Western Europe

What countries are part of Western Europe?

Countries of Western Europe

• France

• Germany

• Switzerland

• Belgium

• Luxemburg

• Netherlands

• Austria

• France and Germany are the dominant countries in Western Europe

• They are the two largest countries and they have built productive economies

Feudalism• Between the fall of Rome and Renaissance, feudalism developed in Europe

• Feudalism is a political system in which powerful lords owned most of the land.

• Over time, strong kings gained power and nationalism evolved

Nationalism

• Nationalism is the belief that people should be loyal to their nation and to the people with whom they share land, culture and history

Economy

• Because of their strong economy, Western Europeans enjoy a high standard of living and can afford to buy material goods, such as cars and computers

France

French Revolution

• France developed into a strong nation-state with a king that had absolute power.

• In 1789, the people rebelled against the king and formed a republic, inspired by the American Revolution of 1776

• However a few years later an army officer, Napolean Bonaparte, seized power and became emperor.

War• The nation-states of

Europe became strong rivals and war broke often between France and Austria or France and Germany

• The nationalist rivalry and competition for colonies helped cause World War I

• When WWI was over, the Allies (including France) imposed stiff sanctions on Germany. These lead to WWII.

World Wars

• During both World Wars, Germany took control of France

• The United States helped liberate France from Germany during both World Wars

Eiffel Tower

Built to commemorate the French Revolution in 1889

Louvre Museum

A medieval fortress, the palace of the kings of France, and a museum for the last two centuries

Palace of VersaillesHome of Louis XIII – XVI

maintaining the Palace, including the care and feeding of its staff and the Royal Family, consumed as much as 25% of the entire

government income of France.

Notre Dame Cathedral

Mt. Blanc in France- Tallest in Europe

Germany

The Reformation• A religious movement that

created new differences in Europe.

• The Catholic church was questioned in 1517 by Martin Luther, a German monk and the Reformation began.

• Many people broke away from the Catholic church and started Protestant churches

• Mutual hostility between Catholics and Protestants started many religious wars in Europe

World War II• Germany, lead by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis tried to conquer Europe.

• Hitler convinced the German people that they were a superior race

• They also carried out the Holocaust, a program of mass murder of European Jews and other minorities

• After the war, Germany was split into two nations. West Germany was allied with Western Europe and East Germany was allied with Russia

Berlin Wall

• A physical barrier that divided Berlin into two parts

• In 1989, the Berlin Wall was torn down and communism fell in Eastern Europe

• Germany reunited under a democratic government

“Checkpoint Charlie”

Berlin Wall ConstructionWhen the Berlin wall was first started it consisted mainly of

barbed wire and armed guards. However, it did not take long for the wall to be fortified.

On the East Berlin side was a lighted control

area. Anyone who reached

this area were shot on sight,

without warning.

.

1989 Berlin Wall

comes down

Remnants of the Berlin Wall

The Arts

• Many famous fairytales are from Germany:

(Goldilocks, Hansel & Gretel, Rumplestiltskin, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White…) By the Brothers Grimm

• Much Classical music by Germans: Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, Handel…

• Famous German inventions: pocketwatch, bicycles, x-ray machines, printing press

Neuschwanstein Castle

This castle was one of several castles built during King Ludwig II’s reign. King Ludwig incurred much debt from building elaborate castles. In order to be released from paying his debt, a friend physician declared him insane, thus the nickname “Mad King Ludwig”. King Ludwig then resigned as king. Just weeks later, his physician friend was murdered

and the former king mysteriously drowned in a pond.

“Mad” King Ludwig II lived in this castle for only six weeks before his resignation and death. Only a small portion inside this huge castle was

completed. The majority of this castle was never completed and remains as it was before the king gave up his throne.

Disney’s castle for Cinderella originated from Neuschwanstien.

Belgium/Netherlands/Luxembourg

• BENELUX or LOW countries

• Densely populated• Windmills to pump water

out of Polders

Tulip field & Amsterdam

Switzerland

•Swiss cheese

•Swiss army knife

•Swiss watches

•Swiss Alps

• Neutral in world affairs• Capital is BERN

Matterhorn Mt. in the Swiss Alps

Switzerland & Austria

-Both located in the AlpsIn this true movie “Sound of Music” a family escaped

from Austria and crossed over the Alps to Switzerland.

Austria (NOT Australia)On the Danube River

Cathedral in Vienna, AustriaAustria is famous for Music (As in Sound of Music)

Strauss, Mozart