Europe and the Mediterranean

1. Europe and the Mediterranean

2. Austria • History • Occupied by Celtic tribes in pre-Roman times • Bavarians, Slavs and Avars invaded after the Roman Empire fell • First record showing the name Austria was in 996 • Habsburgs dynasty ruled until World War I • Geography • Mountainous • In the Alps • Only a quarter of the land is considered low lying • Divided into five areas • Eastern Alps-62% • Foothills at base of Alps-12% • Foothills to east-12% • Austrian granite plateau-10% • Vienna basin-4%

3. Austria cont. • Culture • Broad contribution to various forms of art • Mostly in music • Rose in 16th century • European power • Contributions to cinema and theater • Places to visit • Vienna • Salzburg • Innsbruck • Graz • Danube Valley • Klagenfurt • Eisenstadt

4. Belarus • History • Derives from the term “White Ruthenia” • Mostly populated by early Christian Slavs • Often been referred to as “White Russia” • Named Belorussia in the time of the Russian Empire • Only used until 1991 • Geography • Landlocked country • The Neman, the Pripyat, and the Dnieper are the three major rivers that run through the country • Cold winters and moist summers

5. Belarus cont. • Culture • Product of a millennium of development under the impact of many diverse factors • Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Judaism, and Islam • Places to visit • Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War • Brest Fortress • Brest Railway Museum • Cathedral of Holy Wisdom • Island of Tears memorial

6. Belgium • History • Derived from Gallia Belgica, which was a Roman province • Inhabited by a mix of Celtic and Germanic peoples before the Roman invasion in 100 BC • Gradual immigration of Germanic Frankish tribes during 5th century • Geography • Shares borders with France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands • Coastal plain in north-west and central plateau in Anglo-Belgian Basin; Ardennes uplands in the south-east are part of the Hercynianorogenic belt; Paris Basin reaches a small fourth area at Belgium's southernmost tip, Belgian Lorraine

7. Belgium cont. • Culture • Political and linguistic divisions • Flourishing of major art movements • Cultural life concentrated within each language community • Places to visit • Bruges • Brussels • Antwerp • Ghent

8. Bulgaria • History • Thracians were one of the three primary ancestral groups of modern day Bulgarians • Taken over by Roman Empire • Tervel strengthened the borders of Bulgaria as a major military power by defeating a 26,000-strong Arab army • Geography • Apline snow-capped peaks, Balkan mountains, mild and sunny Black Sea coast • 30% of land is plains, 41% plateaus and hills • Southwest is mountainous • Overall temperate climate

9. Bulgaria cont. • Culture • Mostly Thracian, Slavic and Bulgar heritage, but with Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Celtic influences • Archaeological discoveries from Roman times • Hub of Slavic culture during Middle Ages • Places to visit • Sunny Beach • Sofia • Varna • Bansko • Plovdiv • Burgas • VelikoTurnovo

10. Crete • History • Hominids settled there at least 130,000 years ago • During Neolithic and Bronze Age periods Crete was ruled by Minoans • Ruled by: • Roman Empire • Byzantine Empire • Emirate of Crete • Republic of Venice • Ottoman Empire • Geography • Elongated shape • Extremely mountainous • Mountains create valleys, fertile plateaus, caves, and gorges • Two climactic zones, but primarily temperate

11. Crete cont. • Culture • Has it’s own heritage, as well as some Greek heritage • Distinct Cretan dialect of Greek with an extended vocabulary that is Crete-specific • Known for its Mantinades-based music • Places to visit • Chania • Heraklion • AgiaGallini • AgiosNikolaos • Hersonisos • Ierapetra • Kissamos

12. Croatia • History • Inhabited throughout the prehistoric period • Neolithic • Starčevo, Vučedol and Hvar cultures • Iron Age • Hallstatt culture and La Tène culture • Became part of the Roman Empire in 9 AD • Geography • Shape resembles a crescent or horseshoe • Slovenia and Hungary in the north • Plains • Densely wooded mountains • Rocky coastlines

13. Croatia cont. • Culture • Result of a fourteen century-long history • Adoptions from ancient Greek, Roman and Illyrian cultures • Culture divided into two cultural circles: • Central European • Mediterranean • Places to visit • Dubrovnik • Split • Opatija • Zagreb • Hvar • Rabac • Korcula

14. Cyprus, Turkish Fed. State • History • Aetokremnos was the first site where human activity was located • Hunter-gatherer societies starting around 10,000 BC • Part of Hittite Empire from late Bronze Age to when Greek settlement arrived • Geography • Syria and Lebanon to east, Israel to southeast, Egypt to south, Greece to northwest • Dominated by two mountain ranges: • Troodos Mountains • Kyrenia Range • Highest point is Mount Olympus

15. Cyprus, Turkish Fed. State cont. • Culture • Divided into two distinct cultures: • Greek • Turkish Cypriots • No unified culture • Greeks and Turkish cultures do not mix/interact much • Traditional folk music has common elements with Greek, Turkish, and Arabic music • Places to visit • PaphosHarbour & Castle • Courion/Kolossi Castle • Larnaca Salt Lake & Hala Sultan Tekke • Ayia Napa and Protaras • Nicosia 'within the walls' and the House of HadigeorgakisKornesios • Cedar Valley • PanayiatouAraka • Choirokitia • Lefkara • The Paphos mosaic

16. Czech Republic • History • Evidence of prehistoric settlements back to the Neolithic era • Slavic people from the Black Sea and Carpathian regions settled in the area • Bohemian or Czech state emerged in the late 9th century, when it was unified by the Přemyslid dynasty • Geography • Landscape is varied: • Bohemia, consists of a basin drained • Vltava rivers surrounded by low mountains • East is hilly • Landlocked state • Temperate continental climate

17. Czech Republic cont. • Culture • Music has roots of over 1000 years old • Influenced by general folk music • Czech language is used most in literature • Old Church Slavonic, Latin or German have also been used • Places to visit • The Prague Castle • Charles Bridge • The Old Town • Josefov • New Town of Prague • The Lesser Town • City Center of Brno • Spilberk Castle • Vankovka Gallery

18. Denmark • History • Earliest archaeological findings date back to Eem interglacial period (130,000–110,000 BC) • Inhabited since around 12, 500 BC and farming since 3900 BC • Nordic Bronze Age in Denmark was marked by burial mounds, which left an abundance of findings including lurs and the Sun Chariot • Geography • Bordered by Germany in the south • Rest is surrounded by water; peninsula of Jutland • 443 named islands, only 72 are inhabited • Flat with little elevation • Temperate climate

19. Denmark cont. • Culture • Known as one of the most socially progressive cultures in the world • Hans Christian Andersen and his fairy tales • The Little Mermaid, The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Ugly Duckling • Most popular sport is football • Places to visit • Copenhagen • Odense • Århus • Herning • Silkeborg • Esbjerg • Aalborg

20. England • History • Earliest known human presence in the area is from approximately 780,000 years ago • Permanent settlements established within the last 6,000 years even though humans were thought to have been there during the Upper Paleolithic period • Geography • Pennines Mountains are known as the “backbone of England” • Lowlands to the south of mountains • Green, rolling hills • Temperate maritime climate

21. England cont. • Culture • Stonehenge, Devil's Arrows, Rudston Monolith and Castlerigg built in prehistoric times • Folklore has developed over many centuries • pixies, giants, elfs, bogeymen, trolls, goblins and dwarves • Places to visit • Stonehenge • Hadrian’s Wall • London • Westminster Abbey • Big Ben • Tower Of London • Bath • York • Canterbury • Oxford

22. Estonia • History • Settlement became possible 11,000 to 13,000 years ago when the glaciers melted • Pulli settlement is the oldest known settlement • Fishing and hunting communities existed around 6500 BC • Geography • situated in the northern part of the temperate climate zone and in the transition zone between maritime and continental climate • Coastline marked by numerous bays, straits, and inlets

23. Estonia cont. • Culture • Culture incorporates indigenous heritage with mainstream Nordic and European cultural aspects • Been influenced by influenced by the traditions of the adjacent area's various Finnic, Baltic, Slavic and Germanic peoples • Places to visit • The Jagala Falls • The Art Museum of Estonia • The Tannenberg Line • The Baltic Clint • Narva Castle • Tallinn • Tartu • Haapsalu

24. Finland • History • Settled, at the latest, around 8500 BCE during the Stone Age • Artifacts from the first settlers found are similar to those found in Estonia, Russia and Norway • Earliest people were hunter-gatherers who used stone tools • Geography • Country of thousands of lakes and islands • Landscape is mostly flat • Forests covers 86% of the area • Largest forested area in Europe • Surface area is still expanding, because of the post-glacial rebound

25. Finland cont. • Culture • Combines indigenous heritage with common Nordic and European culture • Finnish culture may be seen to build upon the relatively ascetic environmental realities • Cultural differences between Finland's regions and minor differences in accents and vocabulary • Places to visit • Helsinki • Oulu • Espoo • Rovaniemi • Rauma • Kuopio • Tampere

26. France • History • Originates from the Latin word Francia, which means “country of the Franks” • Oldest traces of human life date from approximately 1,800,000 years ago • Strong demographic and agricultural development between the 4th and 3rd millennia, metallurgy appeared at the end of the 3rd millennium, work of gold, copper and bronze, and later with iron • Geography • There are a number of territories in North America, the Caribbean, South America, the southern Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and Antarctica • Coastal plains in north and west • Mountain ranges • Alps in south-east • Massif Central in south-central • Pyrenees in south-west

27. France cont. • Culture • Center of cultural creation for centuries • Creation of the Ministry of Culture in 1959 helped preserve the cultural heritage of the country and make it available to the public • Places to visit • Paris • Alsace • Aquitaine • Auvergne • Brittany • Burgundy • Champagne-Ardenne • Corsica

28. Germany • History • Germanic tribes are thought to date from the Nordic Bronze Age or the Pre-Roman Iron Age • Roman Empire resulted from the eastern portion of the Carolingian Empire that was divided in 843 • Geography • Alps in south • Shores in north-west and north-east • Temperate seasonal climate

29. Germany cont. • Culture • Culture in Germany has been shaped by major intellectual and popular currents in Europe • Been called Das Land derDichter und Denker (the land of poets and thinker) • Places to visit • Neuschwanstein • Heidelberg Castle • Checkpoint Charlie • Church of Our Lady, Dresden • Marienplatz, Munich • Bremerhaven

30. Gibraltar • History • Evidence of Neanderthal habitation between 128,000 and 24,000 BCE • Last known holdout of the Neanderthals • First inhabitants were the Phoenicians, around 950 BCE • Geography • Two coasts • East side • Sandy Bay • Catalan Bay • Westside • Subtropical-Mediterranean climate

31. Gibraltar cont. • Culture • Culture reflects the diverse origins • British influence remains strong • English is the language of government, commerce, education, and the media • Places to visit • St. Michael's Cave • A City Under Siege • Apes' Den

32. Greece • History • First area in Europe where advanced civilization emerged • Mix of Roman and Hellenistic cultures formed the Byzantine Empire in 330 ADaround Constantinople • Recognized under the London protocol in 1830 • Geography • Mountainous • Peninsular • Between 1200 and 6000 islands • Only 227 are inhabited • 8% of Greece is mountains or hills • Mediterranean climate

33. Greece cont. • Culture • Culture evolved over thousands of years ago • Ottoman Empire had an influence on the culture • Birth place of the Olympic Games • Places to visit • Mount Olympus • Athens • Meteora • Delphi • Corinth • Monemvasia

34. Hungary • History • From 9 BC to 4th century it was part of the Roman Empire • Officially established in 895 • Transformed into a Christian realm in 10th century • Saint Stephen was the first king of Hungary • Geography • Flat to rolling plains • Mostly hilly, but with a few low mountains • Divided into two by its main waterway: the Danube River • Continental climate

35. Hungary cont. • Culture • Has a rich folk tradition: embroideries, decorated potteries, buildings, and cravings • Hungarian Music: Rhapsodies, folk music, composed folk music influenced songs, and Roma music • Rich and colorful literature • Places to visit: • Budapest • Debrecen • Kiskunsag National Park • Lake Balaton • Danube Bend • Visegrad

36. Ionian Islands • History: • Settled by Greeks by an early date • The early Eretrian settlement at Kerkyra was displaced by colonists at Corinth • Backwater during ancient Greek times • Geography: • Extend from the coast of southern Albania and to the northwest coast of the Peloponneseus. • Comprise of 1.8% of Greece’s land area • Comprised of seven principal islands and several smaller ones

37. Ionian Islands cont. • Culture: • Various depredations: occupation, piracy, earthquakes and time • Weaving, embroidery and ceramic tableware have been significant industries • Popular cultural expressions include: dances performed on saint days and weddings. • Food is strongly linked to each island’s history. • Places to visit: • Holistic heaven day retreat • Trail riders horse trekking • Fantasy mini golf • Splash fun water park • Mirtiotissa Beach • Kassiopi • Gerakas Bay • St. George's castle

38. Ireland • History: • First known settlement was around 8000 BC • Covered with ice until the end of the last ice age • 9th century Viking raiders plundered Irish monasteries and towns • Often called the Irish Republic • Ireland’s economy began to grow rapidly in the 1990s, fuelled by foreign investment • Geography • Northerly point-Inishtrahull island • Easterly point- Big Bow Meel Island • Southerly point- Fastnet Rock • Westerly Point- Tearaught Island • Most populated county- Dublin • Longest River- Shannon • Tallest waterfall- Powerscourt Falls • Wettest Place- Maumturk and Partry mountains • Driest Place- Dublin city

39. Ireland cont. • Culture • Warm hospitality • Traditional dishes • Vibrant music and breath-taking scenic landscapes • Take care of their elders • Hurling and Camogie are popular sports • Fishing and Golfing are favorite pastimes • Equestrian team is very popular • Pub is the social venue • Holidays replete with customs and traditions • Produced famous literary works • Places to visit: • Giant’s Causeway • Newgrange • Glendalough • Bunratty castle • Marble Arch caves • Craggaunowen • Hill of Tara • Cliffs of Moher • KilmainhamGaol

40. Italy • History • Migrations of Indo-European people began around 2000 B.C. till 1000B.C • The Estruscan civilization was dominant • Overthrown by Romans in the 3rd century B.C\ • By 264 B.C the south of Italy was led by Cisalpine Gaul • Cultural center of the Western World from 13th-16th century • Geography • Slightly larger than Arizona, long peninsula shaped like a boot • Surrounded on the West by the Tyrrhenian Sea and east by the Atlantic • Bounded by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia to the North • Largest lake is Garda • Several islands form part of Italy, two largest are Sicily and Sardinia

41. Italy cont. • Culture • Family is the center of the social structure and provides stabilizing influence • In the north, nuclear family lives together while in the south the extended family lives together. • Both families provide emotional and financial support • Appearance calculates social status • First impressions last a life time • Primary Religion is Roman Catholic • Places to visit • Rome • Florence • Venice • Cinque Terra • Sicily • Turin • Capri • Sorrento • Abruzzo • San Gimignano • Milan • Verona and the lakes • Bologna • Sardinia • Puglia

42. Kosovo • History • First inhabitants of the Balkan Peninsula were the ancient people known as Illiyrians • Ruled by Bulgaria from the 9th century until the Serbs took over in the 12th century • Under Ottoman rule, the region grew increasingly more populated by Albanian speakers • In 1918, Kosovo became part of the Yugoslav Federation • Geography • Land locked and mostly mountainous • Borders Serbia to the North and East • Montenegro to the northwest, Albania to the west, and Macedonia to the south • Roughly the size of Connecticut

43. Kosovo cont. • Culture • Most widespread religion is Islam • Spoken dialect is Gheg • Folk music is very popular • Modern music has its origin from western music • Closely related to Albanians in Albania • Traditions and customs differ from town to town in Kosovo itself • Places to visit • Pristina • Mother Teresa Boulevard • Decani • Frontline crossing • Gracania • Peja • Prizren • Gjeravica Mountain

44. Latvia • History • Poland conquered the territory in 1562 and occupied it until Sweden took over in 1629-1721, and then was passed to Russia in 1721-1918. • Latvians remained Russian subjects and preserved their folklore, language and customs • Russian Revolution gave Latvia freedom, Latvian republic lasted more than 20 years • Latvia eventually became a dictatorship and was occupied with Russian troops and incorporated with the Soviet Union in 1940. • German troops occupied the nation from 1941-1944, 1944 Russia took control. • Geography • Borders Estonia in the North, Lithuania in the South, Baltic Sea with the Gulf of Riga in the West, Russia in the East, and Belarus in the South. • Largely a fertile low land with numerous hills, lakes to the east

45. Latvia cont. • Culture • Tradition lives on in folk songs, legends, and festivals. • Large populations of Lutheran, Catholic, and Orthodox religions • Daina the oval art and is a symbol that has shaped and epitomized Lativa’s national identity in the last 2 centuries. • Moving from area to area is uncommon, families are huge • Children are expected to take care of parents, parents are expected to provide financial and emotional support to children • Reserved and formal when dealing with outsiders • Personal life is kept separate from business • Places to visit • Pedvale Open Air Art Museum, Sabile • The Dome Cathedral, Riga • Jurmala Beach • Aglona Basilica • Tervete Nature Park

46. Malta • History • Recognized by the Phoenicians who occupied it and so did the Greeks, Romans, and Carthaginians • Dominated by Constantinople • Napoleon seized Malta in 1798 • Geography • Five Maltese Islands: Malta, Gozo, Comino, Comminoto, and Filflawith have a combined land area smaller than Philadelphia • Located in the Mediterranean Sea • South of the Southeast tip of Sicily

47. Malta cont. • Culture • 91% Roman Catholic • Maltese and English are the common languages • Music is largely western but consists of background folk guitar music • Food is important historically in the development of national identity • Maltese folktales • Most generous people in the world • Places to visit • Comino Tower • Kenuna Tower • Folklore Museum • The old prison • Gozo 360 • Calypso’s cave • The Inland Sea • The Citadel • Aurora Opera House • Astra Theatre

48. Moldova • History • Used to occupy Bessarabia • 16th century Ottoman’s ruled • In 1791 Russia acquired most of their territory • 1924, USSR established Maldova as an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic • Sept. 1991 Maldova claimed its Independence • Geography • Landlocked Republic of hilly planes lying east of the Carpathian Mountains between the Prut and Dniester rivers • In between Romania and Ukraine • Fertile region with rich black soil covering three quarters of the territory

49. Moldova cont. • Culture • Highly influenced by Byzantine culture, Slavic, Magyar, and the Ottoman Turks • Present culture has significant impact of Russia, and the urban lifestyle is influenced from the way of living • Beginning of the 19th century, a strong west European influence was evident in the Romanian literature and arts • Ancient folk ballad “Miorita” plays a main role • Places to visit • Chisinau town • OrheiulVechi • Ivancea Village • Soroca town • Transnistria • Saharnamonestary • Monastic structure of Tipova

50. Monaco • History • Originated from the Greek Surname “Monoikos” meaning mythological hero • Independent country for 800 years • 1793- annexed to France, and was placed under Sardinia’s protection by 1815 • 1861, went under French guardship, but continued to be independent • Geography • Tiny, hilly wedge driven into the French Mediterranean coast • 9 miles east of Nice, France