CHAPTER 15: EASTERN EUROPE

PolandLithuaniaLatviaEstoniaBelarusUkraineMoldovaRomaniaBulgariaMacedoniaAlbania

Serbia & Montenegro

Bosnia & Herzegovina

CroatiaSloveniaHungarySlovakiaCzech Republic

COUNTRIES INCLUDED IN EASTERN EUROPE

SECTION 1: PHYSICAL

GEOGRAPHY

The physical geography of Eastern Europe varies widely from the north to the south. It includes wide open plains, rugged mountain ranges, and many rivers. The climate varies as well.

The plains in this region include the North European Plain, Great Hungarian Plain

There are 3 mountain ranges in this area: The Carpathians, the Dinaric Alps and the Balkans

PSYCHICAL GEOGRAPHY

Rivers: The Danube River Largest river in the region

Connects cities of the region and empties into the sea

Provides outlet for trade

Provides hydroelectricity

PSYCHICAL GEOGRAPHY

Seas: The Black Sea

Best for transpiration Its southerly location makes the Black sea accessible year-round

The Adriatic Sea Baltic Sea

All the seas serve as transportation routes and trade routes that have been used by the people in this region for hundreds of years and continue to be used today.

PSYCHICAL GEOGRAPHY

Climate varies around the region; not one specific

Baltic Coast is the coldest location Long harsh winters

Interior Plains Mild climate with some

very cold winters and pleasant mild summers

Varied vegetation due to the mild climate

The Balkan Peninsula Mediterranean

climate with warm summers and mild winters; making it a popular tourist destination.

PSYCHICAL GEOGRAPHY

SECTION 2: POLAND AND THE BALTIC

REPUBLICS

Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania

History ties Poland and the Baltic Republics together.

The region has often been a battlefield.

The cultures in these areas differ in language and religion but they share common customs.

Economic growth is a major issue in the region today.

SECTION 2: POLAND AND THE BALTIC REPUBLICS

Early HistoryThe area around the Baltic Sea was settled by many different groups. Estonians Latvians Lithuanians Polish

Independent kingdomsStrongest: Lithuania and Poland

Weakest: Estonia and Latvia were often invaded.

EARLY HISTORY

World WarsMuch of the fighting during WW1 took place in Poland

During WW2, Poland was attacked by Germany in the West and the Soviet Union in the East.

Property all over Poland was destroyed.

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were occupied by the Soviet army

WORLD WARS

Soviet Domination After WW2, the Soviet army

dominated Eastern Europe. Estonia, Latvia, and

Lithuania became parts of USSR.

Poland remained free but was forced to accept a Communist government.

Poland rejected it and elected new leaders in 1989.

The Baltic Republics broke away from the Soviet Union in 1991 and became independent.

SOVIET DOMINATION

Culture Languages are different and

so are the religions. Poland & Lithuania – Roman

Catholic, traded with RC countries

Estonia & Latvia – once occupied by Sweden, are Lutheran

Common customs Similar food

Potatoes, Sausage, Seafood Entertainment

Music and Dance Chopin – Polish pianist and

composer Crafts

Pottery, painting, embroidery

CULTURE

The Region TodayAll economies suffered because the Soviets did not build a decent infrastructure.

Warsaw is becoming a major industrial center. Today they are building

new factories with modern technology to replace outdated factories.

Increased tourism to rich cultural areas.

IN THE REGION TODAY

Each year this Estonian city attracts many tourists to its medieval Old Town. Built in the 11 th – 15 th centuries, it is now a World Heritage site.

Tallinn has many medieval churches and guild halls, places where craftsmen or wealthy merchants met. Another attraction is the Kadriorg Palace and Park, built in 1718 as a summer home for czar Peter the Great and his family.

TALLINN, ESTONIA

Czech RepublicSlovakiaHungaryUkraineBelarusMoldova

SECTION 3: INLAND EASTERN EUROPE

The histories and cultures of inland Eastern Europe vary from country to country. Medieval churches stand near huge imperial fortresses and Soviet-built warehouses – all relics of the region’s history.

HISTORY AND CULTURE

Once many small kingdoms

Slav people were from Asia and moved to Europe in 1000 AD

Slavic kingdoms were later conquered by Austria

WW1 ended and the Allies took land away from Austria to form a new nation This land eventually split

into Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993

Because of their location these two countries have many Western influences Roman Catholic Prague (capital of Czech

Republic ) architecture

CZECH REPUBLIC & SLOVAKIA

In the 900s a group of fierce invaders called the Magyars moved in and conquered what is now called Hungary.

Eventually conquered by Austria

Languages is based on the language spoken by the Magyars.

People still refer to themselves as Magyars today.

HUNGARY

Settled by SlavsVikings would later

conquered the SlavsGroup called the Rus

build a settlement near Kiev, Ukraine and eventually created a huge empire.

1700s – it became part of Russia.

USSR formed in 1922 and Belarus and Ukraine were made into Soviet republics. Moldova 2 years later. Independence in 1991

Russian influences

Orthodox Christians

Ukrainian and Belarusian languages are written in Cyrillic, or Russian alphabet.

UKRAINE/BELARUS/MOLDOVA

Governments Communist

governments during the Soviet era

Today most are republics with elected leaders Belarus claims to be a

republic but is really a dictatorship.

International alliances with former USSR states.

Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary seek to be closer to the West.

Economy Czech Republic,

Slovakia, Hungary, and Ukraine have been successful All four have thriving

Industrial centers and good farmland

INLAND EASTERN EUROPE TODAY

Albania

Macedonia

Slovenia

Croatia

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Serbia

Montenegro

Romania

Bulgaria

SECTION 4: THE BALKAN COUNTRIES

The history of the Balkan countries is one of conquest and conflict. The presence of these many groups continues to shape life in the area today.

THE BALKAN COUNTRIES

600s – Ancient Greeks founded colonies on the Black Sea

Later Romans conquered the region

The Balkan Peninsula became part of the Eastern, or Byzantine Empire. Under this rule, most

became Orthodox Christians.

EARLY HISTORY

The Ottoman Turks then conquered the region Many people

converted to Muslim1800s, people rose

up and drove the Turks out.

Trouble between the Balkan kingdoms and their neighbors led to WW1

The Austro-Hungarian empire had taken over part of the peninsula

In protest a man from Serbia shot the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, sparking the war.

The Balkans changed after WW1, with the countries being divided and newly created.

Conflict continued between ethnic and religious groups.

WORLD WAR 1 AND AFTER

CultureReligion

Most are Christian Orthodox Christianity Roman Catholic Protestant

Albania – Most are Muslim

LanguageSlavic - Russian tiesRomania – Latin connection

Albanian – uniqueRoma – language of their own

CULTURE AND LANGUAGE

Once run by Communist governments

Weak economic planning has left most of them poor and struggling to improve their economies.

Problems among religious and ethnic groupsEthnic cleansing – the effort to remove all members of an group from a country or region.

THE BALKAN COUNTRIES TODAY

AlbaniaPoorest country High unemployment and crime rates

MacedoniaOnce part of Yugoslavia

Only country to break away peacefully

THE BALKAN COUNTRIES TODAY

SloveniaBroke away from Yugoslavia

Joined the European Union

CroatiaEthnic Croats and Serbs fought over the land

Many Serbs left CroatiaPeace restored

THE BALKAN COUNTRIES TODAY

Bosnia & HerzegovinaPeace restoredRebuilding

Serbia & MontenegroOnce part of Yugoslavia

These countries were united

Ethnic fighting

THE BALKAN COUNTRIES TODAY

RomaniaLargest of the Balkan states

Poor leaders have left its government and economy in ruins

BulgariaChanged dramaticallyWorking to develop a capitalistic economy based on industry and tourism

THE BALKAN COUNTRIES TODAY