european culture cy-woods high school world geography

European Culture

Cy-Woods High School

World Geography

Traditional Definitions of Europe

• Christian • Indo-European • White• Healthy• Educated• Urbanized

• Wealthy• Good Transit• Non-agricultural• Stabilized population• Democratic • Densely Populated

• Many of these are inaccurate in some way.

• An example of core vs. periphery

“Non-European traits”

Dominant Religions of

Europe

Islam/Christianity –Ottoman Empire (up to 20th C)

– Eastern/WesternChristianity – Great Schism (11th C)

– Catholicism /Protestantism –Reformation (16th C)

“Post-Christian” Europe

• Next decade: Muslim population +15%,

• Christian population -3%• In USA, Jews & Muslims

in equal numbers In Europe, more than 12 times as many Muslims

Danish “cartoon riots” of 2006

• First published in Jyllands-Posten in Sept. 2005, republished several times thereafter

• Led to rioting and boycotting of Danish products throughout

Muslim world– ~140 people killed– 16% loss in Danish exports– Attacks have affected all Western interests

BLUE: Reprint of cartoonsRED: Violent reaction

French Language Police

• The Commission Générale de Terminologie et de Néologie has responsibility for preventing the contamination of the French language by English words and phrases, and the results of its deliberations are published as official laws.

Most French people just ignore this.

The French

• In France, they have freedom from religion.

• Religious symbols are

not permitted in

government buildings,

including public schools.

Sports

• Football (No not your kind) (Everywhere!)• Gaelic Football (Ireland)• Rugby • Cricket• Field Hockey• Tennis • Cycling (Think Tour de France)• Hurling • Handball• Bullfighting (Spain and parts of Portugal)

Do’s and Taboos when traveling in Europe

Or…how to stay out of trouble when traveling to other countries.

You arrive at your hotel in London expecting to attend a business meetings tomorrow. When you check in, there is a note addressed to you indicating there is a function that night. You are instructed to wear your “smoking jacket.”

What do you wear?

Of course, what this means is to wear your tuxedo.

You are discussing business with your German client. You naturally put your hands in your pockets during the conversation.

Your German host is visibly upset. What did you do?

*He is afraid. Everyone knows all Americans carry guns.

*He feels to be a good host, he has to put his hands in his pockets too.

*Hands in pockets are a sign of boredom.

***He is upset. Every German knows this was the secret signal Hitler gave in 1939 to invade Poland.***

After a long day’s travel, you are in Bulgaria. You make a great presentation and ask your Bulgarian interpreter to ask what they think.

Before he can translate, the Bulgarian businessman starts to shake his head side to side.

What is he saying?

*I can’t understand a word you are saying.

*Yes, the deal sounds very interesting.

***It is time to offer the customary bribe for doing business in Bulgaria.***

When cutting food, what do we Americans do that Europeans consider odd?

We hold fork with the left hand, cut with the right, then switch the fork to the right hand. Europeans don’t switch the fork over.

When counting by hand in Germany, what number would this be?

Two. Germans always start with the thumb for one.

Just the opposite of the United Kingdom, people in Greece are not good about standing in orderly lines.

When trying to get into a resort in Greece, the lines seem to disappear and people are pushing and shoving to get ahead. Should you get mad?

How do you greet

a friend in

Holland or Belgium?

*Shake their hand firmly

*Kiss them on the cheek

****Kiss them three times, alternating cheeks

When visiting Scotland, regardless how odd someone or something looks, avoid staring as it is considered rude.

At a luncheon in Scotland, there is a rather odd fellow sitting across the room. Is it okay to stare?

How could the “peace sign” get you punched in

the nose in London?

Careful, the reverse “peace sign” is the

equivalent of flipping someone off.

Notebook Quiz

• Write down only your answers for these days warm-ups.

• 1) 10/13• 2) 10/22• 3) 10/23• 4) 10/29• 5) 10/30