Germany and Germany and the Alpine the Alpine CountriesCountries

Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein

Germany and the Alpine Countries

Social Groups

• 82.6 Million People • Life expectancy-77 years

(men), 82 years (women)• They trace their ancestry back

to a group that settled in Europe between 100-400 A.D.

Language

• They speak German – a language that is closely related to English

Religion

• A German priest, started a new religion, Protestantism, around 1520 after being banned from the Catholic Church by the Pope. This priest’s name was Martin Luther.

• Today Catholics and Protestants are evenly represented in the country

Daily Life

• The Autobahns• Around 90% of German households have

cable or satellite TV. • one of the world's highest levels of education

History

• Involved in and blamed for two World Wars.

• Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust.

• Once divided as a free democratic West and a communist East

• Reunification– Bringing together Germany’s

two parts under one government

Adolf Hitler

The Arts

• Classical music composers

• Johan Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven.

• Produce beautiful cuckoo clocks using timbers from the Black Forest.

The Brothers Grimm•Jacob Ludwig Karl Grimm

•Did most of the research

•Wilhelm Karl Grimm•Provided the childlike influence in the tales

•collected the stories from peasants and villagers, and, controversially, from other sources such as published works from other cultures and languages.• They were also interested in folklore and primitive literature.

Government• Federal Republic

– National and state government share powers

– 2 houses in parlaiment• Elected President

– Head of State; only carries out ceremonial duties

• Chancellor– real head of government;

chosen by 1 of 2 houses of parliament

• Reunification has been a challenge since 1990

The Economy

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=A4189876-A12D-465C-A637-B4BD48BB8E44

• Leader in the EU• Ruhr district – important industrial center

• Imports about 1/3 of food• Leading producer of beer, wine, & cheese• Autobahns– Superhighways

• Industry pollution acid rain!!! severe damage to Black Forest & other places

Switzerland

• Neutrality– Refusing to take sides in

disagreements and wars between countries

• The Alps– Continental divide

• Four national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansch

Austria

• Landlocked country south of Germany

• The Sound of Music• Speak German• 80% Roman Catholic• Vienna

Liechtenstein

• A principality about the size of Washington D.C.

• Constitutional monarchy– prince has governing power

• Most people are roman catholic• German is the official language

German Reunification

• German Reunification Video

• What problems have emerged as a result of German Reunification?