NORTHERN EUROPE

1. NORTHERN EUROPE CHAPTER 12 SECTION 3

2. A HISTORY OF SEAFARING AND CONQUEST • The Nordic countries of Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Norway had strong navies and maritime conquerors. • The Sami were the ancient people of Scandinavia whose descendents still raise reindeer in Norway • The Celts were the ancient people of Britain • The Vikings and the Danes conquered much of Northern Europe until 1066, when William the Conqueror ruled most of England

3. EMPIRES • Scandinavian countries became kingdoms in the 900’s • Great Britain became a major power, due to its and its navy and its island status that protected it from invasion • In the 1800’s, Britain colonized, and the saying was that “the sun never sets on the British Empire.” • LOOK AT THE MAP ON PAGE 304. Where were Britain’s colonies?

4. REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT • LOOK AT PAGE 303—WHAT ARE THE 4 ADVANCES IN GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED IN NORTHERN EUROPE? • DID YOU KNOW THAT ICELAND’S PARLIAMENT IS THE OLDEST REPRESENTATIVE BODY IN THE WORLD?

5. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION • RESOURCES SUCH AS COAL AND IRON HELPED BRING BRITAIN INTO THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONO IN THE LATE 1700’S • BRITAIN IMPORTED RAW MATERIALS FROM ITS COLONIES AND SOLD THE FINISHED GOODS

6. SINCE 1900 • BRITAIN, UNLIKE THE NEUTRAL COUNTRIES OF SCANDINAVIA, WAS INVOLVED IN BOTH WORLD WARS • AFTER WORLD WAR II, BRITAIN’S COLONIES GAINED INDEPENDENCE • MANY CONFLICTS IN THE COLONIES ROSE BECAUSE BORDERS WERE SET BY THE BRITISH WITHOUT REGARD TO ETHNIC LOYALTIES

7. IRELAND • CONFLICT BETWEEN CATHOLICS IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND AND PROTESTANTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND LED TO LAND SEIZURES • IN THE 1840’S, THE POTATO CROP FAILED, AND THERE WERE MILLIONS OF IMMIGRANTS WHO LEFT IRELAND • ANTI-BRITISH VIOLENCE CONTINUED UNTIL THE 1900’S FROM THE IRA, OR IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY, A GROUP THAT HAS TRIED TO FORCE BRITAIN FROM NORTHERN IRELAND IN ORDER TO FORM A UNIFIED IRELAND WITHOUT BRITISH CONTROL.

8. Culture • Most Northerm Europeans speak Germanic languages • The Reformation, which began in Germany, spread to this region, and most Northern Europeans are Protestants • Great writers and poets include Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Irish novelist James Joyce. This region has had the greatest impact on the development of literature.

9. SOCIAL PROGRAMS • NORTHERN EUROPEANS HAVE ALLOWED GREAT EQUALITY- voting rights for women • THE COUNTRIES HAVE A HIGH STANDARD OF LIVING (literacy, life expectancy, income level) • COUNTRIES TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WELL BEING OF THEIR PEOPLE *In some countries, child care, tuition costs, health insurance and health expenses are provided by the government *In many of these countries, transportation costs are very low, because the buses, trains and subways are owned and operated by the government

10. THE COST OF SOCIAL PROGRAMSWhat do you think? • If the government is provided all of these services, where does the government get the money for these costs? • Should the U.S. government provide similar programs to Americans?

11. LEISURE TIME • Look on page 307 and write down some of the leisure activities of the Northern European countries? • Nordic countries: • British sports: