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Europe and the Mediterranean
Austria History
Occupied by Celtic tribes in pre-Roman times
Bavarians, Slavs and Avars invaded after the Roman Empire fell
First record showing the name Austria was in 996
Habsburgs dynasty ruled until World War I
Geography Mountainous
In the Alps Only a quarter of the land
is considered low lying Divided into five areas
Eastern Alps-62% Foothills at base of Alps-
12% Foothills to east-12% Austrian granite plateau-
10% Vienna basin-4%
Austria cont. Culture
Broad contribution to various forms of art Mostly in music
Rose in 16th century European power Contributions to
cinema and theater
Places to visit Vienna Salzburg Innsbruck Graz Danube Valley Klagenfurt Eisenstadt
Belarus History
Derives from the term “White Ruthenia”
Mostly populated by early Christian Slavs
Often been referred to as “White Russia”
Named Belorussia in the time of the Russian Empire Only used until 1991
Geography Landlocked country The Neman, the
Pripyat, and the Dnieper are the three major rivers that run through the country
Cold winters and moist summers
Belarus cont. Culture
Product of a millennium of development under the impact of many diverse factors
Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Judaism, and Islam
Places to visit Belarusian State
Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War
Brest Fortress Brest Railway Museum Cathedral of Holy
Wisdom Island of Tears
memorial
Belgium History
Derived from Gallia Belgica, which was a Roman province
Inhabited by a mix of Celtic and Germanic peoples before the Roman invasion in 100 BC
Gradual immigration of Germanic Frankish tribes during 5th century
Geography Shares borders with France,
Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands
Coastal plain in north-west and central plateau in Anglo-Belgian Basin; Ardennes uplands in the south-east are part of the Hercynian orogenic belt; Paris Basin reaches a small fourth area at Belgium's southernmost tip, Belgian Lorraine
Belgium cont. Culture
Political and linguistic divisions
Flourishing of major art movements
Cultural life concentrated within each language community
Places to visit Bruges Brussels Antwerp Ghent
Bulgaria History
Thracians were one of the three primary ancestral groups of modern day Bulgarians
Taken over by Roman Empire
Tervel strengthened the borders of Bulgaria as a major military power by defeating a 26,000-strong Arab army
Geography Apline snow-capped
peaks, Balkan mountains, mild and sunny Black Sea coast
30% of land is plains, 41% plateaus and hills
Southwest is mountainous
Overall temperate climate
Bulgaria cont. Culture
Mostly Thracian, Slavic and Bulgar heritage, but with Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Celtic influences
Archaeological discoveries from Roman times
Hub of Slavic culture during Middle Ages
Places to visit Sunny Beach Sofia Varna Bansko Plovdiv Burgas Veliko Turnovo
Crete History
Hominids settled there at least 130,000 years ago
During Neolithic and Bronze Age periods Crete was ruled by Minoans
Ruled by: Roman Empire Byzantine Empire Emirate of Crete Republic of Venice Ottoman Empire
Geography Elongated shape Extremely
mountainous Mountains create
valleys, fertile plateaus, caves, and gorges
Two climactic zones, but primarily temperate
Crete cont. Culture
Has it’s own heritage, as well as some Greek heritage
Distinct Cretan dialect of Greek with an extended vocabulary that is Crete-specific
Known for its Mantinades-based music
Places to visit Chania Heraklion Agia Gallini Agios Nikolaos Hersonisos Ierapetra Kissamos
Croatia History
Inhabited throughout the prehistoric period Neolithic
Starčevo, Vučedol and Hvar cultures
Iron Age Hallstatt culture and
La Tène culture Became part of the
Roman Empire in 9 AD
Geography Shape resembles a
crescent or horseshoe
Slovenia and Hungary in the north
Plains Densely wooded
mountains Rocky coastlines
Croatia cont. Culture
Result of a fourteen century-long history
Adoptions from ancient Greek, Roman and Illyrian cultures
Culture divided into two cultural circles: Central European Mediterranean
Places to visit Dubrovnik Split Opatija Zagreb Hvar Rabac Korcula
Cyprus, Turkish Fed. State History
Aetokremnos was the first site where human activity was located Hunter-gatherer
societies starting around 10,000 BC
Part of Hittite Empire from late Bronze Age to when Greek settlement arrived
Geography Syria and Lebanon to
east, Israel to southeast, Egypt to south, Greece to northwest
Dominated by two mountain ranges: Troodos Mountains Kyrenia Range
Highest point is Mount Olympus
Cyprus, Turkish Fed. State cont. Culture
Divided into two distinct cultures: Greek Turkish Cypriots
No unified culture Greeks and Turkish
cultures do not mix/interact much
Traditional folk music has common elements with Greek, Turkish, and Arabic music
Places to visit Paphos Harbour & Castle Courion/Kolossi Castle Larnaca Salt Lake & Hala
Sultan Tekke Ayia Napa and Protaras Nicosia 'within the walls' and
the House of Hadigeorgakis Kornesios
Cedar Valley Panayia tou Araka Choirokitia Lefkara The Paphos mosaic
Czech Republic History
Evidence of prehistoric settlements back to the Neolithic era
Slavic people from the Black Sea and Carpathian regions settled in the area
Bohemian or Czech state emerged in the late 9th century, when it was unified by the Přemyslid dynasty
Geography Landscape is varied:
Bohemia, consists of a basin drained
Vltava rivers surrounded by low mountains
East is hilly Landlocked state Temperate
continental climate
Czech Republic cont. Culture
Music has roots of over 1000 years old
Influenced by general folk music
Czech language is used most in literature Old Church Slavonic,
Latin or German have also been used
Places to visit The Prague Castle Charles Bridge The Old Town Josefov New Town of Prague The Lesser Town City Center of Brno Spilberk Castle Vankovka Gallery
Denmark History
Earliest archaeological findings date back to Eem interglacial period (130,000–110,000 BC)
Inhabited since around 12, 500 BC and farming since 3900 BC
Nordic Bronze Age in Denmark was marked by burial mounds, which left an abundance of findings including lurs and the Sun Chariot
Geography Bordered by Germany
in the south Rest is surrounded by
water; peninsula of Jutland
443 named islands, only 72 are inhabited
Flat with little elevation Temperate climate
Denmark cont. Culture
Known as one of the most socially progressive cultures in the world
Hans Christian Andersen and his fairy tales The Little Mermaid, The
Emperor’s New Clothes, The Ugly Duckling
Most popular sport is football
Places to visit Copenhagen Odense Århus Herning Silkeborg Esbjerg Aalborg
England History
Earliest known human presence in the area is from approximately 780,000 years ago
Permanent settlements established within the last 6,000 years even though humans were thought to have been there during the Upper Paleolithic period
Geography Pennines Mountains
are known as the “backbone of England”
Lowlands to the south of mountains Green, rolling hills
Temperate maritime climate
England cont. Culture
Stonehenge, Devil's Arrows, Rudston Monolith and Castlerigg built in prehistoric times
Folklore has developed over many centuries pixies, giants, elfs,
bogeymen, trolls, goblins and dwarves
Places to visit Stonehenge Hadrian’s Wall London
Westminster Abbey Big Ben Tower Of London
Bath York Canterbury Oxford
Estonia History
Settlement became possible 11,000 to 13,000 years ago when the glaciers melted
Pulli settlement is the oldest known settlement
Fishing and hunting communities existed around 6500 BC
Geography situated in the
northern part of the temperate climate zone and in the transition zone between maritime and continental climate
Coastline marked by numerous bays, straits, and inlets
Estonia cont. Culture
Culture incorporates indigenous heritage with mainstream Nordic and European cultural aspects
Been influenced by influenced by the traditions of the adjacent area's various Finnic, Baltic, Slavic and Germanic peoples
Places to visit The Jagala Falls The Art Museum of Estonia The Tannenberg Line The Baltic Clint Narva Castle Tallinn Tartu Haapsalu
Finland History
Settled, at the latest, around 8500 BCE during the Stone Age
Artifacts from the first settlers found are similar to those found in Estonia, Russia and Norway
Earliest people were hunter-gatherers who used stone tools
Geography Country of thousands of
lakes and islands Landscape is mostly flat Forests covers 86% of
the area Largest forested area in
Europe Surface area is still
expanding, because of the post-glacial rebound
Finland cont. Culture
Combines indigenous heritage with common Nordic and European culture
Finnish culture may be seen to build upon the relatively ascetic environmental realities
Cultural differences between Finland's regions and minor differences in accents and vocabulary
Places to visit Helsinki Oulu Espoo Rovaniemi Rauma Kuopio Tampere
France History
Originates from the Latin word Francia, which means “country of the Franks”
Oldest traces of human life date from approximately 1,800,000 years ago
Strong demographic and agricultural development between the 4th and 3rd millennia, metallurgy appeared at the end of the 3rd millennium, work of gold, copper and bronze, and later with iron
Geography There are a number of
territories in North America, the Caribbean, South America, the southern Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and Antarctica
Coastal plains in north and west
Mountain ranges Alps in south-east Massif Central in south-
central Pyrenees in south-west
France cont. Culture
Center of cultural creation for centuries
Creation of the Ministry of Culture in 1959 helped preserve the cultural heritage of the country and make it available to the public
Places to visit Paris Alsace Aquitaine Auvergne Brittany Burgundy Champagne-
Ardenne Corsica
Germany History
Germanic tribes are thought to date from the Nordic Bronze Age or the Pre-Roman Iron Age
Roman Empire resulted from the eastern portion of the Carolingian Empire that was divided in 843
Geography Alps in south Shores in north-
west and north-east
Temperate seasonal climate
Germany cont. Culture
Culture in Germany has been shaped by major intellectual and popular currents in Europe
Been called Das Land der Dichter und Denker (the land of poets and thinker)
Places to visit Neuschwanstein Heidelberg Castle Checkpoint
Charlie Church of Our
Lady, Dresden Marienplatz,
Munich Bremerhaven
Gibraltar History
Evidence of Neanderthal habitation between 128,000 and 24,000 BCE Last known
holdout of the Neanderthals
First inhabitants were the Phoenicians, around 950 BCE
Geography Two coasts
East side Sandy Bay Catalan Bay Westside
Subtropical-Mediterranean climate
Gibraltar cont. Culture
Culture reflects the diverse origins
British influence remains strong English is the
language of government, commerce, education, and the media
Places to visit St. Michael's Cave A City Under
Siege Apes' Den
Greece History
First area in Europe where advanced civilization emerged
Mix of Roman and Hellenistic cultures formed the Byzantine Empire in 330 AD around Constantinople
Recognized under the London protocol in 1830
Geography Mountainous Peninsular Between 1200 and
6000 islands Only 227 are
inhabited 8% of Greece is
mountains or hills Mediterranean climate
Greece cont. Culture
Culture evolved over thousands of years ago
Ottoman Empire had an influence on the culture
Birth place of the Olympic Games
Places to visit Mount Olympus Athens Meteora Delphi Corinth Monemvasia
Hungary History
From 9 BC to 4th century it was part of the Roman Empire
Officially established in 895
Transformed into a Christian realm in 10th century
Saint Stephen was the first king of Hungary
Geography Flat to rolling plains Mostly hilly, but with
a few low mountains Divided into two by
its main waterway: the Danube River
Continental climate
Hungary cont. Culture Has a rich folk tradition:
embroideries, decorated potteries, buildings, and cravings
Hungarian Music: Rhapsodies, folk music, composed folk music influenced songs, and Roma music
Rich and colorful literature
Places to visit: Budapest Debrecen Kiskunsag
National Park Lake Balaton Danube Bend Visegrad
Ionian Islands History: Settled by Greeks by
an early date The early Eretrian
settlement at Kerkyra was displaced by colonists at Corinth
Backwater during ancient Greek times
Geography: Extend from the coast
of southern Albania and to the northwest coast of the Peloponneseus.
Comprise of 1.8% of Greece’s land area
Comprised of seven principal islands and several smaller ones
Ionian Islands cont. Culture: Various depredations:
occupation, piracy, earthquakes and time
Weaving, embroidery and ceramic tableware have been significant industries
Popular cultural expressions include: dances performed on saint days and weddings.
Food is strongly linked to each island’s history.
Places to visit: Holistic heaven day
retreat Trail riders horse trekking Fantasy mini golf Splash fun water park Mirtiotissa Beach Kassiopi Gerakas Bay St. George's castle
Ireland History: First known settlement was
around 8000 BC Covered with ice until the end
of the last ice age 9th century Viking raiders
plundered Irish monasteries and towns
Often called the Irish Republic
Ireland’s economy began to grow rapidly in the 1990s, fuelled by foreign investment
Geography Northerly point-Inishtrahull
island Easterly point- Big Bow Meel
Island Southerly point- Fastnet Rock Westerly Point- Tearaught Island Most populated county- Dublin Longest River- Shannon Tallest waterfall- Powerscourt
Falls Wettest Place- Maumturk and
Partry mountains Driest Place- Dublin city
Ireland cont. Culture Warm hospitality Traditional dishes Vibrant music and breath-taking
scenic landscapes Take care of their elders Hurling and Camogie are popular
sports Fishing and Golfing are favorite
pastimes Equestrian team is very popular Pub is the social venue Holidays replete with customs and
traditions Produced famous literary works
Places to visit: Giant’s Causeway Newgrange Glendalough Bunratty castle Marble Arch caves Craggaunowen Hill of Tara Cliffs of Moher Kilmainham Gaol
Italy History Migrations of Indo-European
people began around 2000 B.C. till 1000B.C
The Estruscan civilization was dominant
Overthrown by Romans in the 3rd century B.C\
By 264 B.C the south of Italy was led by Cisalpine Gaul
Cultural center of the Western World from 13th-16th century
Geography Slightly larger than Arizona,
long peninsula shaped like a boot
Surrounded on the West by the Tyrrhenian Sea and east by the Atlantic
Bounded by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia to the North
Largest lake is Garda Several islands form part of
Italy, two largest are Sicily and Sardinia
Italy cont. Culture Family is the center of the social
structure and provides stabilizing influence
In the north, nuclear family lives together while in the south the extended family lives together.
Both families provide emotional and financial support
Appearance calculates social status
First impressions last a life time Primary Religion is Roman
Catholic
Places to visit Rome Florence Venice Cinque Terra Sicily Turin Capri Sorrento Abruzzo San Gimignano Milan Verona and the lakes Bologna Sardinia Puglia
Kosovo History First inhabitants of the Balkan
Peninsula were the ancient people known as Illiyrians
Ruled by Bulgaria from the 9th century until the Serbs took over in the 12th century
Under Ottoman rule, the region grew increasingly more populated by Albanian speakers
In 1918, Kosovo became part of the Yugoslav Federation
Geography Land locked and mostly
mountainous Borders Serbia to the
North and East Montenegro to the
northwest, Albania to the west, and Macedonia to the south
Roughly the size of Connecticut
Kosovo cont. Culture Most widespread religion
is Islam Spoken dialect is Gheg Folk music is very popular Modern music has its
origin from western music Closely related to
Albanians in Albania Traditions and customs
differ from town to town in Kosovo itself
Places to visit Pristina Mother Teresa
Boulevard Decani Frontline crossing Gracania Peja Prizren Gjeravica Mountain
Latvia History Poland conquered the territory in 1562
and occupied it until Sweden took over in 1629-1721, and then was passed to Russia in 1721-1918.
Latvians remained Russian subjects and preserved their folklore, language and customs
Russian Revolution gave Latvia freedom, Latvian republic lasted more than 20 years
Latvia eventually became a dictatorship and was occupied with Russian troops and incorporated with the Soviet Union in 1940.
German troops occupied the nation from 1941-1944, 1944 Russia took control.
Geography
Borders Estonia in the North, Lithuania in the South, Baltic Sea with the Gulf of Riga in the West, Russia in the East, and Belarus in the South.
Largely a fertile low land with numerous hills, lakes to the east
Latvia cont. Culture Tradition lives on in folk songs, legends,
and festivals. Large populations of Lutheran, Catholic,
and Orthodox religions Daina the oval art and is a symbol that
has shaped and epitomized Lativa’s national identity in the last 2 centuries.
Moving from area to area is uncommon, families are huge
Children are expected to take care of parents, parents are expected to provide financial and emotional support to children
Reserved and formal when dealing with outsiders
Personal life is kept separate from business
Places to visit
Pedvale Open Air Art Museum, Sabile
The Dome Cathedral, Riga
Jurmala Beach Aglona Basilica Tervete Nature Park
Malta History Recognized by the
Phoenicians who occupied it and so did the Greeks, Romans, and Carthaginians
Dominated by Constantinople
Napoleon seized Malta in 1798
Geography Five Maltese Islands:
Malta, Gozo, Comino, Comminoto, and Filflawith have a combined land area smaller than Philadelphia
Located in the Mediterranean Sea
South of the Southeast tip of Sicily
Malta cont. Culture 91% Roman Catholic Maltese and English are the
common languages Music is largely western but
consists of background folk guitar music
Food is important historically in the development of national identity
Maltese folktales Most generous people in the
world
Places to visit Comino Tower Kenuna Tower Folklore Museum The old prison Gozo 360 Calypso’s cave The Inland Sea The Citadel Aurora Opera House Astra Theatre
Moldova History Used to occupy Bessarabia 16th century Ottoman’s
ruled In 1791 Russia acquired
most of their territory 1924, USSR established
Maldova as an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
Sept. 1991 Maldova claimed its Independence
Geography Landlocked Republic of
hilly planes lying east of the Carpathian Mountains between the Prut and Dniester rivers
In between Romania and Ukraine
Fertile region with rich black soil covering three quarters of the territory
Moldova cont. Culture Highly influenced by Byzantine
culture, Slavic, Magyar, and the Ottoman Turks
Present culture has significant impact of Russia, and the urban lifestyle is influenced from the way of living
Beginning of the 19th century, a strong west European influence was evident in the Romanian literature and arts
Ancient folk ballad “Miorita” plays a main role
Places to visit Chisinau town Orheiul Vechi Ivancea Village Soroca town Transnistria Saharna monestary Monastic structure
of Tipova
Monaco History Originated from the Greek
Surname “Monoikos” meaning mythological hero
Independent country for 800 years
1793- annexed to France, and was placed under Sardinia’s protection by 1815
1861, went under French guardship, but continued to be independent
Geography Tiny, hilly wedge
driven into the French Mediterranean coast
9 miles east of Nice, France
Monaco cont. Culture French is the official
language Mediterranean and Roman
Catholic culture emphasizing the family
Women work in a variety of fields and politically active
Based on century old traditions
Marriage is an important family event, divorce is low
Places to visit Monte-Carlo Grand Prix The Old town The prince’s palace
and palace square Oceanographic
museum and aquarium
Netherlands History: Inhabited by
Germanic tribes 4-8th century the
Franks ruled, became part of Charlemagne’s empire in the 8-9th centuries
16th century came under Spanish rule
Geography Coast of the North
Sea, twice the size of New Jersey
Part of the great plain North and West Europe
Low and flat except in Limburg
Below sea level
Netherlands cont. Culture Main language: Dutch No distinct culinary culture Do not invite people who are not
closely aquainted Class differences Women make up 38% of labor force
and work part-time Gender roles still occupy distinct
functions Common basis for marriage is love Free to choose spouses, usually class
based Marriage ceremony consists of two
formal events Nuclear family is the most common
household unit
Places to visit Anne Frank Huis Van Gogh Museum Rijksmuseum Heineken Experience Delft Rotterdam Arnhem Hoge de Veluwe National Park Haarlem Utrecht Leiden Maastricht The Hague
Norway History Teutonic region 1015 first effective
king of Norway Olaf II Haraldsson
1905 the parliament arranged a peaceful separation
Geography Western part of the
Scandinavian penninsula Extends from the North Sea
along the Norwegian Sea to above the Artic Circle
Slightly larger than Mexico 70% is inhabitable and
covered by mountains, glaciers, moors, and rivers
ocean front more than 12,000 mi, Galdho peak at 8100 ft.
Norway cont. Culture Different ethnic backgrounds and
cultures Modern day it is considered an
egalitarian country focused on fairness, open minded-ness, and equal rights
Many couples live together without being officially married
In business, women are highly respected and obtain equal pay
Educated, democratic Norwegian people who are willing to pay high taxes
Traditional costume, folklore, and folk music and cultural foods and celebrations
Places to visit Oslo Bergen Trondheim Stavanger Kristiansand Tromso Lilliehammer
Poland History Founded in 1996 by Mieszko I 1047, both great and little Poland
united under the rule of Casimir I the Restorer
1386-Poland merged with Lithuania Between the 14th and 16th centuries
they scored military successes Century after 1795 there was no
Polish state On Sept 1, 1939 Hitler attacked Occupied by Germany after the
Nazi attack on the USSR in June 1941
Geography Size of new Mexico Plain, with no
natural boundaries, except the Carpathian mountains in the south, and Oder and Neisse rivers in the West
Poland cont. Culture Ethnically homogeneous Ukrainian, Belorussian,
Slovakian, and Lithuanian minorities reside along the borders
German minority in the south of Opole
Inward migration from foreigners
Places to visit Tatra Mountains Bieszczady Mountains Pieniny Mountains and
Dunajec Gorge Mazury lakes Kaszuby Baltic coast Bialowieza Forest Spa towns Biebrza wetlands
Portugal History First inhabitants were the
Lusitanians 140 B.C conquered by Roman
Empire In the end, the Visigoths had
invaded the entire Iberian peninsula
In 1143, won independence from Moorish Spain
1581, Phillip II of Spain Invaded Portugal for 60 years
1640- Portuguese monarchy was restored
Geography Occupies the western
part of the Iberian peninsula and is about the size of Indiana
Crossed by 3 large rivers Divided into 3
geographic areas: The Minho River, Douro River, and Tejo River, remaining is Alentejo
Portugal cont. Culture Foundation of social structure
and basis for stability, extended family is close
Loyalty comes before other social relationships, business
Traditional and conservative Retain a sense of formality
and portrayed in extreme politeness
Appearance is very important Respects hierarchy
Places to visit The Gulbenkian Museum Praca de Comerico St. Jorge’s castle Belem Aveiro city Chiado Evora Ponte 25 de Abril Coimbra city Portugal’s Cristo Rei
Romania History From A.D 100-271 most of
Romania was the Roman province of Dacia
After in the congress of Berlin, became a kingdom in 1881
Signed the Axis pact on Nov. 23, 1940 and the following June joined in Germany’s attack on the Soviet union
In 1955, joined the Warsaw treaty organization, and united nations
Geography Southeast Europe, and slightly
smaller than Oregon Carpathian mts. divide
Romania’s upper half from north to south and connect near the center of the country with the Transylvanian Alps running east and west
North and west of these ranges cause the Transylvanian plateau, to the south and east are the plains of Moldavia and Walachia
At 190mi, the Danube river flows through
Romania cont. Culture Age and position are respected,
older people are viewed as wise and expect senior person to make decisions that benefits the whole group
Titles are very important Father is the head of the family Formal, reserved, and do not
trust strangers Usually shy and quiet and will
open up slowly
Places to visit Dabrogea Transylvania Walachia Sibiu Bucharest Brasov Tulcea Oradea
Russia History Viking Rurik came to Russia in
862 and found the first Russia dynasty
In 1240, Kiev was destroyed by Mongols and Russia was split into numerous smaller dukedoms
Ivan IV the terrible was known to find the Russia, Charles XII extended Russia’s boundaries to the West
In 1762, Catherine the Great acquired Crimea, Ukraine and part of Poland
Geography Occupies most of eastern Europe
and North Asia stretches from the Baltic Sea from the West to the Pacific Ocean in the east, also from the Artic Ocean in the north to the Black Sea in the South
Borders Finland and Norway in the northwest;
Estonia,Latvia,Belarus,Ukraine,Poland and Lithuania in the West
Georgia and Azerbaijan in the southwest; and Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, and North Korea along the southern border
Russia cont. Culture Family is dependent upon all its
members, Live in small apartments often with 2 or 3 generations
Most families are small Proud, patriotic songs and poems
extol the virtues of their homeland Accept their lives are difficult,
appreciate their cultural heritage and expect the rest of the world to admire it
Being nosy is common, Russians are extroverts
Life once settled on the agricultural village commune
Places to visit St. Petersburg Moscow Novgorod Golden Ring Cities Siberia Volga River Smolensk Samara
Scotland History Picts were the first inhabitants Kenneth McAlpin, King of the
Scots ascended the thorne in 843, uniting the Scots and Pictish tribes under the Dal Riada
By the 11th century, monarchy has extended to include much of Scotland today
1296, Edward I of England successfully invaded Scotland
1328, English finally recognized Scottish independence
Geography Occupies the northern third of
the island of Great Britain Bounded by English in the South
and on the other three sides by water
Divided into three physical regions: The Highlands, The Central Lowlands, and Southern Uplands
Includes outer and inner Hebrides and other islands off the West Coast and the Orkney and Shetland islands off the north coast
Scotland cont. Culture National anthem is
widely accepted English, Scots, and
Gaelic are common languages
The kilt worn with pipers, and a plaid long piece of tartan wrapped around the upper body is the common uniform
Places to visit Stirling Dunblane Perth Glasgow Edinburgh Kilchurn castle Dunollie castle Oban seal Mull
Serbia History Settled the Balkan peninsula in
the 6th and 7th century 1166, Stefan Nemanja a
Siberian warrior and chef found the 1st Siberian state
1389, Siberia was defeated in the Battle of Kosovo
1389, absorbed into the Ottoman empire
1878, Serbia gained independence
1918 became part of the kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes
Geography Largely mountainious Northeast section is part
of Danubian Plain Borders Croatia on the
northwest, Hungary on the north, Romania on the northeast, Bulgaria on the east, Macedonia on the south and Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Harzegovina on the west
Serbia cont. Culture Slava is an exclusive custom Highly family oriented Kolo is the traditional dance Important Christmas meal is
Cesnica which is a special type of bread
Christmas is not associated with the parents
On Easter, they have Slavic egg decorating
Known as misers
Places to visit Belgrade Novi Sad Subotica Sokobanja
Slovakia History Fell under Hungarian
control from the 10th century till 1918
In 1918, the Slovaks joined the Czech lands to form Czechoslovakia
In March 1939, Germany occupied Czechoslovakia
In 1948, Slovakia was subjected to a centralized Czech dominated government
Geography Located in central
Europe Rugged mountains, rich
in mineral resources with vast forests and pastures
Lowland regions in the south
Twice the size of Maryland
Slovakia cont. Culture Includes both folk traditions
and modern society Family is center of social
structure, together with close friends from the basis of financial and emotional support
Value privacy, takes awhile for them to open up to new people
Polite and well-respected nature
Places to visit Bratislava High Tatra Kosice Kransnohorske Podhradie Dargov Betliar Slovak Karst national
park Poprad
Spain History Originally inhabited
by Celts, Iberians, and Basques, in 206 B.C. became a part of the Roman Empire
In 1923, Gen. Miguel Primo de Rivera became dictator
Geography Occupies 85% of the
Iberian peninsula, shares it with Portugal
A broad central plateau slopes to the south and east, crossed by a series of mountain ranges and river valleys
Off of Spain’s east coast lies the Balearic islands
Spain cont. Culture Family is the basis of
social structure which includes both nuclear and extended
Majority are Roman Catholic
Structure and size of the family vary
Familial networks have become less tight
Places to visit Cadiz Salamanca Valencia Madrid Barcelona Andalucia, Costa del Sol
Granada Seville Malaga San sabastian Bilbao
Sweden History In the 11th century, Olaf
Skottkonung became the 1st Swedish king
In 1520, Christian II conquered Sweden but lead Swedish personages to death
Played a leading role in the second phase of the thirty years war
Geography Occupies the eastern part
of the Scandinavian peninsula
Fourth largest country in Europe
1/10th larger than California In the north are mountains
and lakes To the south and east are
lowlands, and fertile areas of forest, valley, and plain
Sweden cont. Culture Egalitarian in nature,
humble, and find boasting unacceptable
Prefer listening to others than having their own voice heard, speak softly and calmly
Rarely take hospitality, often give thanks
Family is extremely important
Places to visit Stockholm Uppsala Gothenburg Crystal country Kalmar Gota canal Swedish Lapland Operan
Switzerland History 1921, league of cantons
in the Holy Roman Empire
Treaty of Westphalia gave Switzerland its independence
1815, the congress of Vienna granted the neutrality and recognized its independence
Geography Tallest peak:
Dufourspitze Composed of
mountainous plateau, bordered by the great bulk of Alps in the south, and the Jura mountains on the northwest
Switzerland cont. Culture Marriage is not arranged,
late marriage and divorce is common
Extended families Privacy and discretion are
key values in social interaction
Do not speak to strangers Kind and politeness are
common characteristics
Places to visit The Jungfrau Region Chateau de Chillon Fasnacht Spring
carnival Swiss national park Geneva The Matterhorn St. Moritz The Rhine Falls
Turkey History 1900 BC the Hittite Empire 1250 BC the Trojan war 547 BC Cyrus of Persia invades
and conquers 129 BC becomes the Roman
Province of Asia 1000s-1200s Crusader armies
cross 1682- Peter the Great initiates
Russo-Turkish rivalry 1914- Allies with Germany in
WWI 1939- Remains neutral with
Germany in WWII
Geography Northeast end of the
Mediterranean sea in Southwest Europe and Asia
Black sea in the north and in the west is the Aegean sea
Borders: Greece and Bulgaria to the west, Russia, Ukraine and Romania to the north, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east and Syria and Iraq in the south
Turkey cont. Culture Common religion is Islam Depends on the region and
ethnic background of its inhabitants
Clothing is similar to western culture
Family plays a big part, although it has changed to modern day demands
Usually eat all 3 meals together, but because of hectic schedules it is happening less
Places to visit Nemrut Dagi Pamukkle Bodrum Kusadasi Ankara Lycian coast Cappadocia Ephesus Antalya Istanbul