European Culture Today

NorthernEurope

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandAka, The United Kingdom, Great Britain, England,

the British IslesFour regions- England, Scotland, Wales,

Northern Ireland (corner of Ireland)People differentiate themselves as English,

Scot, Welsh, or Irish despite all being British

The United Kingdom

England

Wales

Scotland

Northern Ireland

The LandSeparate from the rest of Europe by the

English ChannelHelped British be connected to European culture

but be protected from invasionSouthern and eastern England- rolling fertile

plains- farmsNorthern and Western- Scotland and Wales-

rocky soil, cold climate- sheep herdingSoutheastern England- Thames River- London

The United Kingdom

The EconomyIndustrial Revolution began in BritainManufacturing, electronics, and service

industriesOil and natural gas from North Sea generates

energySome is also exported

The United Kingdom

GovernmentConstitutional monarchy- king/queen is head of state and

takes part in ceremonies but elected officials run the gov’tBegan with the Magna Carta in 1200s

Parliament later was formed- 1628- Petition of Right- forced King Charles I to consult Parliament before raising taxes

English Bill of Rights- 1689UK is also a parliamentary democracy- voters elect

members of Parliament and leader of majority party becomes PMPM has to explain decisions to Parliament- can be removed

from officeScotland, Wales, and NI all have regional legislatures-

deals with healthcare, education, and in Scotland taxes

The United Kingdom

The PeopleOver 60million- 3rd highest in Europe- 90% in

citiesLondon- 7.6 millionEnglish speaking, except Welsh and Scottish

Gaelic in some areasProtestant mostly; some Muslim, Hindu, and

Sihkism1700s-1800s- British culture spread worldwide-

sports (cricket), language, and literature

The United Kingdom

The LandBecame independent from GB in 1922- mostly

CatholicShaped like a shallow bowl

Interior- lowland and hills, coastal is rocky cliffsLush, green fields- Emerald IsleLow-lying areas are full of peat (plants that

have partly decayed)Dug from bogs (low swampy lands)- can be

dried and used for fuel

The Republic of Ireland

The EconomyAgriculture:

Sheep and cattleSugar beets and potatoes

1840s- Irish Potato Famine- over a million people died, another million emigrated to the US

Manufacturing:Largest industry- clothing, pharmaceuticals,

computer equipmentIncreased productivity (how much a person does in

a specific amount of time)- leads to more goods, more profits, and more pay

The Republic of Ireland

The PeopleIrish are ancestors of the Celts2 languages- Irish Gaelic and English60% of population live in cities or towns- 1/3 in

DublinIrish culture is huge- music and danceLiterature- George Bernard Shaw (playwright),

William Butler Yeats (poet), James Joyce (novelist)

The Republic of Ireland

Conflict Over Northern IrelandMany Catholics in NI would like to be united

with IrelandProtestants won’t let them- dominant groupLed to violence- 1960s-1990s1998- Northern Ireland officials met and

agreed to end disputesStill continue a little today

Republic of Ireland

Five Nations: Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland

The LandMild climate from N.A.C.Central Scandinavia- long cold winters, short

warm summersNorthern Scan. near the Arctic Circle- - tundra-

midsummer the Sun never sets, midwinter the Sun never rises

Scandinavia

Islands around coastlinesDenmark, southern Sweden and Finland-

lowlandsMountains along border or Norway and

SwedenIceland- island in North Atlantic- along to

separating faults- geysers (springs that shoot hot water and steam into the air)- 200 volcanoes (most not active)

Norway- fjords (fee-AWRDS)- narrow inlets of the sea

Scandinavia

The EconomiesWealthy and prosperousAgriculture- not a lot, but just enoughFishing- especially in Norway and IcelandManufacturing and service industries are also bigEnergy

Norway- oil and natural gas from North SeaIceland- geothermal energy (produced from natural steam)

and hydroelectricFinland- hydroelectricSweden- nuclear and oil

Sweden uses iron ore to make Saabs and VolvosWood used for shipbuilding in Finland and DenmarkCopenhagen, Denmark is a major port for Baltic Sea

Scandinavia

People and CultureLow population density except Denmark

(smallest but climate is mild and farming is good)

Scandinavia (minus Finland) are descendants of Germanic people

Finland- people originally came from Siberia- Finnish language and culture is different in many ways

Lutheran Church dominates all countries

Scandinavia

Vikings controlled and raided western Europe, the North Atlantic, and even North America in the Middle Ages

Finland was controlled by Sweden and then Russia for many years

Denmark, Norway, Sweden- constitutional monarchies

Finland and Iceland- republicsIceland’s Parliament- the Athling- began in 930ad-

one of the oldestWelfare states- many benefits but very high taxes too

Scandinavia

Section 2

Europe’s

Heartland

France’s Land and EconomyFrance- 2nd largest country in Europe- a little

smaller than TXNorthern France- Northern European PlainSouth- mountains Rivers- Seine and LoireMild/warm climate- good farming soil

France and the Benelux Countries

French agriculture- specialization (focusing efforts on certain activities to make the best use of resources)Grapes made into winesSheep and cattle milk for over 250 kinds of cheesesSells these goods to other countries and imports

stuff they can’t makeIndustries- cars/trucks, chemicals, textiles,

processed foods, high-tech industries (computers and such)

1 in 12 work in tourism- Paris, beaches, Alps, or chateax (French castles)

France and the Benelux Countries

France’s People and CultureAncestry- Celts, Romans, and Germanic TribesRoman Catholic, then IslamPop. 60.7 million, mostly in cities (10 million in

Paris)Museums, cafes, universities, etcSeine River, Notre Dame, and Eiffel Tower

Culture has spread far and wide- French cookingArtists, philosophers, composers, directors, writers

French Revolution ended the age of monarchiesNow a democratic republic- president (elected- very

powerful) and PM (appointed)

France and the Benelux Countries

The Benelux CountriesBelgium, Netherlands, LuxembourgLow, flat lands, densely populated- urban lifestyle,

high standard of livingParliamentary democracies- led by monarchsBelgium

Trade and manufacturing- imports raw materialsAntwerp- port city and center of world diamond industryBrussels- capital, headquarters of EUBelgium 3 regions- Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels

Flanders- NW, people speak Dutch, known as Flemings Wallonia- SE, speak French, known as Walloons Brussels- mixed- bilingual sometimes groups have conflict w/ each other

France and the Benelux Countries

Netherlands- north of Belgium- people called Dutch¼ of country below sea level- dikes around country

to keep water outDrain wetlands- called polders- great farming90% of population lives is cities- capital AmsterdamHouses are narrow and tall- apts in canals and Industry- manufacturing and trade

Export cheese, veggies and flowers (tulips)Luxembourg

SE of Belgium- center of trade and financeHave many multinational companiesFrench and German ancestry

France and the Benelux Countries

Germany’s LandSurrounded by 9 countriesNorth- Northern European PlainCentral- rock highlands with coalSouth- Alps- threatened by acid rainRivers- important to economy

Danube- begins in the Black ForestElbe- central highlands to North Sea- HamburgRhine- Swiss Alps, through Germany and

Netherlands to North Sea

Germany and the Alpine Countries

History and GovernmentUsed to be a bunch of states- 1871 united into

Germany20th century- started 2 world warsAfter WW2- divided into 4 zones- West

Germany (democratic), East Germany (communist)Reunited in 1990 with the fall of the SU

Like the US today- federal republic- shared powersElected President is only a symbol; chancellor

(appointed by Parliament) makes the decisions

Germany and the Alpine Countries

Germany’s People82.5 people- largest population in Europe- 90%

urbanBerlin- government and cultural capitalBach and Beethoven90% of Germans are native- the rest are mostly

from Eastern Europe and TurkeyMostly Protestant or Catholic

Germany and the Alpine Countries

The EconomyGlobal leaderAgriculture- surplusIndustry- steel, chemicals, cars, electrical

equipmentInvested into research- has paid off

The challenge of reunificationEast was less trained and less equipped than the

westEast still lags behind

Germany and the Alpine Countries

The Alpine CountriesSwtizerland, Austria, Liechtenstein (only 62

square miles- smaller than DC- population 40,000Swiss- “gatekeepers”- travel routes through Alps

go the SwitzerlandNeutrality- refusal to take sides in warsStable democratic gov’t despite surrounding warsGeneva- Red CrossEach city is unique bc of mtnsMany ethnic groups- languages: German, French,

Italian, RomanschHydroelectric power, electrical equipment, clocks,

cheese, chocolate, knife, banks

Germany and the Alpine Countries

AustriaTourism- skiingTimber, iron ore, hydroelectric powerProduce machinery, chemicals, metals, and vehiclesBanking and insuranceSpeak German, are Roman Catholic1/5 of Austrians live in Vienna- capital on Danube

Mozart and other composers

Germany and the Alpine Countries