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Physical Geography

The Big Idea

The peninsulas of Southern Europe have rocky terrains and sunny, mild climates.

Main Ideas

• Southern Europe’s physical features include rugged mountains and narrow coastal plains.

• The region’s climate and resources support such industries as agriculture, fishing, and tourism.

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Main Idea 1:Southern Europe’s physical features include rugged mountains and narrow coastal plains.

• Southern Europe is largely made up of three large peninsulas.

– Iberian Peninsula

– Italian Peninsula

– Balkan Peninsula

• Southern Europe also includes many islands. Some, such as Crete and Sicily, are very large.

• Because the peninsulas and islands all border on the Mediterranean Sea, the region of Southern Europe is also called Mediterranean Europe.

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Features of Southern Europe

Landforms

• Rugged mountain ranges

– Pyrenees

– Apennines

– Alps

– Pindus

• Islands

• Coastal plains

• River valley plains

Water Features

• Seas

– Mediterranean

– Adriatic

– Aegean

– Ionian

• Few large rivers

– Tagus

– Po

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Main Idea 2:The region’s climate and resources

support such industries asagriculture, fishing, and tourism.

Southern Europe is famous for its pleasant climate.

Most of the region enjoys warm, sunny days and mild nights for most of the year. Little rain falls during the summer, but rain is more common in the winter.

Geographers call the type of climate found in Southern Europe a Mediterranean climate.

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Industries of Southern Europe

• The seas of Southern Europe are full of various types of fish and shellfish.

• Fishing is a profitable industry.

Agriculture

• The Mediterranean climate is ideal for growing many types of crops.

• Farmers plant citrus fruits, grapes, olives, wheat, and many other products.

Fishing

• Millions of tourists visit Southern Europe each year because of its mild climate.

• Sunny beaches and breathtaking scenery are also tourist attractions.

Tourism

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Greece

The Big Idea

The home of one of the Western world’s oldest civilizations, Greece is trying to reclaim its place as a leading country

in Europe.

Main Ideas

• Early in its history, Greece was the home of a great civilization, but it was later ruled by foreign powers.

• The Greek language, the Orthodox Church, and varied customs have helped shape Greece’s culture.

• In Greece today, many people are looking for new economic opportunities.

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Main Idea 1:Early in its history, Greece was the home of a

great civilization, but it was later ruled by foreign powers.

Greece has been called the birthplace of Western culture.

The ancient Greeks were pioneers in many fields and made great achievements. They created great art, designed amazing buildings, invented new forms of literature, explored many fields of science, and developed democracy.

In the 300s BC Greece became part of Alexander the Great’s empire. As a result, Greek culture spread through Egypt and much of Southwest Asia.

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Foreign Rulers

Independence

• The Roman Empire conquered and ruled Greece.

• When the Roman Empire split around 400, Greece became part of the eastern half, the Byzantine Empire.

• The Muslim Ottoman Turks invaded Greece in the 1300s and 1400s. At that time some elements of Greek culture faded.

• Many Greeks were not happy with Turkish rule. In the 1800s they revolted. With help, the Greeks won their freedom and became a monarchy.

• Greece’s government has changed many times since it won its independence. It is now a democracy.

Later History of Greece

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Main Idea 2:The Greek language, the Orthodox Church,

and varied customs have helped shape Greece’s culture.

• Most people belong to the Orthodox Church, a branch of Christianity that dates back to the Byzantine Empire.

• Religion is very important to most people.

Language • Greek language

• One of the oldest languages spoken in Europe

Religion

• Greek cuisine uses local ingredients such as lamb and olives, plus recipes borrowed from people such as the Italians and Turks.

• Family is central to Greek culture.

Customs

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Main Idea 3:In Greece today, many people are looking

for new economic opportunities.

Life in Urban Greece

• About three-fifths of Greece’s population lives in cities.

• Athens, the capital, is the largest city. One-third of all people in Greece live there.

• Athens is an industrial center.

• Industry has led to pollution, which damages the ruins and causes health problems.

Life in Rural Greece

• Life in the country is very different from life in the city.

• Many people live in isolated mountain villages, as Greeks have for thousands of years.

• Rural Greeks grow crops and raise sheep and goats.

• Village life often centers around the village square, where people meet to chat and make decisions.

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The Greek Economy

• Greece’s economy is growing rapidly, but the country faces some challenges to further economic growth.

– Few mineral resources

– Relatively little farmland

• Greece’s shipping industry is one of the world’s most successful. It has one of the largest fleets of shipping vessels in the world.

• Tourism is another major industry.

– Millions of people visit Greece each year.

– Tourist attractions include ancient ruins, beaches, and islands.

– The Greek government has worked to increase tourism.

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Italy

The Big Idea

Once the center of a huge empire, Italy is now one of the most prosperous countries in Europe.

Main Ideas

• Italian history can be divided into three periods: ancient Rome, the Renaissance, and unified Italy.

• Religion and local traditions have helped shape Italy’s culture.

• Italy today has two distinct economic regions—northern Italy and southern Italy.

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Main Idea 1:Italian history can be divided into three

periods: ancient Rome, the Renaissance, and unified Italy.

Ancient Rome

• Founded in the 700s BC

• Formed empire that stretched from Britain to the Persian Gulf

• Famous for great art, literature, and political ideas

• Helped spread Christianity

Unified Italy

• Italy was not unified as a country until 1861.

• In the 1920s Mussolini took power as a dictator. He led Italy into World War II.

• After the war Italy became a democracy.

Renaissance

• Lasted from about 1350 through the 1500s

• Period of great creativity that began in Italy and spread through the rest of Europe

• Saw the creation of some of the world’s greatest works of art and literature

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Main Idea 2:Religion and local traditions have helped

shape Italy’s culture.

• Most people in Italy belong to the Roman Catholic Church.

• In the past, the Catholic Church was the single most important influence in Italian culture.

• The pope, the spiritual head of the Roman Catholic Church, lives in Vatican City, an independent state located within the city of Rome.

• The importance of the Catholic Church in Italy can be seen in many ways:

– Italian cities are filled with Catholic churches. Rome alone contains hundreds of churches from various periods of history.

– Religious holidays and festivals are major events in Italy.

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Food

Art

• Olives, tomatoes, rice, and pasta are common.

• Recipes vary widely from region to region.

• For example, in the south people often serve pasta with tomato sauces, while in the the north they serve creamier sauces.

• Italy has been known as a center of the arts for centuries.

• Italian artists set trends that are followed all over the world.

• Italy has been home to some of the world’s greatest painters, sculptors, authors, composers, fashion designers, and filmmakers.

Italian Culture

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Main Idea 3:Italy today has two distinct economic

regions—northern Italy and southern Italy.

Northern Italy

• Strong economy

• Italy’s most fertile farmland is in the Po Valley.

• Major industrial centers: Milan, Turin, and Genoa

• Tourists visit many northern cities, such as Florence, Pisa, and Venice.

Southern Italy

• Poorer than the north

• Depends heavily on agriculture

• Tourists visit the region’s beaches and ruins.

• Italy’s government is trying to promote industry in the south, especially in the city of Naples.

Italy’s capital, Rome, is in central Italy and has ties to both the north and the south.

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Spain and Portugal

The Big Idea

Spain and Portugal have rich cultures, stable governments, and growing economies.

Main Ideas

• Over the centuries, Spain and Portugal have been part of many large and powerful empires.

• The cultures of Spain and Portugal reflect their long histories.

• Having been both rich and poor in the past, Spain and Portugal today have growing economies.

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Main Idea 1:Over the centuries, Spain and Portugal have

been part of many large and powerful empires.

Both Phoenicia and Greece founded colonies in Iberia, the peninsula on which Spain and Portugal are located.

Iberia later became part of the Roman Empire.

The Moors, Muslims from North Africa, invaded Iberia after Rome fell. They ruled the area for about 600 years.

By the end of 1400s Christian rulers from Spain and Portugal had banded together to drive the Moors from Iberia.

Spain and Portugal built huge empires that included lands in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

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Language

Religion

• Most people speak Spanish or Portuguese.

• Other languages, such as Catalan and Galician, are also spoken in parts of Spain.

• The Basque people of northern Spain have their own language and customs. Many of them want independence.

• Most people in Iberia are Roman Catholic.

• People gather to celebrate Christian holidays and saints’ festivals.

Main Idea 2:The cultures of Spain and Portugal reflect

their long histories.

Music and Art• Portuguese fados and Spanish flamenco are popular music styles.

• Muslim influence can be seen in much Iberian architecture.

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Main Idea 3: Having been both rich and poor

in the past, Spain and Portugal today have growing economies.

• Spain and Portugal were once the wealthiest countries in Europe, thanks to gold and silver from the Americas.

• Spain and Portugal did not develop industrial economies like other countries in Europe because they were already rich.

• As Spanish and Portuguese colonies became independent, the source of gold and silver disappeared.

• Because they had not developed industrial economies, Spain and Portugal were unable to compete with other countries. As a result, they became poor.

• The economies of Spain and Portugal are growing rapidly, largely because of new industries such as tourism.

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Spain

• Spain’s government is a parliamentary monarchy, which means it is ruled by a king with the help of an elected parliament.

• Manufacturing is a major economic activity.

• Cities such as Madrid and Barcelona are centers of industry, tourism, and commerce.

Portugal

• Portugal is a republic with elected leaders.

• Lisbon, the capital and largest city, is an industrial center.

• In rural areas, agriculture is still very important to the economy.

• Portuguese farmers are famous for growing grapes and cork.

Spain and Portugal Today