Northern Europe

1. Northern Europe

2. Countries of Northern Europe • United Kingdom • Ireland • Nordic Countries- Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Norway

3. Peninsulas • Scandinavian Peninsula- includes Norway and Sweden

4. History • 400’s - Germanic tribes invaded Britain, driving out the Romans and Celts • 795 - Vikings conquered parts of Britain, Iceland and Greenland • 1066 - William the Conqueror of Normandy conquered England

5. British Isles • 1801 - England won control of Wales, Ireland and Scotland. The nation was known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland • The British Isles today consists of Great Britain (England), Ireland and many smaller surrounding islands

6. Modern Age • Britain's government is a monarchy that also has a parliament. Through the years the parliament has gained more power. • 1215 - nobles forced the king to sign the Magna Carta. This inspired trial by jury and no taxation without representation

7. Industrial Revolution • Iron ore and coal helped Britain become the 1st nation to industrialize • Coal was used for fuel and iron to make machinery • Britain imported raw materials from its colonies in North America • In the 1800’s the industrial revolution spread to other countries like Belgium, France and the United States • Because of the Industrial Revolution, European cities grew in size The steam engine The spinning jenny

8. Peat • Peat is a crop that is harvested in Ireland for fuel

9. Economics • Sweden has a strong motor vehicle and aerospace industry. They also produce paper products and pharmaceuticals. Sweden exports timber, Iceland relies on fishing and Norway relies on the North Sea oil. • Technology is swiftly changing the economy of this region. • Silicon Glen is a section of Scotland between Glasgow and Edinburgh. It is called this because of all of the high tech companies.

10. European Union and the Euro • Most nations of this region joined the European Union • Norway did not join the EU • Denmark did not adopt the Euro as their form of currency like the other EU countries did.

11. Language and Religion • Most people of this region speak a Germanic language including English, Swedish, Norwegian and Danish • Because of the Reformation in the 1500’s most of this region is Protestant • Ireland is the only country that has kept Catholicism its main faith

12. Modern Art • Many famous writers are from the north region of Europe • Some of these are William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth, and James Joyce

13. Life in Northern Europe • Most people live in cities and have a high standard of living • The government of Northern Europe takes good care of its people. Some of the countries provide national health insurance and allowances for raising kids

14. Customs • British= afternoon tea • Sweden=Smorgasbord • Finland= saunas

15. Eastern Europe

16. History • Cultural crossroads – many cultures have had an influence here • Eastern Europe lies in-between western Europe and Asia • Groups who have ruled or lived in Eastern Europe • Romans • Byzantines • Ottoman Turks • Slavs • Magyars (non-Slavic)

17. Culture • Number of languages makes unification difficult • Religions: Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Protestant and Muslim • Small number are Jewish The West Slavic languages include Czech, Polish, Slovak, and Sorbian. Current East Slavic languages are Belarusian, Russian, Ukrainian, and Rusyn South Slavic languages include Croatian, Serbo-Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian, Slovene, Bulgarian and Macedonian

18. Modern Conflicts • Wars occurred in 1908, 1912 and 1913 • Balkanization – Eastern European nations broke into individual and hostile countries

19. Modern Conflicts • WWI • Slavs in Serbia wanted to free those in Austria-Hungary • Austria and Hungary split apart • Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Yugoslavia gained independence. • Ottoman Empire ended and became Turkey • WWII • The Soviet Union advanced toward Germany through Eastern Europe toward the end of the war • Satellite nations established in E. Europe by the Soviets • Mikhail Gorbachev (Soviet Union) gave Eastern Europe more freedom. • 1989 – Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Romania ended Communist control • 1990 – Bulgaria and Yugoslavia ended Communist rule • Instability followed as different ethnicities wanted their own nations. • 1990s – Serbs, Croats and some Bosnians fought in the former Yugoslavia • By 2006, the name Yugoslavia was officially no longer recognized

21. Economy • Traditionally been a farming region due to fertile plains • Soviet Union encouraged industrialization • Traded with USSR and other E. European nations • No motive to cut costs, satisfy workers, improve technology or decrease pollution • Since the fall of the USSR, most moved to a market economy.

22. Economy • Some problems still remain • Old equipment, lack of materials and skilled workers • Citizens have little money to invest in businesses • Government still owns some businesses which discourages foreign investors • Civil wars destroyed equipment and buildings and killed workers who did not flee

23. Modern Life • Few people live in cities • Fierce ethnic loyalties encourage conflict • Discrimination • Move toward democratic ideals Romanian gypsies dance behind a chopped roasted piglet - a traditional dish - during their annual gathering in Bistrita, 280 kilometres west of Bucharest. (Reuters: Radu Sigheti) Voting