Introduction to E

urope

Europe

• Geographically, Europe’s borders are defined by– the Atlantic Ocean to the west– Turkey and Russia to the east– the Mediterranean Sea to the south– the Arctic to the north

Europe

• Europe is a very diverse continent with many languages and cultures that flow between the borders of its many nations

• Europe’s history is characterized by– Invasions from various groups, both internal

and external– Conflicts, between nations and within nations– Shifting power structures and alliances

Early European Cultures

• In the years Before the Common Era (BCE) much of Europe was dominated by the Roman Empire

• The Romans (Italians) ruled over other peoples such as the Gauls, Spaniards, Britons and North Africans

• During the first few hundred years of the Common Era, Roman power eroded and these peoples started self-governing and shrinking Rome’s borders

The Decline of the Roman Empire

• As Roman power ebbed, tribes from outside the old borders moved in to fill the vacuum– Visigoths (Iberia)– Vandals (north Africa)– Anglo-Saxons (Britain)– Ostrogoths (Italy)– Franks (France)

• The remnants of the Roman Empire evolved into the Byzantine Empire (more Greek oriented, Christian) based in Constantinople, which shrank over the next thousand years but held on until the 15th century

The Middle Ages

• 500s to 1600s• Europe dominated by the Feudal system• Lords control their own fiefdoms (under a

king) but the real power was in the hands of the Pope– Life for peasants was pretty miserable, but the

Church promised heaven (or hell) in the afterlife

– Pope wielded the threat of excommunication over kings

Key Events of the Middle Ages

• Moors invade from Africa (Rule Spain, Portugal, part of France and Italy) starting in 8th century (gone by 15th century)

• Mongol invasion (Mongols advance through eastern Europe and nearly take over the entire continent in 13th century)

• The Black Death (Bubonic plague kills 30-60% of the European population – about 100 million in total – in the 1300s)

• Protestant Reformation (Martin Luther splits from Catholic Church in 16th century)

European Trade

• Economic activity begins to concentrate in towns

• Merchants and craftspeople formed guilds

• The guilds controlled manufacturing and sales– Metal, jewelry, food, textiles, etc.

Guilds and Trade Policy

• No goods could be imported into the town if they competed with local products

• Foreign merchants must pay a fee to trade in town

• Influenced trade policy of entire nation: import taxes on foreign goods that competed with guild made products

Colonization

• European powers started aggressively colonizing the rest of the globe from the late 15th century on– Spain, Britain, France, Italy, Portugal, and the

Netherlands were the main colonial powers

• New colonies provided supplies for Europe– Fish, sugar, furs, fruits, spices

• Increased international trade, while also providing fuel for new conflicts between European nations

Conflicts

• A ridiculous number of wars were fought in Europe throughout the middle ages– Allegiances changed– Borders shifted– Grudges were formed that last to this day

The rise of the nation state

• Borders eventually become more solidified, and systems of government became entrenched

• By the end of the Middle Ages, modern Europe is starting to take shape

The Enlightenment

• 18th century ushered in the Age of Enlightenment– Education no longer just for members of

church and monarchy– Science provides answers and solutions to

problems, making the church less relevant– Philosophers, writers, and artists spread ideas

like freedom, democracy, equality, etc.

• Culminates in the French Revolution

The Industrial Revolution

• More or less coincides with the Enlightenment– Mechanization and mass production– Advanced agricultural techniques– Rise of the middle class– Also creates sense of injustice, class warfare

Modern Europe

Forces of Unity

• Religion is historically a strong force of unity (Papal control, Catholicism vs. Protestantism)

• Language can be a force of unity– Example: Switzerland has maintained a

peaceful existence with four official languages for over 700 years

• French, Italian, German, and English

– But there are about 230 languages spoken in modern Europe

Forces of Unity

• Historically, politics unified parts of Europe against other parts

• In the modern era, political tensions bonded western European nations together through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Forces of Unity

• Economic factors can be a force of unity– Example: Many European nations are too small to be

competitive in global market – This resulted in the creation of a trading bloc

• After WW2 many western European nations joined together to help each other rebuild (telecommunications, transportation, energy systems), which ended up with the creation of the European Union (EU)

Forces of Unity

• The EU (currently 27 members) has been expanding into Eastern Europe, and possibly even Turkey

• The EU facilitates other unifying forces– Common currency (the Euro)– European citizenship– European Laws/Regulations

Forces of Disunity

• Europe developed divisions due to nationalism, whereby people identified with others of similar heritage, history and languag

• As a result, Europe developed as multiple independent nations, many of whom have been at war with one another at some point

Forces of Disunity

• Nationalism is a primary cause of European conflicts in the modern era (WW1, WW2, Cold War) though economics and territorial expansion were certainly key in WW1 and WW2, and the Cold War was fueled by ideological differences

Pages 208-211• Describe how Europe’s climate and

landscape initially affected colonization.• What advantages did the early colonies

choice of location provide them with? • Explain, using as much detail as possible,

the relationship and progression from small inland fishing boats to industrial development.

• How did industrial development aid in establishing an educated population?

• Explain the term internal trade, and how it relates to the markets Europe needed for the many goods it produced.