A Geographic Profile of Europe Chapter 4 4 Delineating EuropeTraditionally, Europe is classified as one of the world’s seven continents, but it is not a distinct landmassActually an appendage or subcontinent of EurasiaEurope is the culture region made up of the countries of Eurasia lying west of Turkey, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and MoldovaThe traditional physical dividing line between Europe and Asia is drawn from the Ural Mountains down to the Caucasus, which technically places the majority of the above-mentioned countries within Europe Political & Physical Geographies of Europe 4.1.1 Europe’s SubregionsSubregions of EuropeEuropean CoreUK, Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and the microstates of Andorra, Monaco, and LiechtensteinGenerally includes the countries with the largest populations and most important economic and political roles in EuropeNorthern EuropeDenmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and FinlandSouthern EuropePortugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Malta, and CyprusEastern EuropeEstonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Slovenia 4.1.2 Small but Powerful EuropeArea of Europe is half that of the U.S. “Lower 48”Europe contains one of the world’s great clusters of human populationPopulation of 532 million (2007)1 out of every 13 people in the world is a EuropeanPopulation density varies widely1,038 persons per square mile in the NetherlandsOnly 8 persons per square mile in IcelandFour countries, alone, comprise half of Europe’s populationGermany 82 millionFrance 63 millionUnited Kingdom 63 millionItaly 61 million Population Distribution of Europe Population Cartogram of Europe 4.1.3 Belts of Energy, Industries, and CitiesGreatest population densities found in 2 belts of industrialization and urbanization near historical sources of coal and hydroelectric powerNorth-South from the UK to ItalyEast-West from UK to PolandThese belts contain large cities and produce more goods and services than the rest of Europe combinedOnly three other areas on Earth resemble Europe’s urban-industrial beltsEastern North AmericaJapanChina 4.1.4 Why is Europe’s Population Declining?Europe has transitioned from preindustrial high birth and death rates to postindustrial low birth and death ratesPopulation of Europe peaked in 1997“Birth Dearth”Low Birth RatesEmployed and educated women choosing not to devote time and money necessary to raise childrenFertility rate below population replacement levelNo European country maintaining its population through birthsEurope’s population aging faster than all other world regionsStrategiesCash incentives (“baby bounties”) to parents who have multiple childrenOffering welfare benefits to immigrants 4.1.5 Bring on the Immigrants?If birth rates remain at their current low level, the European Union will have .

1. A Geographic Profile of Europe
Chapter 4
4 Delineating EuropeTraditionally, Europe is classified as one
of the world’s seven continents, but it is not a distinct
landmassActually an appendage or subcontinent of
EurasiaEurope is the culture region made up of the countries of
Eurasia lying west of Turkey, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and
MoldovaThe traditional physical dividing line between Europe
and Asia is drawn from the Ural Mountains down to the
Caucasus, which technically places the majority of the above-
mentioned countries within Europe
Political
&
Physical
Geographies
of Europe
4.1.1 Europe’s SubregionsSubregions of EuropeEuropean

2. CoreUK, Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg,
Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and the microstates of Andorra,
Monaco, and LiechtensteinGenerally includes the countries with
the largest populations and most important economic and
political roles in EuropeNorthern EuropeDenmark, Iceland,
Norway, Sweden, and FinlandSouthern EuropePortugal, Spain,
Italy, Greece, Malta, and CyprusEastern EuropeEstonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary,
Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro,
Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Slovenia
4.1.2 Small but Powerful EuropeArea of Europe is half that of
the U.S. “Lower 48”Europe contains one of the world’s great
clusters of human populationPopulation of 532 million (2007)1
out of every 13 people in the world is a EuropeanPopulation
density varies widely1,038 persons per square mile in the
NetherlandsOnly 8 persons per square mile in IcelandFour
countries, alone, comprise half of Europe’s populationGermany
82 millionFrance 63 millionUnited
Kingdom 63 millionItaly 61 million
Population Distribution of Europe
Population Cartogram of Europe

3. 4.1.3 Belts of Energy, Industries, and CitiesGreatest population
densities found in 2 belts of industrialization and urbanization
near historical sources of coal and hydroelectric powerNorth-
South from the UK to ItalyEast-West from UK to PolandThese
belts contain large cities and produce more goods and services
than the rest of Europe combinedOnly three other areas on Earth
resemble Europe’s urban-industrial beltsEastern North
AmericaJapanChina
4.1.4 Why is Europe’s Population Declining?Europe has
transitioned from preindustrial high birth and death rates to
postindustrial low birth and death ratesPopulation of Europe
peaked in 1997“Birth Dearth”Low Birth RatesEmployed and
educated women choosing not to devote
time and money necessary to raise childrenFertility rate below
population replacement levelNo European country maintaining
its population through birthsEurope’s population aging faster
than all other world regionsStrategiesCash incentives (“baby
bounties”) to parents who have multiple childrenOffering
welfare benefits to immigrants
4.1.5 Bring on the Immigrants?If birth rates remain at their
current low level, the European Union will have a shortfall of
20 million workers by 2030The EU would need 3 million
migrants per year to prevent thisHistorically, governments were
reluctant to impose harsh measures that would restrict
migration, but this is changing, with immigrants increasingly
viewed as:A financial burden on societyThreatening to unravel

4. the social safety net of the European welfare stateLiving outside
mainstream European society instead of becoming integrated
within itImmigration Statistics1.8 million people enter EU
legally each year500,000 more people enter the EU illegally
each year
4.2 Physical Geography & Human AdaptationsPhysical
Characteristics of EuropeIrregular shapeHigh latitudeTemperate
climateJagged coastal outlineEstuaries (tidal mouths of rivers)
and harbors offer protection for shippingMuch of Europe’s
history has focused on seaborne
trade, sea fisheries, and sea powerMuch of Europe lies north of
the conterminous U.S., resulting in long summer days and short
winter days
Comparison of Latitude and Area:
Europe vs. North America
4.2.1 Why Is Europe So Warm?Europe has mild climates
despite its high latitudeWarm Ocean CurrentsGulf StreamNorth
Atlantic DriftWesterly WindsWinter winds absorb heat
from ocean and transport
to landIn summer, the ocean is cooler than land, so the winds
have a cooling effectWinds also bring abundant
moistureAverage annual precipitation in European lowlands
is 20-40 inches

5. 4.2.2 Human Settlement on Europe’s LandscapesEurope’s
topographic features are very diverse, and have been enriched
by human associations of an eventful historyNorth European
Plain, which extends from French-Spanish border far into
Russia, contains the greater part of Europe’s cultivated
landUnderlain by deposits of coal, iron ore, and other minerals
important in the region’s industrial developmentHome to many
of the largest European citiesSouth of the North European Plain,
the region is hilly and mountainous, with notable peaks
including Mount Blanc (French-Italian border) and the iconic
Swiss MatterhornGlaciationCreated favorable sites for
hydroelectric installationsGlacial deposition left fertile deposits
on most of the
North European Plain that are productively farmed today
Matterhorn Above Zermatt Resort, Switzerland
Maximum Extent of Pleistocene Glaciation
4.2.3 Diversity of Climate & VegetationDespite its relatively
small size, Europe has remarkable climatic and biotic
diversityMarine West CoastHumid Continental Short-Summer
(Cold)Humid Continental Long-Summer
(Warm)MediterraneanSubarctic and TundraUndifferentiated
Highland

6. Climate Types of Europe
Biomes of Europe
Land Use in Europe
Mediterranean Landscape in Greece
4.2.4 Rivers and WaterwaysUses of River
SystemsTransportWater SupplyElectricity
GenerationRecreationRomans used rivers for transport and
today, rivers
still make it possible to move cargo at low costDutch developed
the pound lock for canalsThe Rhine and Danube traverse many
countries
and are important arteries for the flow of goodsImportant
SeaportsLondon on the ThamesAntwerp on the
ScheldtRotterdam in the delta of the RhineHamburg on the Elbe
4.3 Cultural & Historical GeographiesEurope is a region
marked by extraordinary cultural diversityMany countries
crowded into a relatively small land areaThis richness can be

7. experienced through a brief train ride through Europe
4.3.1 Linguistic & Ethnic Groups of EuropeEurope emerged
from prehistory as the
homeland of many different peoplesGreat expansion of the
Greek and Celtic peoples in the
first millennium B.C.E.Europe’s Greek and Celtic languages
expanded at roughly the same time, but are represented today
only by remnantsMajor Language FamiliesRomance (Evolved
from Latin)Examples: Italian, French, Spanish &
PortugueseGermanicExamples: German, English, Dutch,
Danish & SwedishSlavicExamples: Russian, Polish, Czech,
Slovak & Serbian
Languages of Europe
4.3.2 Europeans’ Religious RootsDominance of
ChristianityEmbraced by Emperor Constantine in the 4th
CenturyRoman Catholic ChurchEurope’s largest religious group
(280 million followers)Eastern Orthodox ChurchDeveloped in
Constantinople during Middle Ages as rival to RomeSects
Emerging from Protestant Reformation (16th Century)Church of
EnglandCalvinismLutheran ProtestantismEurope has become
increasingly secularizedIslam is fastest growing religion in
EuropeOnly one million Jews in Europe today

8. Religions of Europe
4.3.3 European Colonialism & ConsequencesThe Silk Road was
an important global trade route, connecting China and
VeniceThe balance of world affairs started shifting to Europe
with the beginning of the Age of Discovery in the 15th
centuryThe process of exploration and discovery began with
Portuguese expeditions down the west coast of AfricaExplorers
were the vanguards of a global European invasion that would
bring the missionaries, soldiers, traders, settlers, and
administratorsThe Columbian ExchangeImportant in reshaping
the world’s biogeographyThe transfer of plants and animals
from one place to
another following Europe’s conquest of the Americas
4.4 Economic Geography:
Awash in Cash and TalentEurope had significant material
and cultural riches, which the colonial system built on to make
it the world’s wealthiest region for centuriesAchievements in
shipbuilding, navigation, and the manufacture and handling of
weapons gave Europe decided advantagesFoundations of
modern science primarily came out of EuropeFirst world region
to evolve from an agricultural to an industrial society
4.4.1 Europe DisplacedBy 1900, European cities created about

9. 90% of world’s manufacturing outputIn 20th century, Europe’s
preeminence in world trade and industry diminished to about
25% of the world’s manufacturing output.This happened for
several reasons:WarfareRising nationalismRising economic and
political stature of U.S. and U.S.S.R.A major shift in global
manufacturing patternsDependence on outside sources of energy
Ruins of the Reichstag in Berlin, 1945
4.4.2 An Imbalance of WealthWestern Europe is wealthier than
Eastern EuropeTrend dates to at least the 1870s, when per
capita incomes in the west were twice those in the eastAfter
World War II, eastern European countries were in effect
colonized by the Soviet UnionServed as vassal states that gave
up human and material resources to service the motherlandHope
for Eastern EuropeDissolution of the Soviet Union in
1991Admission of eastern European countries to the EU
4.4.3 Living off the Land and SeaAgriculture was the original
foundation of Europe’s economy and is still very
importantAgricultural advances after about 1500:Introduction of
new crops, such as the potatoNew systems of crop
rotationScientific advancementsIndustrial cities provided
growing markets for farmersFarmers protected through tariffs or
direct subsidiesFishing an important part of the European food
economyControl of fishing grounds as commercial / political
objectiveOverfishing of cod

10. 4.4.4 PostindustrializationEurope’s Postindustrial
EconomyShift from energy-hungry, labor-costly, and polluting
industries toward an economy based on services and production
of high-tech goodsThese industries do not employ as many
people as the old manufacturing sector, so there are
unemployment problemsMany European nations fit model of
welfare stateUse resources collected through high taxation rates
to provide generous social services to citizens
4.4.5 The European UnionHeadquartered in Brussels,
BelgiumMost important of Europe’s supranational
organizationsBegan as the European Economic Community,
1957
(also known as the Common Market)France, West Germany,
Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, NetherlandsInitially designed to
secure the benefits of large-scale production by pooling
resources & markets of its membersTariffs eliminated on goods
moving between member statesRestrictions on the movement of
labor and capital between member states were easedMonopolies
that restricted competition were discouragedCommon set of
external tariffs established to regulate importsAcquired the
European Union name in 1993By 1996, nine additional members
had joined the EU
Members of the European Union
4.4.6 Bring on the EuroA single European Union currency (the
euro) was launched in 1999 as the centerpiece of the European
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)European Central Bank

11. decides interest rates and other critical decisionsBelieved
advantages of a common currencyLower transaction costsMore
certainty for investorsEnhanced competitionMore consistent
pricingRestrain public spending, reduce debt, and tame
inflationCurrently 17 countries using the euro as its currency
Eurozone: Countries that use the Euro
4.4.7 Europe’s “Big Bang”Ten Eastern European nations joined
the EU in 2004Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia,
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Malta, and CyprusCreated
a Mega-Europe of 450 million people and an economy valued at
nearly $10 trillionEmbracing the less wealthyThe most
outstanding differences between the old and new EU members is
in their economies, with the old EU countries having 95% of the
continent’s wealthWhen the big bang countries joined in 2004,
the EU’s average wealth per person fell by 13 percent
4.5 Geopolitical IssuesEurope’s geopolitical situation has
changed more profoundly and violently in the past 100 years
than any other world regionEurope experienced two world wars
that wrought unprecedented devastationWorld War I
(1914-1918)World War II (1939-1945)
4.5.1 Postwar EuropeEuropean UnionFederation of nations
similar to the United StatesLargest post-war European
supranational organizationMember countries united beyond the
authority of any single national government and

12. planned/controlled by a group of nationsThe Cold War and Its
AftermathNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)Military
alliance founded in 1949 between the U.S., Canada, most
European countries west of the Iron Curtain & TurkeyNATO
faced off against the Warsaw Pact, an alliance of the Soviet
Union and its eastern European satellitesCold War ended with
collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991Warsaw Pact was
dissolvedNuclear arsenals of the respective alliances were
reduced Plans made to turn the path of the Iron Curtain into the
European Greenbelt, a mosaic of national parks and other
protected areasNATO remains today with a membership of 28
countries
European Membership of NATO
4.5.2 Welcome to Schengenland?The EU would like to move
toward a situation in which there were no passport, visa, or
other control issues at any internal land, sea, and airport
frontiers of its member countriesSchengen Agreement seeks this
integrationAllows for the free circulation of people between
nations that signed the agreementMember states exercise
common visa, asylum, and other policies at their external
bordersTruly open borders are probably still far in the
futureAnti-immigrant fearsCheap eastern laborTerrorists
4.5.3 Differences Between Europeans & AmericansConcept of
Social JusticeProvision of and Spending on Public
EducationTaxes on GasolineViews on U.S. “Cultural Industries”
(e.g., Hollywood films)Allowance of questions of spirituality
into political debatesAcceptance of Death Penalty (outlawed in

13. EU countries)Differences on the Geopolitical Front
4.6 Regional Issues and LandscapesEuropean CoreGreat
Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, smaller nations in British
Isles, and west central portions of European mainland European
PeripheryNorthern EuropeSouthern EuropeEastern Europe
4.6.1 The European CoreProperties of the European Core
Densest, most urbanized population Most prosperous economy
Lowest unemployment Most productive agriculture Most
conservative politics Greatest concentration of
highways and railroads Highest levels of crowding,
congestion, and pollution 1 of only 4 world regions
classified as a major cluster
of continuous settlement
The British Isles
4.6.2 Great BritainPolitical Units of the United
KingdomEnglandScotlandWalesNorthern IrelandWorld’s
Strongest CountryFrom defeat of Napoleonic France in 1815 to
start of WWI in 1914British Empire once covered one quarter of
the EarthCommonwealth of NationsVoluntary association of 54
countries that nominally recognize

14. the British monarch as its headLegacyMuch world culture has
British rootsImportance of English language around the
worldLondon as an example of a World City
4.6.3 IrelandTroubles and Resilience on the Emerald IsleIrish
Economy as “Celtic Tiger”Traditionally low-ranking economy
doubled in size in 1990sEconomy boosted by emergence of
high-tech industries The strong economic growth (about 7%
annually) enjoyed
between 1999-2007 was followed by a recession Potato Famine
of 1845-185110 percent of population died of starvation
or diseaseA greater number emigrated to North America,
Australia & UK Conflict in Northern IrelandOfficially part of
the United Kingdom British direct rule vs. Irish Republican
Army (IRA) Catholic Republicans and Protestant Unionists
4.6.4 France: All Roads Lead to ParisParis as a Primate
City10.4 million in metropolitan areaGreater population than
those of
the next two largest cities combined
(Lille – 1 million and Lyon 1.5 million)Primate cities are rarely
seen in developed countriesCan be detrimental to national
development by diverting a disproportionately high share of the
country’s goods, services, resources, and minds to the city and
away from outlying areas Important geographic situation

15. on the Seine RiverLargest city of mainland EuropeLeading
urban tourist destination
4.6.5 GermanyReunification of Germany in 1990 was one of
the most important geopolitical events of late twentieth century
Inequity between western and eastern GermanyEurope’s
Dominant Country 82 million population greater than any other
country Along with France, seen as political cornerstone of EU
Fourth-largest economy in the world One of top three countries
globally in exports of goods Concerns about Germany’s
commitmentsTo the European community To Atlantic alliances,
such as NATO
4.6.6 Europe Paves the Way on Alternative EnergyEuropean
Union seeks to achieve the following by 2020: Reduce
greenhouse gases to 20% below 1990 levels Get 20% of its
energy from renewable sources To achieve this, EU members
will: Promote fuel efficiency in automobilesEncourage the use
of public transportation Use alternative energiesWind
powerHydroelectric powerSolar powerTidal powerWave
powerGeothermal powerTrash power
4.6.7 The European PeripheryProperties of the European
Periphery “Rimland” of countries whose interests are tied
closely to and strongly influenced by those of the core Have
less political and economic clout than core countries Dependent
on the core countries SubregionsNorthern Europe Southern
Europe Eastern Europe

16. 4.6.8 Northern EuropeNorway and Iceland’s refusal to join the
European UnionFear EU fishing policies will diminish profits
vital to their economies Both countries, along with Japan,
engage in whaling Whale meat is a prized foodClaim that
populations of whale species have rebounded to levels that
should allow regular, limited harvesting for human consumption
Argue that growing whale populations will feed on huge
amounts of commercially-important fish stocks
4.6.9 Southern Europe: Basque CountryThe Basques Have a
unique ethnicity and
culture unrelated to those of
their host country majorities 2.3 million Basques of Spain
300,000 Basques of France Have often been targets of
discrimination and violence In the 1960s, Basque desire for
independence led to militant group ETA (Basque Homeland and
Liberty) ETA is seen as a terrorist organization by the EU and
U.S. In 2011, the ETA vowed to cease violence
4.6.10 Southern Europe: North vs. South in ItalyWithin Italy,
there is a longstanding vernacular distinction between the north
and south: Northerners, in Padania,
see themselves as sophisticated
and cosmopolitanNorthern Italy has labor shortages Industries
are more productive
and income levels are higher Southerners, in Mezzogiorno,

17. acknowledge agrarian roots as
the source of their kinship
values and enjoyment of life Southern Italy has more
unemployment
Mediterranean island gained independence as the Republic of
Cyprus in 1960, but is divided: Greek Cypriots Greek Orthodox
Christians Make up about 75% of
estimated population of 1 million Turkish Cypriots Muslims
Make up about 25% of populationBuffer Zone (“Green
Line”)Sealed off the Turkish north and Greek southCapital city
of Nicosia is divided by this lineDepressed north is tied to
Turkey, but the Greek sector enjoys flourishing tourism and aid
from Greece, Britain, the U.S. and the United Nations
4.6.11 Southern Europe: North vs. South in Cyprus
4.6.12 Eastern EuropeUnifying features prior to end of Cold
War: Majority Slavic ethnicity Former Communist statue
Subjugation to Soviet interests The true complexity of this
region is now more apparent Eastern Europe as a Shatter BeltA
large, strategically located region composed of conflicting
states caught between the conflicting interests of great powers
Countries as Soviet SatellitesLocal communist governments
effectively controlled from Moscow
Eastern European Shatter Belt

18. 4.6.13 Principal Traits of CommunismOne-party dictatorial
governments National economies planned and directed by
organs of the state Abolition of private ownership (with some
exceptions) in the fields of manufacturing, mining,
transportation, commerce, and services Abolition of
independent trade unions Varying degrees of socialization (state
ownership) of agriculture
4.6.14 BalkanizationPolitical-geographic term for
fragmentation into ethnically
based, contentious units that
took its name from the
characteristic disharmony
of the Balkan region As the Iron Curtain dissolved,
Yugoslavia began to fracture
along ancient ethnic fault lines Yugoslav state dissolved in 1991
Ethnic CleansingForced emigration or murder of
one ethnic group by another
within a certain territory

19. 4.6.15 The RomaThe Roma (aka “Gypsies”)At 12 million, one
of Europe’s
largest ethnic minorities Romania has the highest number,
about 2.5 million Originally from what is now IndiaRomany
language similar to those
spoken on Indian subcontinent An itinerant people that still
often moves in caravans Poorer than the majority
populations, and have higher
unemployment rates Subjected to a great deal of
prejudice and discrimination