: Strong economy Capital: Ljubljana Croatia Ethnic Groups: %90 are Croats Capital: Zagreb Bosnia Capital: Sarajevo Conflict: Conflict with Serbs, Croats and Muslims Macedonia Economy: Poor Power within the Region: Powerless Capital: Skopje Serbia Capital: Belgrade Government: NATO intervention Territory: Had many territorial losses Ethnic Groups: Many minority Kosovo: Southern Muslim territory, remains under UN administration Status of the Nation Currently: Nation remains in Limbo Montenegro Potential Industry: Tourism Political Stability: Politically Capital: Podgorica Albania Ethnic Groups: %70 Muslim Capital: Tirane 12
Economy: Very Poor Industry: Heavy Reliance on farming 13