UNIT 5EUROPEAN HISTORY AND

ECONOMIC OVERVIEWMonday, October 13, 2014

Mrs. DentChapter 4

Early European History

Greek Empire (first democracy) Roman Empire (Catholic Church) Vikings & United Kingdom’s Empire

(parliament) Middle Ages/Crusades (feudalism, Magna

Carta, take back Holy Land) Renaissance (art, inventions, discoveries) Protestant Reformation (Martin Luther) French Revolution (Napoleon)

Impacts Abroad

More than any other region in the world, Europe has shaped the human geography of the modern world.

Before the late 15th century, Europe played a minor role.

Age of Discovery – 15th Century – sailors, missionaries, traders, soldiers, colonists entered the world scene.

Impacts Abroad

European ways were considered “superior” to others

They wanted to bring the rest of the world under their control

European homelands wanted economic benefits

By the 19th century, Europe was economically dominant and exercised great influence on other cultures around the world.

Exploration and Discovery

15th Century – Portuguese to western Africa and rounded Cape of Good Hope (S. Africa) to open way eastward into Indian Ocean

15th Century – Spanish to North America – guess who? Christopher Columbus…

Built frameworks of European colonization in Americas, Africa,Asia, and Pacific

Industrial Revolution 1700s – Western Europe

had economic capital necessary for experimentation,innovation, and risk ($ from gold and slavery since 1400s)

Also significant improvements in agricultural productivity – new tools and more intensive and sustainable use of farmland - Crop yields increased and human populations grew, too

As populations grew, more people – greater pool of talent and more labor – city size increased

Industrial Revolution caused mines and plantations in faraway places (Africa, Asia) to fuel economic growth in Europe

Ecological Imperialism European powers

used land differently during Industrial Revolution

Settler Colonization – Europeans sought to create new Europes or “neo-Europes” in lands similar to own temperate mid-latitude zones with moderate rainfall and rich soils so they could raise cattle and wheat – thus you have Canada, US, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand being colonized

These countries are some of the wealthier regions and countries of the world even today

Ecological Imperialism

In contrast…tropical regions were viewed as sources of raw materials and markets for manufactured goods – environment was too different to make settlement “attractive” – India, SE Asia, Caribbean , Latin America, West Africa, etc.

Mercantile Colonialism – Europeansdidn’t really inhabit these places butconquered these colonies to overseeindigenous people and slaves as they produced unfinished products

Colonies provided raw materials tothe ruling country in return for finished goods – i.e. India had to purchase clothes from England from the raw cotton they harvested in India…

Neocolonialism

Neocolonialism is the perpetuation of a colonial economic pattern in which developing countries export raw materials to, and buy finished goods/products from, developed countries.

This relationship is obviously more profitablefor the developed countries

20TH & 21ST Century

By the 20th Century, Europe’s dominance began unraveling WWI WWII Both world wars fought mainly on

European soil Loss of colonies around the world However, Europe today in the

21st Century continues to be an important and wealthy region

Has moved into a postindustrial economy (like the U.S.)