Central and Eastern Europe

1. Central and Eastern Europe

2. Poland – Physical Characteristics • People are very attached to the land • Mostly covered by North European Plain • More than 2/3 of Poland is open field • Severe winters, mild rainy summers • Northeast – Thousands of lakes • South – Carpathian Mountain Region • Large deposits of coal, sulfur, copper • Relies on imported iron ore and petroleum

3. Poland – World War II • The Holocaust • Pre-war 3 million Jewish people in Poland • Nazis built 6 death camps in Poland • 6 million Polish people killed during the war and over half were Jewish • Fleeing Soviet Control – Post WWII • Nearly everyone is Polish • 95% of Polish People are Catholic

4. Poland – Communist No More • The Catholic Church • Catholic leaders worked out a deal with Communist government to allow churchgoers • Solidarity – Polish Labor Union • Gained worldwide recognition in 1980 • Eventually helped bring democracy • A Troubled Economy • Change to market economy difficult • Foreign investors started to cause growth • Exports increased when Poland joined the EU in 2004 • Krakow

5. Czech Republic • Path to Nationhood • Post WWI, allies approved Czechoslovakia • Invaded by Hitler in late 1930 • 1948 to 1989 – Soviet communist control • Velvet revolution in late 1980s • Velvet divorce in 1993 into two republics – Czech Republic and Slovakia • Economic Systems • Privatization began in the 1990s • Joined EU in 2004 which helped growth

6. Czech Republic – Two Regions • Western half known as Bohemia • Contains many mines and industries • Coal, iron ore, copper, and lead • Deposits of quartz used to make glass • Prague at the center of Bohemia • Praha • Eastern – Moravia • Industry dates back to Industrial Revolution • Both region’s industries facing challenge of ending air and water pollution.

7. Prague

8. Slovakia • Farms – Traditionally agricultural region • Fruits, vegetables, grains near Danube • Oats and potatoes north in higher elevations • Factories – Post WWII • Communists built many new plants • Since independence economy has struggled • Joined EU in 2004

9. Hungary • Hungary’s Landscape – size of Indiana • Danube River divides into two parts • Western half – Transdanubia • Plateaus, hills, valleys • Deposits of bauxite, coal, and iron ore • Eastern half – Great Alfold plain • Very fertile soil, “breadbasket” of Europe • Free Enterprise – Post Communism • Privatization helped grow economy as well as foreign investments • Joined EU in 2004 • Budapest

10. Balkan Peninsula - Romania • Physical Characteristics • Broad plains with fertile soils on Danube • Carpathian Mountains in the north • 23 million people live in Romania • Practice Eastern Orthodox faith • Ineffective government • Economy deteriorated in the 1990s • Needs more foreign investors for growth • Joined EU in 2007

11. Bulgaria • Physical Characteristics • Fertile soils of the Danube Plains and those south of the Balkan Mountains • Warm summers, mild winters • “Garden of Eastern Europe” • Human Characteristics– Slavic people • Actually welcomed Soviet control post WWII • Turned away from communism in 1990s • Found markets for goods, tourist resorts • Joined EU in 2007 • Plovdiv

12. Albania • Physical Characteristics • Beside the Adriatic Sea, “Europe’s hermit” • 3.5 million people • Post WWII – did not join Soviet Union • Left Albania as one of the poorest countries • Economic Struggles – Post Communism • Foreign nations sending money and building factories to take advantage of low wages • Albania

13. Other Balkan Nations • Yugoslavia created after WWI • Six republics made up this nation • Post Communist rule – 1980s • Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia independent in 1991 • Bosnia and Herzegovina independent in 1992 • Conflict Today • Serbs started ethnic cleansing in lands they captured • NATO forces intervened in early 2000s

14. Other Balkan Nations • Serbia and Montenegro • Kept the name Yugoslavia until 2003. • In 2006, became separate countries • Montenegro • Croatia • More than ¾ are ethnic Croats • Descendants of the same Slavic people as the Serbs • Serbs practice Eastern Orthodoxy • Croats are Roman Catholic • Differences have caused frequent conflicts • Dubrovnik

15. Other Balkan Nations • Slovenia • Most of the 2 million people are Slovenes • Located in the Julian Alps • Maintained close ties with Western Europe • Joined EU in 2004 • Bosnia and Herzegovina • Declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 • Population was very diverse, caused conflicts • Plentiful in natural resources, but need foreign investors • Mostar

16. Other Balkan Nations • Macedonia • Remained out of the conflicts • 2001 conflict between ethnic Albanians and Macedonians about national identity • Ended in peace allowing Albanian to be an official language • Kosovo • Was a province of Serbia. • Most people were Albanian and didn’t want to be a part of Serbia. • Conflict broke out, Kosovo finally independent

17. Baltic States and Border Nations • Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia • Place – Human and Physical • Wet, moderate winters and summers • Combined population of 8 million • Estonians and Latvians are Lutheran • Lithuanians are Roman Catholic • Many Russians in Latvia and Estonia • Tallinn, EstoniaLithuania

18. Baltic States • Effects of Location • Benefitted from access to the sea and major trade routes • Downside is located between powerful countries, invading army power struggle • Most recent invader was Soviet Union in 1939 • Soviet Life • Life was harsh, people were expelled from their homes • Independence in 1991 • Challenges and Opportunities • Privatized industry, sought foreign investment • All 3 joined EU in 2004

19. Border Nations - Ukraine • Soviet Rule • Government forced farmers to work on collective farms • About 5 million people died in famine • Chernobyl • Independence – 1991 • Slightly smaller than Texas • Fertile soil produces wheat, rye, barley, potatoes

20. Belarus and Moldova • Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova create border between Russia and the rest of Europe • Belarus – about the size of Kansas • 10 million people, mainly Slavic and practice Orthodox Christianity • Favored reestablishing ties with Russia • Moldova • Very densely populated with 4 million people • People are of Romanian descent • Exports wine, sugar beets, and seed oils