Regions of Europe

Mediterranean

History

• Mediterranean Europe was home to two great civilizations:

1. Greece Athens developed the first democracy (rule by the people) Athenian males served in the law-making assembly Science, philosophy, drama and art shaped modern U.S. culture Conquered by Alexander the Great of Macedonia

History

2. Rome

• Republic (a government in which citizens elect representatives to rule in their name)

• Christianity spread across the world from Palestine - one of Rome’s territories.

Map showing the Greatest Extent of the Roman Empire

History• Geographic advantages:

1. Mild climate made survival easier

2. Nearby Mediterranean Sea

encouraged overseas trade

Modern Times• Crusades (A.D. 1096): a series of wars to

take Palestine from the Muslims

• Renaissance (14th – 16th centuries): time of renewed interest in learning and the arts

• Christopher Columbus sailed from Spain to the Americas spreading Catholicism and the Spanish language.

Culture• Languages spoken in Mediterranean

Europe Greek Portuguese Spanish Italian

• Christianity is the most popular religion

Culture• Art

Parthenon

Aqueducts

Mosques

Economics

• Tourism

• Fishing and agriculture Olives, grapes, citrus and wheat

• Industry is on the rise Portugal – clothing (textiles) Spain – autos Italy – clothing and shoes

City Growth

• People have moved from rural areas to urban areas as economies have transitioned from agriculture to manufacturing to service.

• Problems with city growth: Housing shortages Pollution Traffic jams

Black Death/Bubonic Plague

• Worst disaster ever suffered

in Europe• Killed about 25 million

Europeans Approximately 1/4 to

1/3 of the population

• Began in Sicily in

1347 from Asian

traders

Western

History• Many languages spoken throughout

German French Flemish Luxembourgian English Italian Dutch

History• Reformation

People began to question the Catholic Church Many Christians broke away from the Catholic

Church and became Protestant These two groups have existed in conflict and

in peace

Martin Luther

Conflicts• Nationalism – people should be loyal to

their country – caused people to want their own country

• French Revolution Citizens fought against the selfish French

kings

• Wars have broken out between France and Austria or France and Germany

Modern Wars• WWI: Allies vs. Central Powers• WWII: Allies vs. Axis Powers

How do you win a war?World War II Deaths

CountryMilitary Civilian Total

Soviet Union 8,668,000 16,900,000 25,568,000

France 340,000 470,000 810,000

Japan (Axis) 1,506,000 300,000 1,806,000

USA 295,000   295,000

Great Britain 326,000 62,000 388,000

Germany (Axis) 3,250,000 3,810,000 7,060,000

Holocaust photo story

Modern Wars• Result of WWII

Germany was split into two separate countries: West and East Germany Berlin, the capitol, was split as well by the Berlin Wall The Soviets built the wall to keep East Berliners from fleeing to West Berlin

Berlin wall photo story

Economics

• Very strong economy due to inclusion of agriculture, manufacturing and service industries

• Major agricultural products Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland:

dairy farming and livestock raising

• Rich in coal and iron ore (used to make steel) Aerospace, chemicals, electronics, engineering,

optics, research and development, shipbuilding, textiles, vehicle assembly and vineyards

• Swiss banking is popular because they refuse to fight in wars

Economics

• Tourism

• Exporter of luxury goods

Volkswagen - Germany Holland tulips Swiss watch

Culture

• Music Johann Sebastian Bach Beethoven Mozart

• Painters Rembrandt Monet Cézanne

Modern Life

• Europeans live in smaller homes than Americans

• Receive more paid vacation time

• Immigration has been a source of conflict in Germany and Austria