Europe

1. Europe

2. Basic Facts • World’s second-smallest continent in physical size • World’s third-largest continent in population • 11% of the world’s population lives in Europe • 705,500,000 people • 45 countries make up Europe • The world’s two smallest countries (Monaco and Vatican City) are part of Europe and are 1-square mile • Part of world’s largest country is technically considered part of Europe, though it’s traditionally considered to be part of Asia… the landmass is known as “Eurasia” • MANY different languages are spoken in Europe, but English, German, and French are the most standard • Europe has a variety of climates, a variety of physical features, and a variety of ethnic groups

3. Quick History • Europe is important because, until about 50 years ago, these countries basically ruled the world • More ancient history • Alexander the Great took over a lot of the known world from Greece • Roman Empire spread over much of Europe and some of Africa/Middle East • What became Germany was very strong for awhile, too • Britain, Spain, and France • Very strong • In the 1500s-1700s colonized the Americas, Asia, and Africa and influenced the people there (cultural diffusion!) • Western Europe + America = “The West” • Developed economies • Has a strong cultural and political influence on the world today • World leaders, whether other countries like this or not • European countries individually aren’t as strong, which is another reason why they joined together to form the European Union; together, they are VERY strong

4. Economy/Government Types • Most Western European countries have governments based on the idea of Socialism • High taxes for everyone • The government uses the taxes to provide basic services like health care, education, child care, welfare, etc. • Many Eastern European countries used to have communist governments (some were part of the former Soviet Union) and now have chosen democracy and market economies • Economies based on supply and demand • Governments in Eastern Europe aren’t as trusted and stable as those in Western Europe, but they are getting better

5. Development Statuses • Europe includes countries with many different development statuses • Western Europe is usually more developed than Eastern Europe • Some Developed countries: • Norway (ranked as MORE developed than the US) • The Netherlands - Estonia -Sweden • Spain -France -Belgium • Austria - Slovenia -Italy • UK - Greece -Finland

6. Development Statuses • Some Newly Industrialized Countries: • Turkey • Some Developing Countries: • Albania - Bos. and Herz. - Latvia • Lituania - Macedonia - Romania • Serbia - Montenegro -Ukraine • Some Least Developed Countries: • None in Europe!

7. Developed

8. Newly Industrialized

9. Developing

10. Least Developed

11. European Union • Apolitical and economic (government and money-based) partnership between certain countries in Europe • Started off in the 1950s (after WWII) with just a few countries that traded freely with each other • Has expanded to include most of Europe and other ideas • Schengen Visa: allows included countries to have their people move freely across the borders without getting special permission each time • The Euro: one currency (type of money) for all of Europe • This is optional • Each country that accepts the Euro has to have a strong economy so that they don’t make the Euro less valuable

13. Challenges Faced by Western Europe • Pollution • England was the first place to have an Industrial Revolution and it got polluted fast • Europe has the same issues with pollution we do in America; except its people are in a smaller area, so they feel the effects more in some places • Many people use public transportation (like trains/buses) or walk • Immigration • Many people moving from lesser developed economies, looking for jobs • Made easier by the Schengen Visa and other European Union freedoms • Some are very opposed to immigrants coming • They don’t like their traditional culture changing • They aren’t as used to the “melting pot” of cultures as America is and are making laws to protect their cultures • Bad economy ($) • Same as in America : less jobs and banks in trouble • An aging population and low birthrates also hurt the situation because less people are the right age to work but more people are pulling money from the government

14. Challenges Faced by Eastern Europe • Terrible Economy ($) • High unemployment (no jobs) • Many move to Western Europe or America to find work • Since the world is all connected now (globalization), a bad economy in a few countries can affect the whole world • Ethnic struggles • Groups of people living in the same areas that are different ethnicities (from different racial backgrounds or maybe different cultural/religious backgrounds) fight each other for power and control • There have been genocides in the past 20 years where in group tries to completely kill another group • Bigger countries have broken into smaller pieces and new countries were formed where one ethnic group or the other was the majority • This doesn’t solve the problem if the new country doesn’t guarantee equal rights because the ethnic minority still lives in the new country