2. 4 Delineating Europe
Traditionally, Europe is classified as one of the
world’s seven continents, but it is not a distinct
landmass
Actually an appendage or subcontinent of Eurasia
Europe is the culture region made up of the
countries of Eurasia lying west of Turkey, Russia,
Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova
The 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
4. 4.1.1 Europe’s Subregions
Subregions of Europe
European Core
UK, Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg,
Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and the microstates of
Andorra, Monaco, and Liechtenstein
Generally includes the countries with the largest populations
and most important economic and political roles in Europe
Northern Europe
Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland
Southern Europe
Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Malta, and Cyprus
Eastern Europe
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo,
Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and
Slovenia
5.
6.
7. 4.1.2 Small but Powerful Europe
Area of Europe is half that of the U.S. “Lower 48”
Europe contains one of the world’s great clusters of human
population
Population of 532 million (2007)
1 out of every 13 people in the world is a European
Population density varies widely
1,038 persons per square mile in the Netherlands
Only 8 persons per square mile in Iceland
Four countries, alone, comprise half of Europe’s population
Germany 82 million
France 63 million
United Kingdom 63 million
Italy 61 million
10. 4.1.3 Belts of Energy, Industries, and Cities
Greatest population densities found
in 2 belts of industrialization and
urbanization near historical sources
of coal and hydroelectric power
North-South from the UK to Italy
East-West from UK to Poland
These belts contain large cities and
produce more goods and services
than the rest of Europe combined
Only three other areas on Earth
resemble Europe’s urban-industrial
belts
Eastern North America
Japan
China
11. 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 rates
Population of Europe peaked in 1997
“Birth Dearth”
Low Birth Rates
Employed and educated women choosing not to devote
time and money necessary to raise children
Fertility rate below population replacement level
No European country maintaining its population through births
Europe’s population aging faster than all other world regions
Strategies
Cash incentives (“baby bounties”) to parents who have multiple children
Offering welfare benefits to immigrants
12. 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 2030
The EU would need 3 million migrants per year to prevent this
Historically, governments were reluctant to impose harsh
measures that would restrict migration, but this is changing,
with immigrants increasingly viewed as:
A financial burden on society
Threatening to unravel the social safety net of the European
welfare state
Living outside mainstream European society instead of becoming
integrated within it
Immigration Statistics
1.8 million people enter EU legally each year
500,000 more people enter the EU illegally each year
13. 4.2 Physical Geography & Human Adaptations
Physical Characteristics of Europe
Irregular shape
High latitude
Temperate climate
Jagged coastal outline
Estuaries (tidal mouths of rivers) and harbors offer
protection for shipping
Much of Europe’s history has focused on seaborne
trade, sea fisheries, and sea power
Much of Europe lies north of the conterminous U.S., resulting
in long summer days and short winter days
15. 4.2.1 Why Is Europe So Warm?
Europe has mild climates despite its high latitude
Warm Ocean Currents
Gulf Stream
North Atlantic Drift
Westerly Winds
Winter winds absorb heat
from ocean and transport
to land
In summer, the ocean is cooler than land, so the winds
have a cooling effect
Winds also bring abundant moisture
Average annual precipitation in European lowlands
is 20-40 inches
16. 4.2.2 Human Settlement on Europe’s Landscapes
Europe’s topographic features are very diverse, and have
been enriched by human associations of an eventful history
North European Plain, which extends from French-Spanish
border far into Russia, contains the greater part of
Europe’s cultivated land
Underlain by deposits of coal, iron ore, and other minerals
important in the region’s industrial development
Home to many of the largest European cities
South of the North European Plain, the region is hilly and
mountainous, with notable peaks including Mount Blanc
(French-Italian border) and the iconic Swiss Matterhorn
Glaciation
Created favorable sites for hydroelectric installations
Glacial deposition left fertile deposits on most of the
North European Plain that are productively farmed today
24. 4.2.4 Rivers and Waterways
Uses of River Systems
Transport
Water Supply
Electricity Generation
Recreation
Romans used rivers for transport and today, rivers
still make it possible to move cargo at low cost
Dutch developed the pound lock for canals
The Rhine and Danube traverse many countries
and are important arteries for the flow of goods
Important Seaports
London on the Thames
Antwerp on the Scheldt
Rotterdam in the delta of the Rhine
Hamburg on the Elbe
25. 4.3 Cultural & Historical Geographies
Europe is a region marked by extraordinary cultural
diversity
Many countries crowded into a relatively small land area
This richness can be experienced through a brief train
ride through Europe
26. 4.3.1 Linguistic & Ethnic Groups of Europe
Europe emerged from prehistory as the
homeland of many different peoples
Great 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 remnants
Major Language Families
Romance (Evolved from Latin)
Examples: Italian, French, Spanish & Portuguese
Germanic
Examples: German, English, Dutch, Danish & Swedish
Slavic
Examples: Russian, Polish, Czech, Slovak & Serbian
28. 4.3.2 Europeans’ Religious Roots
Dominance of Christianity
Embraced by Emperor Constantine in the 4th Century
Roman Catholic Church
Europe’s largest religious group (280 million followers)
Eastern Orthodox Church
Developed in Constantinople during Middle Ages as rival to Rome
Sects Emerging from Protestant Reformation (16th Century)
Church of England
Calvinism
Lutheran Protestantism
Europe has become increasingly secularized
Islam is fastest growing religion in Europe
Only one million Jews in Europe today
30. 4.3.3 European Colonialism & Consequences
The Silk Road was an important global trade route,
connecting China and Venice
The balance of world affairs started shifting to Europe with
the beginning of the Age of Discovery in the 15th century
The process of exploration and discovery began with
Portuguese expeditions down the west coast of Africa
Explorers were the vanguards of a global European invasion
that would bring the missionaries, soldiers, traders, settlers,
and administrators
The Columbian Exchange
Important in reshaping the world’s biogeography
The transfer of plants and animals from one place to
another following Europe’s conquest of the Americas
31.
32. 4.4 Economic Geography:
Awash in Cash and Talent
Europe had significant material and cultural riches,
which the colonial system built on to make it the
world’s wealthiest region for centuries
Achievements in shipbuilding, navigation, and the
manufacture and handling of weapons gave Europe
decided advantages
Foundations of modern science primarily came out of
Europe
First world region to evolve from an agricultural to an
industrial society
33. 4.4.1 Europe Displaced
By 1900, European cities created about 90% of world’s
manufacturing output
In 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:
Warfare
Rising nationalism
Rising economic and political stature of U.S. and U.S.S.R.
A major shift in global manufacturing patterns
Dependence on outside sources of energy
35. 4.4.2 An Imbalance of Wealth
Western Europe is wealthier than Eastern Europe
Trend dates to at least the 1870s, when per capita
incomes in the west were twice those in the east
After World War II, eastern European countries were
in effect colonized by the Soviet Union
Served as vassal states that gave up human and material
resources to service the motherland
Hope for Eastern Europe
Dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991
Admission of eastern European countries to the EU
36. 4.4.3 Living off the Land and Sea
Agriculture was the original foundation of Europe’s economy
and is still very important
Agricultural advances after about 1500:
Introduction of new crops, such as the potato
New systems of crop rotation
Scientific advancements
Industrial cities provided growing markets for farmers
Farmers protected through tariffs or direct subsidies
Fishing an important part of the European food economy
Control of fishing grounds as commercial / political
objective
Overfishing of cod
37. 4.4.4 Postindustrialization
Europe’s Postindustrial Economy
Shift from energy-hungry, labor-costly, and polluting
industries toward an economy based on services and
production of high-tech goods
These industries do not employ as many people as the
old manufacturing sector, so there are unemployment
problems
Many European nations fit model of welfare state
Use resources collected through high taxation rates to
provide generous social services to citizens
38. 4.4.5 The European Union
Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium
Most important of Europe’s supranational organizations
Began as the European Economic Community, 1957
(also known as the Common Market)
France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
Initially designed to secure the benefits of large-scale
production by pooling resources & markets of its members
Tariffs eliminated on goods moving between member states
Restrictions on the movement of labor and capital between member
states were eased
Monopolies that restricted competition were discouraged
Common set of external tariffs established to regulate imports
Acquired the European Union name in 1993
By 1996, nine additional members had joined the EU
40. 4.4.6 Bring on the Euro
A single European Union currency (the euro) was launched
in 1999 as the centerpiece of the European Economic and
Monetary Union (EMU)
European Central Bank decides interest rates and other critical
decisions
Believed advantages of a common currency
Lower transaction costs
More certainty for investors
Enhanced competition
More consistent pricing
Restrain public spending, reduce debt, and tame inflation
Currently 17 countries using the euro as its currency
42. 4.4.7 Europe’s “Big Bang”
Ten Eastern European nations joined the EU in 2004
Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Slovenia, Malta, and Cyprus
Created a Mega-Europe of 450 million people and an
economy valued at nearly $10 trillion
Embracing the less wealthy
The 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 wealth
When the big bang countries joined in 2004, the EU’s
average wealth per person fell by 13 percent
43. 4.5 Geopolitical Issues
Europe’s geopolitical situation has changed more
profoundly and violently in the past 100 years
than any other world region
Europe experienced two world wars that wrought
unprecedented devastation
World War I (1914-1918)
World War II (1939-1945)
44. 4.5.1 Postwar Europe
European Union
Federation of nations similar to the United States
Largest post-war European supranational organization
Member countries united beyond the authority of any single national
government and planned/controlled by a group of nations
The Cold War and Its Aftermath
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Military alliance founded in 1949 between the U.S., Canada, most
European countries west of the Iron Curtain & Turkey
NATO faced off against the Warsaw Pact, an alliance of the Soviet
Union and its eastern European satellites
Cold War ended with collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991
Warsaw Pact was dissolved
Nuclear 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 areas
NATO remains today with a membership of 28 countries
46. 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 countries
Schengen Agreement seeks this integration
Allows for the free circulation of people between nations that signed
the agreement
Member states exercise common visa, asylum, and other policies at
their external borders
Truly open borders are probably still far in the future
Anti-immigrant fears
Cheap eastern labor
Terrorists
47. 4.5.3 Differences Between Europeans & Americans
Concept of Social Justice
Provision of and Spending on Public Education
Taxes on Gasoline
Views on U.S. “Cultural Industries” (e.g., Hollywood films)
Allowance of questions of spirituality into political debates
Acceptance of Death Penalty (outlawed in EU countries)
Differences on the Geopolitical Front
48. 4.6 Regional Issues and Landscapes
European Core
Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, smaller
nations in British Isles, and west central portions of
European mainland
European Periphery
Northern Europe
Southern Europe
Eastern Europe
49. 4.6.1 The European Core
Properties 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
51. 4.6.2 Great Britain
Political Units of the United Kingdom
England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
World’s Strongest Country
From defeat of Napoleonic France in 1815 to start of WWI in 1914
British Empire once covered one quarter of the Earth
Commonwealth of Nations
Voluntary association of 54 countries that nominally recognize
the British monarch as its head
Legacy
Much world culture has British roots
Importance of English language around the world
London as an example of a World City
52. 4.6.3 Ireland
Troubles and Resilience on the Emerald Isle
Irish Economy as “Celtic Tiger”
Traditionally low-ranking economy doubled in size in 1990s
Economy 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 1845-1851
10 percent of population died of starvation
or disease
A greater number emigrated to North America,
Australia & UK
Conflict in Northern Ireland
Officially part of the United Kingdom
British direct rule vs. Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Catholic Republicans and Protestant Unionists
53. 4.6.4 France: All Roads Lead to Paris
Paris as a Primate City
10.4 million in metropolitan area
Greater 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 countries
Can 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
on the Seine River
Largest city of mainland Europe
Leading urban tourist destination
54. 4.6.5 Germany
Reunification of Germany in 1990 was one of the most
important geopolitical events of late twentieth century
Inequity between western and eastern Germany
Europe’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 commitments
To the European community
To Atlantic alliances, such as NATO
55. 4.6.6 Europe Paves the Way on Alternative Energy
European 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 automobiles
Encourage the use of public transportation
Use alternative energies
Wind power
Hydroelectric power
Solar power
Tidal power
Wave power
Geothermal power
Trash power
56. 4.6.7 The European Periphery
Properties 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
Subregions
Northern Europe
Southern Europe
Eastern Europe
57. 4.6.8 Northern Europe
Norway and Iceland’s refusal to
join the European Union
Fear EU fishing policies will diminish
profits vital to their economies
Both countries, along with Japan,
engage in whaling
Whale meat is a prized food
Claim 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
58. 4.6.9 Southern Europe: Basque Country
The 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
59. 4.6.10 Southern Europe: North vs. South in Italy
Within Italy, there is a longstanding vernacular
distinction between the north and south:
Northerners, in Padania,
see themselves as sophisticated
and cosmopolitan
Northern Italy has labor shortages
Industries are more productive
and income levels are higher
Southerners, in Mezzogiorno,
acknowledge agrarian roots as
the source of their kinship
values and enjoyment of life
Southern Italy has more
unemployment
60. 4.6.11 Southern Europe: North vs. South in Cyprus
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 population
Buffer Zone (“Green Line”)
Sealed off the Turkish north and Greek south
Capital city of Nicosia is divided by this line
Depressed north is tied to Turkey, but the Greek sector
enjoys flourishing tourism and aid from Greece, Britain, the
U.S. and the United Nations
61. 4.6.12 Eastern Europe
Unifying 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 Belt
A large, strategically located region composed of conflicting states
caught between the conflicting interests of great powers
Countries as Soviet Satellites
Local communist governments effectively controlled from Moscow
63. 4.6.13 Principal Traits of Communism
One-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
64. 4.6.14 Balkanization
Political-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 Cleansing
Forced emigration or murder of
one ethnic group by another
within a certain territory
65. 4.6.15 The Roma
The 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 India
Romany 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
