Cultural Geography of Europe

Northern EuropeUnited Kingdom,

Ireland, Iceland, Sweden, Finland and Denmark

Population patterns shaped by migration and distinct ethnic groups

Over 160 different ethnic groups across Europe

United Kingdom one of the most ethnically diverse and densely populated

Other countries dominated mainly one ethnic group

Northern EuropeUK has been conquered by different

groups for thousands of yearsRecently welcomed immigrants from

across former British EmpireScandinavian countries have less diversityIreland, UK have temperate climates and

fertile soil that have supported a large population

Internal and external migration has affected the region

Internal migration has brought people to urban areas for opportunity

Major cities and economic centers and capitals - London, England; Stockholm, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark

Northern EuropeMid 1700’s Industrial RevolutionA. Began in England, transformed

manufacturing in Europe and across the world

B. Transportation, communication developedC. Rise of Industrial capitalism (profits used

to expand companies)D. Rise of middle class, rise of material comfortsFactory workers- poor, lived in crowded slumsSocial problems led to ideas of communismIdea based on economic equality, workers

control factories and industrial productionBy end of 1800’s many gov’ts began to pass

laws to improve workers lives

Northern EuropeSince the end of World War II northern

European countries have built stable democracies and strong economies

All northern European countries are members of the European Union

Languages all have Indo-European languageMost countries are Protestant and allow

religious freedomSchool is mandatory for at least 10 years and

literacy rates are around 100%Countries offer complete social welfare to

citizensWelfare States- tax supported programs for

higher education, health care, social securityLarge portions of national budget spent to

provide servicesBecause of recent economic pressures

governments have had to limit services

Western EuropeFrance, Netherlands, Switzerland,

Austria, Belgium, GermanyGermany and Austria historically

have been homogeneousOther countries reflect traditions of

many different groupsCountries welcome many different

immigrant groupsGermany uses foreign guest workers

(workers temporarily allowed into country) to fill industrial jobs because of low population growth and ageing population

Many French immigrants are from former French colonies and are predominantly Muslim

Situations cause ethnic tension in region

Western EuropeSubregion densely populated, good

farmland support large populationsGermany most populous country in

EuropeNetherlands and Belgium have

highest population densitiesMost of region has an aging and

shrinking populationImmigrants and people from rural

areas moving to urban areas for opportunity

Major urban areas Paris, Brussels, Munich, Berlin, Amsterdam

Western Europe Subregion part of Roman, Empire, Holy Roman Empire and place

where Protestant Reformation began France, Prussia (modern Germany and Poland) were once major

European powers Countries suffered heavily during two World Wars End of WW II left Europe divided, ruined Eastern Europe came under Communist control (USSR) Most of Western Europe helped by aid from the US Struggle between non- communist world and communist world –

Cold War Germany at center of tensions After WWII Germany divided for almost 50 years West Germany was democratic, East Germany was communist

(reunited 1991) West Germany prospered at this time by becoming a member of

the EU and a player in the world economy Economic development lags behind in the former East Germany

Cold War Europe

Western EuropeRegion home of artistic and literary movementsRealism, impressionismLanguages of region Indo-European in originPrimarily Christian, tolerant of other religions and with a

growing Muslim populationHigh literacy rate, high standard of livingEconomy based in manufacturing and service industriesGovernments provide social services to citizens

Southern EuropeMediterranean home to some of

the oldest civilizations in Europe

Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Vatican City

Italy most populated countryVatican City world’s smallest

independent state, and the seat of the Catholic Church

Population in Spain concentrated near coast

Millions from this region left in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and came to the US for economic opportunity

Most of the population is urban

Southern EuropeCapitals Rome and Athens ancient cities once centers of

great empiresAthens introduced the world to democracyRome made breakthroughs in law and governmentRenaissance began in Italy in the 1300’s1800’s and 1900’s were a time of nationalism and World

War1990’s political and economic stability across subregion

through democratically elected governments and membership in the European Union

Southern EuropeLiteracy rates are high and the

governments of the Southern European countries provide free, compulsory education

Governments provide healthcare and social services to citizens

2010 economic collapse in Greece and Portugal has led to reduction of social services

Romance languages dominate (languages based in Latin)

Majority of population is Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox, growing Muslim population due to immigration

Greeks and Romans developed the basics of architecture and great works of art have been produced by Italian artists

Eastern EuropeSerbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-

Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Romania, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus and Russia

Sub region shaped by wars, migration and changing borders

Most people of region are ethnic Slavs

Many religious groups are represented (Catholic, Muslim, Eastern Orthodox)

Minority group found in Bulgaria are Roma people (Gypsies)

Eastern EuropePopulation density affected by geographic

factorsUkraine, Poland have fertile soils and

support large populations (part of Northern European Plain)

Ukraine regions largest nationSlavs settled region thousands of years ago,

Romans conquered region, under the control of the Byzantine Empire, for over 500 years Balkan region controlled by Ottoman Empire

After WWII the region was part of the Soviet Bloc

Political circumstances caused large scale internal immigration and migration

Since the end of the Cold War many countries are experiencing economic growth

Eastern EuropeModern Eastern Europe has suffered instability

because of ethnic division, and power strugglesBalkan peninsula seen most instabilityBalkanization term used to describe the

division of a region into smaller regions that are often hostile toward one another

After WWI Yugoslavia was established that united all countries of Balkan region

Country was under communist control after WWII

After decline of Soviet Union in early 1990’s region fractured along ethnic lines

Some republics declared independence and ethnic and religious tension sparked violence

Serbs accused of ethnic cleansing of Muslim Bosnians

International peacekeeping efforts brought some peace

Eastern EuropeEconomy did improve during 1990’s Countries encouraged free market

reforms and free elections installed democratic leaders

Many countries faced challenges to health care in the transition from communism but most Eastern Europeans have access to government sponsored health care

Literacy rates are not quite as high as they are in Western Europe

Religious diversity has caused conflict across the region

EuropeThe Region Today

The EconomyIndustrial Revolution made Europe

birthplace of modern industryAvailability of raw materials helped

develop industry in parts of EuropeMajor industrial centers of Ruhr district

in Germany, Po Basin in Italy and the Upper Silesia district in the Czech Republic and Poland

Service industry provides a large percentage of the GDP (Gross domestic product, the value of goods and services produced by a country in a year) across Europe

60% of workers in service industryBanking and finance, high tech industries

and tourism, leading service sector industries

The EconomyEurope has fertile farmlandNumbers involved in farming is droppingCrops vary across EuropeFarmers use advanced techniques to make best use of limited

spaceMixed farming common- several crops and livestock on one

farmFarm cooperatives- farmers share growing and selling

products, reduces costs, increases profitsUnder communism collective farms, government owned

farms, workers received wages and a share of productsOut dated equipment, lack of incentive resulted in low yieldsDebate over new farming methods from genetically modified

foods to organic practicesGovernment subsidies for agriculture are an issueMany think it causes overproduction and artificial price

protection

Transportation and CommunicationOne of the best transportation systems in the

worldMany are government owned, standards vary

from country to countryQuality higher in Western EuropeRail network links continentHigh speed trains more economical than

auto, air travel Well developed highway systemAutobahn one of the best roads in the world

(Germany)Long tradition of seafaring, many major portsEconomies along Danube and Rhine River

depend on trade Handles over half of the worlds international

shippingRotterdam in the Netherlands , at the mouth

of the Rhine, the largest port in the worldWell developed cell phone network across

Europe

Trade and InterdependenceEuropean Union (EU) unites Europe

into one trading communityGreater volume of trade than any

single country in the worldMovement arose from WWII to

rebuild ruined economies1957 first countries joined (Belgium,

West Germany, France, Luxembourg, Italy, Netherlands) to integrate economies

1992- Maastricht Treaty, set up EUGet rid of trade restrictions, have

common foreign policy, currency, works to scale down welfare state

Member countries work to boost trade and make economy more efficient and productivity

Eastern European EconomyDuring Cold War (1940’s-1991)

Eastern Europe run under a command economy, were loyal to the USSR

Government made all economic decisions, workers had a lack of incentive to work

After the fall of communism- too many workers, too little technology, needed to retrain workers, adopt energy conservation measures

Countries needed to modernize to compete

Social benefits have been cut, population dropping since the early 1990’s

People and Their EnvironmentEuropeans face challenges from the

physical environment and most of Europe has been altered by human use

Physical environment: Earthquakes frequent in southern Europe, Iberian peninsula is an arid region makes agriculture difficult

Human interaction:A. High concentration of industry has had an

impact on land, air and waterB. Soil erosion due to deforestation and

overgrazing is a problem in the arid Mediterranean region

C. Most of Europe’s forests have been removed, especially in Southern and industrial Western Europe to create cities, industry and farms

Delta Project- large scale, 30 year project to prevent flooding in the Netherlands

Water Pollution

Agricultural ,industrial runoff problems across Europe

Industrial pollution, raw sewage and agricultural runoff have harmed river systems

Destroyed fish species, contaminated ecosystems

Biggest concern along MediterraneanRecent times many have moved near the sea,

tourism popular, has caused an increase in environmental problems

Used for transportation, recreation also a dumping ground for waste, sewage, industrial waste

Small tides, weak currents do not disperse pollution

People and Their EnvironmentBlack Triangle (Germany,

Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia) where industrial pollution has had the highest impact

Before 1989 most of Eastern Europe had no laws to control pollution

Communist emphasis on rapid industrial growth affected public health

Western European countries have dumped industrial waste in water and air

Industry contributed to acid rain, drifted across borders and affected other countries

Auto exhaust also contributesMost severe in E. Europe where

they burn more coalAcid rain has damaged many

historic sites in EuropeWorries about global warming

People and their Environment Many European governments have made an effort to clean up the

environment EU requires environmental protection and cleanup from its members EU members face legal actions for not following environmental protection

laws Countries wishing to join the EU are required to meet environmental

standards Many Western European countries and the US are providing technology

and investment to clean up the environment Financing and cleanup is expensive and difficult because of the number of

countries involved Many European countries are using alternative energy resources