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EUROPE

CHAPTER 2

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European Influences

Colonized other regionsDiffusion of language, religion, political ideas, scientific discoveriesTransformed natural environment

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Relative Location

Relative Location

• At the heart of the land hemisphere

• Maximum efficiency for contact with the rest of the world

• Every part of Europe is close to the sea

• Navigable waterways

• Moderate distances

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Physical Geography

Geologic varietyAncient ShieldUplandsYoung, folded mountains Extensive PlainsVolcanoes and earthquakes

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Physical Geography

PeninsulasEstuariesFjordsRivers

Rhine RiverTradeTransportation

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Climates

Mostly temperate and humidSupport farm productionOcean influences – North Atlantic DriftClimate types:

Oceanic temperateSubtropical winter rain (Mediterranean)Continental temperate

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ClimatesGlobal warming

Retreating glaciersImpact on tourismHydroelectric power sites Rising sea levels

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Natural Resources

ForestsTemperate – Deciduous and evergreen

SoilsBrown earth – lowlandsLoess – North European Plain

FishMediterranean, Baltic, and North Seas

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Environmental Impacts

Air & water pollutionFish killsSmogAcid deposition

The Black Triangle

Kyoto Protocol

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Human Geography

Cultural diversityLanguage Patterns

• Most are Indo-European– Romance– Germanic– Slavic

• Others:– Celtic– Greek– Albanian

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Human Geography

Cultural diversityReligion

• Christianity predominates

• Judaism – impact of Nazi holocaust

• Islam – Increasing influence after World War II

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Population Dynamics

Decreasing in Mediterranean and East Central European regionsSlight increase in most western and northern countriesOverall decline in fertility rates

Italy and Spain have lowest fertility rates in the world (1.2)

Exceptions to population decline: Countries with large Muslim populations

Increasing burden on welfare systems

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Population Densities

High Density AreasUrban industrial beltsRiver valleysCoastlines

Low Density AreasMountainous regionsExtreme climates

European Cities

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Urban Pressures

Among most highly urbanized countries in the worldFew extremely large citiesMany global city-regions (London, Paris)Internal spatial differentiation within buildingsIndustrial Revolution

Land use differentiated into districts (CBD, industrial, suburbs)Development of public transportation

•High suburban densities•Apartments•Public transportation•Land scarcity•Government involvement in urban planning

In European cities you are more likely to find:

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Urban PressuresWorld War II –destruction1945-1970 – reconstruction and expansion

DecentralizationGentrification

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Evolving Politics

NationStateNation-stateNationalismIrredentism

Irredentism

• A policy of cultural extension and political expansion aimed at a national group living in a neighboring country

BA

A

RIVER & BORDER

COUNTRIES

MINORITYPOPULATION

BORDERADJUSTMENT

Ethnic Cleansing

• Refers to the forcible ouster of entire populations from their homelands by stronger powers bent on taking their territories

AB

A

COUNTRIES

BORDER

MINORITYPOPULATION

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World Wars I and II

Result of increasing competition and nationalism in EuropeDepressed economy in 1920s and 1930s encouraged fascism and communismGenocide

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Europe after 1945Independence movements in colonies abroad2 new world powers emerged:

U.S.Soviet Union

Communism spread into East Central EuropeDemocratic centralismState socialismPlanned economy

NATOWarsaw Pact

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Global EconomicsImperialismColonialismIndustrial Revolution

Began in Great BritainDiffused to Central and Eastern Europe

Early industrial centers located near coalfields

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Growing and Changing Economies

Productive capacity restored after WWIIAgglomeration economiesGeographic inertiaDeindustrialization 1970sWestern Europe = “economic heart” of the regionGermany = “motor” of EuropeMajor industries: cars and airplanes

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Energy Sources

Coal Oil – North SeaNatural GasNuclear power Hydroelectricity Wind power Tidal power

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Economic Activities

Service Industries – 75% workforce todayMost growth – Producer services & tourism

Agriculture – 2-7% workforceConcentrationIntensificationSpecializationMarket gardeningAgribusinessExtensification

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TourismEurope receives 55% of tourists worldwideHas 6 of top 10 places visited

#1 – France#2 – Spain

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Subregions

Western EuropeNorthern EuropeMediterranean EuropeEast Central Europe

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Western Europe

Major colonial powersFirst to experience Industrial RevolutionEstablished global trade flowsAmong world’s largest economic powersPolitical influenceHigh HDIs

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Western Europe

German Reunification

Divided 1949West Germany – an economic miracleEast Germany – slow economic growthBerlin Wall

• Erected - 1961• Torn down – 1989

Reunification - 1991

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Northern Europe (Norden)Cold climatesSparsely populatedRich in natural resourcesViking influenceEmpires – Sweden and DenmarkHigh standards of livingSupporters of human rightsIndustries: fishing, wood products, hi tech goods

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Mediterranean EuropeImpact on Western civilization – Greek and Roman ideasAge of Discovery – started in Spain and PortugalPolitical problems – dictatorsItaly

Strong regionalism existsStrong economy – Po River ValleyMilan – produces one-third Italy’s GDP

Vatican city

An enclave within Rome The headquarters of the Roman Catholic ChurchFunctions as an independent political entity

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Mediterranean Europe

Mediterranean Sea Pollution

Major oil shipping lanesImpact on tourismMediterranean Action Plan (MAP)

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East Central EuropeDominated by 4 empires 1700s - 1918Soviet satellite states after World War II

Communist economic policiesCOMECONDifficulties moving to capitalist systems

2004 – many countries joined EU

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East Central Europe

The Breakup of Yugoslavia

SloveniaCroatiaBosniaMacedoniaKosovo

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Contemporary Geographic Issues Political Changes: European Union (EU)

History1949 - Benelux 1952 - European Coal & Steel Community (ECSC)1957 - European Economic Community1993 - European Union2002 - Euro adopted as common currency by 12 of 15 members2004 – 10 new members added

History of European Supranationalism

• 1947 – Marshall plan• 1948 - Organization for

European Economic Cooperation (OEEC)

• 1949 - Council of Europe• 1957 - Treaty of Rome

signed, EEC formed. • 1959 - EFTA effective

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Contemporary Geographic Issues Political Changes: European Union (EU)

Currently 27 members456 million peopleSupranationalismConcerns:

Financial drain of poorer statesLoss of national sovereigntyErosion of national identityRemoval of border controls

European Union

Members 2007• Belgium• Netherlands• Luxembourg• France• Italy• Germany• Britain• Ireland• Hungary• Latvia• Lithuania• Malta• Slovenia

• Denmark• Greece• Spain• Portugal• Austria• Sweden• Finland• Cyprus• Czech Republic• Estonia• Poland• Slovakia• Romania• Bulgaria

• EU Members and non-members

• € indicates participation in the Euro currency

EuropeanSupranationali

sm

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Contemporary Geographic IssuesDevolution within Europe

United Kingdom and Northern IrelandIncreasing autonomy – Scotland and WalesConflict in Northern Ireland

• Nationalists (unionists) vs. Loyalists• Catholics and Protestants• Violence declined in 1990s• Working on shared government arrangement

Other areas:BasquesFormer YugoslaviaFormer Czechoslovakia

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Contemporary Geographic IssuesMulticultural Societies

Women’s IssuesHuman Rights Issues

International organizationsInternational Court of Justice

Refugees and asylum seekersImmigration

Impact of decolonizationDiffering policies:

• UK• France• Germany – “guest workers”

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