Western Europe

1. Western Europe

2. The People France and the Low Countries • Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg are called the Low Countries because their land is among the lowest, most fertile land in Europe. Celts, Franks, and Others • During Roman times, France was called Gaul after one group of Celts who were known as the Gauls. • Rome conquered Gaul in 58 B.C. • Julius Caesar became the Roman governor of Gaul. • The people in Gaul had trouble pronouncing the Latin words correctly and changed the language into what we now know as French.

3. The Frisians conquered the Celts in the Netherlands, and the Franks took control of Belgium. • Charlemagne ruled over the Franks in France during medieval times when great cathedrals like Notre Dame were built. • Fortresses were built along France’s coast to keep out invaders like the Vikings. The French Language • The French treasure their language. • French is spoken by at least 122 million people in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Canada, and other countries. • French is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

4. The Lowlanders • Belgium is divided into language areas. • The Walloons in the south speak French; Flemish is spoken in the north, and in the southeastern capital Brussels, German is spoken. • Many people in Belgium prefer to spend time at home rather than travel. • The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in Western Europe with 1,000 people per square mile.

5. Central Europe • Central Europe is made up of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. Divided Germany • In about 500 B.C., groups of Celtic people settled in Germany’s forests and plains. • The Romans conquered the area, built roads and fortresses, and introduced the Roman system of law around 50 B.C. • Hundreds of years later, warriors on horseback called Huns invaded from Asia. • Germany had more than 1800 separate kingdoms whose people shared one language until it became one nation in 1871.

6. After its defeat in World War II in 1945, Germany was divided into East and West Germany. • West Germany was controlled by Great Britain, France, and the U.S. • East Germany, controlled by the Soviet Union, was separated from the west by barrier fences and walls. • Berlin, the traditional capital, was also divided. • West Germany became a democracy and East Germany joined the countries in Eastern Europe that became communist countries under the control of the Soviet Union. • A huge wall was built separating the two sections of Berlin in 1961 to stop people from leaving East Germany. • In 1989, the East Germans overthrew the Soviet-controlled government and tore down the Berlin wall reunifying Germany.

7. Language and Dialects • Germans, Swiss, and Austrians all speak the German language even though they speak different dialects. • A dialect is a local variation of the language. Religion • Most people in Central Europe are Christians, either Catholic or Protestants. • Protestantism began in Germany during the 1500s after Martin Luther “protested” against some of the actions of the Roman Catholic church. • Many Jews lived in Central Europe until Adolf Hitler had more than 6 million Jews put to death during the Holocaust in World War II.

8. Southern Europe • Four large countries, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece, are the region we call Southern Europe. • Even though the countries of Southern Europe speak different languages, they are similar because of the Latin roots of the countries. Settlers and Explorers • Early Greeks and Romans were among the first mariners and explorers in the European continent. • Spain and Portugal were prominent exploring nations during the age of exploration in the 1400s and 1500s discovering the Americas.

9. Religion • The people in the area follow similar religions. • The people of Spain, Portugal, and Italy primarily belong to the Roman Catholic Church. • Most Greeks follow the teachings of the Greek Orthodox Church. • The leader of the Roman Catholic Church is the pope. • The pope lives in Vatican City, a state located within the city of Rome. • The current pope is Pope Francis. • The archbishop of Athens heads the Greek Orthodox Church.

10. Patterns of Living • The way people live and work throughout Southern Europe differs from the way we live and work in the U.S. • Most people leave work between 1 PM and 2 PM for a large mid-day meal that they eat as a family. • Many people take a siesta, a long nap, during the hottest part of the day. • School children snack around 6 PM after they return from school and join their families for supper around 10 PM. • The family does not go to bed until after midnight. Traffic and Smog • Athens is one of the most polluted cities in Europe. • Since most people commute to work twice a day, four rush hours and excess auto exhaust are created. • Heavy smog not only endangers people’s health, but it also damages the priceless buildings of ancient Athens.

11. Scandinavia - Lands of the North • Scandinavia is found on the far northern peninsula of Europe. • The countries of Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, and Finland form the region known as Scandinavia. The Early Scandinavians • Much of Scandinavia is rugged and snow covered. • The latitude of Scandinavia causes the winters to be dark for most hours of the day and the summers to be light for many hours. • This is why Scandinavia is known as the land of the midnight sun.

12. Vikings were the early Scandinavians. • The Vikings were rugged and warlike as well as superbly skilled shipbuilders and seafarers. Similarities of Language • Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian languages all developed from one common language. • The people of Finland are descended from people from Asia and therefore Finnish has a different language base. • The Lapps, a group of people living in northern Finland and Sweden, speak their own language that is similar to Finnish.

13. A Small Population • The cold climate and scarce resources have created challenges for the people of Scandinavia. • These challenges inspired the people to be very efficient in everything they do. • Scandinavia has a smaller population than the rest of Europe due to the climate and resource challenges. Close-Knit Families • Family ties are important to people in Scandinavia. • People will travel many miles to celebrate special occasions with family.

14. The Economy France and the Low Countries - Food and Farming Patterns • In this region, the countryside is dotted with well-tended and highly productive small family owned farms. • The Dutch are known for their flower production. • In France, family farms often specialize in only one product, such as apples or grapes. • Due to its low elevation, the Netherlands had to first build huge walls called dikes to hold these waters back. • People could pump out the sea water from inside the dike and drain water from lowlands using canals. • Lowland areas called polders have been reclaimed from the sea.

15. Industrial Power • Many countries in this region have many advanced technical industries. • In southern France, companies produce satellites, missiles, weapons, and the Concorde jet. • The Dutch import many resources since they have few mineral resources of their own. • Skilled Dutch workers turn these resources into many items such as ships, airplanes, trucks, and toys. • The service industry supplies many jobs for this region such as jobs in tourism, banking, and shipping.

16. Central Europe - Communism in East Germany • After World War II, East Germany developed a communist economy. • In a communist economy, the government controls the entire economy. • Wages and prices were low, so most workers could afford the necessities of life. • Most East Germans worked in mining, agriculture, and industry. Capitalism in West Germany • West Germany became a capitalistic society and prospered. • West Germany became a prosperous country in less than 20 years. • West Germany had efficient factories and farms that used advanced technology.

17. Combining Two Economies • The two economies had to be combined when the nations reunified. • Many people in East Germany lost their jobs as they changed from a communist system to a capitalistic system because inefficient factories closed when they could not compete in a capitalistic society. • Rebuilding East Germany is expensive for the reunified nation. Switzerland • Even though Switzerland has few natural resources and little arable land, the Swiss people have the highest standard of living in Europe. • A country’s standard of living is measured by the goods and services that its people have. • A high standard of living offers people good medical care, decent housing, and the chance for an education and a good job. • The Swiss make high quality goods that include machinery, tools, and watches. • Switzerland provides tourist destinations and secure banks.

18. Problems • Pollution is one price the region has paid for industrialization. • Air and water cross national borders, so every country is affected by its neighbors. • Countries must cooperate to solve the pollution problems, or fish dying and damage to buildings and statues will continue.

19. Southern Europe - Manufacturing and Trade • Important industries in Southern Europe include food and beverage processing, textiles, and chemicals. • About 40% of workers are involved in manufacturing. Developing Economies • Greece, Portugal, and Spain are among Western Europe’s poorest nations. • The countries of Southern Europe are members of the European Union which gives them access to northern European markets. • These countries hope that ties to the European Union will bring greater investment and improving economies.

20. Farming • In many parts of Southern Europe, soil is poor and there is very little rainfall. • 22% of workers in the area are farmers. • The main crops are cereal grains such as wheat and barley. • Farmers also grow olives, citrus fruits, nuts, tobacco, and cotton. • The Mediterranean climate helps the fruit to ripen earlier and develop a higher concentration of sugar.

21. Tourism • Every spring and summer people come to Southern European towns like Marbella, Spain to enjoy the Mediterranean climate. • Tourists visit this area for the sun and the beaches as well as the ancient buildings and art work of the Ancient Romans and Greeks. • Ancient artifacts over 2,000 years old impress many tourists from younger countries. Shipping • The sea is important to the economy of all the Southern European countries. • Fishing and shipping are major industries throughout the area.

22. Scandinavia - Developing New Resources • Traditional economic activities in Scandinavia include fishing and the lumber industry. • New industries like the petroleum, steel, auto, clothing, glassware, and agricultural industries are being tried throughout Scandinavia. • Norway has Western Europe’s largest offshore petroleum and natural gas fields. • Since the countries are producing a wide range of goods, their economies are considered to be diversified. • Denmark, a small country, has few natural resources, so the skill of the craftspeople and their excellent products create Denmark’s economic niche.

23. Planning and Sharing • All five Scandinavian countries have a mixed economy. • A mixed economy is when the government owns some businesses while private companies own others. • In most of the Scandinavian countries, the government owns the telephone, electric, and oil companies. • Another way Scandinavians work together is through cooperatives. • A cooperative is a business organization owned by its members. • In a cooperative, farmers are helped when buying supplies and marketing their products. • Trade flows freely between the countries of Scandinavia. • This cooperation has created a very high standard of living in Scandinavia. • This area has virtually no city slums and few poor people.

24. The European Union • Countries in Western Europe have been the crossroads of trade for hundreds of years. • Many countries tried to protect their own businesses by passing tariffs. • A tariff is a tax on imports to protect a countries industries.

25. The E.U., European Union, was formed after World War II to improve trade between the countries of Western Europe. • The E.U. began with just six countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, West Germany, and Italy, but has now grown to include 28 countries. • In an effort to move goods more easily between nations, the E.U. has made the change to a common currency, the euro. • The E.U. members hope to work together to become a world economic power.

26. The Government France and the Low Countries - Governing France • France is a republic that has been difficult to govern because of the many individual areas that do not choose to always work together. • The government has changed many times since the French Revolution. France has also rewritten its constitution several times. • The French people have been governed by kings, emperors, presidents, and elected national assemblies. • The current constitution calls for the government to be named the Fifth Republic. • The current government has a strong President who makes important decisions on defense and foreign affair matters.

27. The President of France is Emmanuel Macron. • The President appoints the Prime Minister who runs the day to day operations of the government. The President also has the power to dismiss the elected National Assembly and call for new elections. • In France, the Prime Minister is called the Premier. • The Prime Minister of France is Edouard Philippe. • The French people opted for a very strong presidential position because the first four republics did not accomplish much due to the arguing among the representatives in the National Assembly. Three Monarchies • The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg are constitutional monarchies with two-house legislatures.

28. Central Europe - One German Government • In 1990, East and West Germany united their economies and their governments. • The united government has an elected two house legislature called the Bundestag. • The Bundestag elects a President who is the country’s head of state. • The President performs ceremonial duties and appoints a Prime Minister called a Chancellor, who heads the government. • The President of Germany is Frank-Walter Steinmeier. • The Chancellor of Germany is Angela Merkel.

29. Germany has a federal system of government. • Political power is divided between a central government and 16 states called Lander. • The Lander have more power than states in the U.S. Liechtenstein has a Constitutional monarchy ruled by a prince. Two Other Democracies • Austria’s government is organized like Germany’s, a federal republic. • Switzerland is the oldest self-governing democracy in Europe, having been formed in the 1500s.

30. Switzerland is made up of 26 cantons. • A canton is a small political unit like a state or province. • The citizens in the canton meet to decide all local issues in a direct democracy. • Switzerland has officially been neutral since 1815. • Switzerland refuses to take sides in wars or disputes. • The International Red Cross and about 200 other world organizations make their headquarters in Geneva because of Switzerland’s neutral policy.

31. Southern Europe Greece • The Greeks were the first people in history to develop a democratic system of government. City-states ruled themselves in ancient times, now there is one government for the country. • Greece has a parliamentary democracy. • It has a one house legislature consisting of more than 200 members. • The government is headed by a Prime Minister, who is usually the leader of the political party that has the most members in Parliament. • The Prime Minister of Greece is Alexis Tsipras. • Greece has a President that is elected by the Parliament and leads the armed forces and has the power to make treaties with other nations. • The President of Greece is Prokopios Pavlopoulos.

32. Italy • Italy has a parliamentary democracy with a two house legislature. • A President serves as the head of state but has little political power. • The Prime Minister runs the country. • The President of Italy is Sergio Mattarella. • The Prime Minister of Italy is Giuseppe Conte. • Since World War II, Italy has had more than 40 different governments. • No one political party has been strong enough to gain control so they have formed a series of coalition governments. • A coalition is a temporary union between different political parties that agree to work together for a common purpose.

33. Portugal • In the current government, the executive power is shared by a President and a Prime Minister. • Portugal has a one house Parliament. • The President of Portugal is Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. • The Prime Minister of Portugal is Antonio Luis Santos da Costa. Spain • Spain has become a democracy after a long period of dictatorship. • Spain is governed by an elected Parliament, but it also has a monarch. • The Prime Minister of Spain is Pedro Sanchez. • The Catalans of the mountains of northern Spain and the Basques of the Pyrenees want autonomy, which is the right to self-government.

34. Scandinavia • The governments in Scandinavia are known for their efficiency. • Citizens work hard to make the government work well for them and to provide themselves with the services they need. Three Monarchies • Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are constitutional monarchies. They all have one house legislatures that choose the Prime Minister who heads the government. • These countries also have royal families. • Scandinavian royalty live simply and receive little special treatment.

35. A special office, the ombudsman, has been created in Sweden to try to make the government more efficient. • The ombudsman listens to citizens’ complaints about government service or action and informs elected representatives concerning these issues. Two Republics • Iceland and Finland are both republics. • They have a Prime Minister and a President. They do not have monarchs. • The Icelandic legislature is the oldest working lawmaking body in the world and is sometimes called “the grandmother of Parliaments”.

36. Welfare States • The countries of Scandinavia are some of the best-known welfare states. • A welfare state ensures the well being of its citizens through a variety of programs. • Health care, unemployment insurance, child care, pensions, and various housing programs are offered. • Most medical care is free or low-cost. • Parents can take time off of work to care for a sick child and receive most of their regular salary. • High taxes pay for these programs. • In Sweden, some workers pay 75% of their salary in taxes to pay for these benefits.

37. Arts and Recreation France and the Low Countries - A Rich Heritage of the Arts • Great painters called the Old Masters lived and worked in France and the Low Countries during the Renaissance. • Impressionism began in this area around the turn of the century. • Impressionists painted light filled scenes that captured the feeling of a place in a moment in time. • Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch Impressionist who worked in Paris and only sold one painting while he was alive but now his paintings sell for millions of dollars.

38. Bicycling and Other Sports • People in this region enjoy cycling, soccer, and skiing. • The Tour de France is a 2500 mile bicycle race that winds around the perimeter of France in three weeks. • Soccer is a favorite sport unless it is ski season. • People head to the long ski runs in the Alps on holidays.

39. Central Europe - Music Yesterday and Today • Many great composers come from Germany and Austria. • Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Wagner were German composers. • Mozart was an Austrian composer. • Vienna has been the center of opera and music for hundreds of years. Festivals and Celebrations • Central Europe hosts music festivals to honor their famous composers. • Central Europeans enjoy going to local opera houses and concert halls.

40. Oktoberfest marks the end of the growing season in Germany. • The Oktoberfest in Munich plays host to nearly 6 million people each year. Sports and Leisure • Central Europeans enjoy sports like hiking, rock climbing, skiing, ice-skating, track, and bicycling. • The snow capped Alps attract skiers from around the world.

41. Southern Europe - Artistic Achievements • The world’s oldest dramas, Greek plays, were written about 400 B.C. and are still performed today. • The Renaissance occurred during the 1300s to 1400s. • This was a period of great activity in the arts or a “rebirth” of the ancient ideals of the perfect human. • Opera was invented in Florence, Italy around 1600. • Operas by Verdi and Puccini are heard around the world.

42. Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo are famous Italian Renaissance men. • Diego Velasquez and El Greco painted in Spain during this time. • A modern Spanish painter was Pablo Picasso.

43. Everyday Amusements • People often gather at outdoor cafe’s after work for coffee and backgammon. • Because of the mild, sunny climate, many people spend their leisure time outdoors. • Many people enjoy soccer, golf, cycling, and tennis. • In winter, many people go to the Alps to ski.

44. Scandinavian Literature • Hans Christian Andersen is a teller of Scandinavian folk tales and is honored for his stories. • Eddas are long Viking poems that tell stories about early Scandinavian gods, such as Odin, the chief god, and Thor, the god of thunder. • Sagas are Icelandic tales that tell the history of the country and deal with the deeds of kings and heroes. One Icelandic saga tells of Leif Ericson’s voyage to North America. • Modern writers continue the storytelling traditions. • Their writing celebrates the land and its people.

45. Enjoying the Outdoors • Most Scandinavians enjoy outdoor sports regardless of the weather. • The favorite sport is skiing. • Other sports include ice fishing, ice boating, and swimming outdoors in heated pools. • To help cleanse the skin and relax muscles after exercise, the Finns created the sauna, a kind of steam bath in a special wooden room.