A Geographic Profile of Europe

Chapter 4

4 Delineating Europe

Traditionally, Europe is classified as one of the world’s seven continents, but it is not a distinct landmass Actually an appendage or subcontinent of Eurasia

Europe is the culture region made up of the countries of Eurasia lying west of Turkey, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova

The traditional physical dividing line between Europe and Asia is drawn from the Ural Mountains down to the Caucasus, which technically places the majority of the above-mentioned countries within Europe

Political&

PhysicalGeographies

of Europe

4.1.1 Europe’s Subregions

Subregions of Europe European Core

UK, Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and the microstates of Andorra, Monaco, and Liechtenstein

Generally includes the countries with the largest populations and most important economic and political roles in Europe

Northern Europe Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland

Southern Europe Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Malta, and Cyprus

Eastern Europe Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia,

Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Slovenia

4.1.2 Small but Powerful Europe

Area of Europe is half that of the U.S. “Lower 48” Europe contains one of the world’s great clusters of human

population Population of 532 million (2007) 1 out of every 13 people in the world is a European Population density varies widely

1,038 persons per square mile in the Netherlands Only 8 persons per square mile in Iceland

Four countries, alone, comprise half of Europe’s population Germany 82 million France 63 million United Kingdom 63 million Italy 61 million

Population Distribution of Europe

Population Cartogram of Europe

4.1.3 Belts of Energy, Industries, and Cities

Greatest population densities found in 2 belts of industrialization and urbanization near historical sources of coal and hydroelectric power North-South from the UK to Italy East-West from UK to Poland

These belts contain large cities and produce more goods and services than the rest of Europe combined

Only three other areas on Earth resemble Europe’s urban-industrial belts Eastern North America Japan China

4.1.4 Why is Europe’s Population Declining?

Europe has transitioned from preindustrial high birth and death rates to postindustrial low birth and death rates

Population of Europe peaked in 1997 “Birth Dearth”

Low Birth Rates Employed and educated women choosing not to devote

time and money necessary to raise children Fertility rate below population replacement level No European country maintaining its population through births Europe’s population aging faster than all other world regions

Strategies Cash incentives (“baby bounties”) to parents who have multiple children Offering welfare benefits to immigrants

4.1.5 Bring on the Immigrants?

If birth rates remain at their current low level, the European Union will have a shortfall of 20 million workers by 2030 The EU would need 3 million migrants per year to prevent this

Historically, governments were reluctant to impose harsh measures that would restrict migration, but this is changing, with immigrants increasingly viewed as: A financial burden on society Threatening to unravel the social safety net of the European

welfare state Living outside mainstream European society instead of becoming

integrated within it Immigration Statistics

1.8 million people enter EU legally each year 500,000 more people enter the EU illegally each year

4.2 Physical Geography & Human Adaptations

Physical Characteristics of Europe Irregular shape High latitude Temperate climate Jagged coastal outline

Estuaries (tidal mouths of rivers) and harbors offer protection for shipping

Much of Europe’s history has focused on seabornetrade, sea fisheries, and sea power

Much of Europe lies north of the conterminous U.S., resulting in long summer days and short winter days

Comparison of Latitude and Area:Europe vs. North America

4.2.1 Why Is Europe So Warm?

Europe has mild climates despite its high latitude Warm Ocean Currents

Gulf Stream North Atlantic Drift

Westerly Winds Winter winds absorb heat

from ocean and transportto land

In summer, the ocean is cooler than land, so the winds have a cooling effect

Winds also bring abundant moisture Average annual precipitation in European lowlands

is 20-40 inches

4.2.2 Human Settlement on Europe’s Landscapes

Europe’s topographic features are very diverse, and have been enriched by human associations of an eventful history North European Plain, which extends from French-Spanish

border far into Russia, contains the greater part of Europe’s cultivated land Underlain by deposits of coal, iron ore, and other minerals

important in the region’s industrial development Home to many of the largest European cities

South of the North European Plain, the region is hilly and mountainous, with notable peaks including Mount Blanc (French-Italian border) and the iconic Swiss Matterhorn

Glaciation Created favorable sites for hydroelectric installations Glacial deposition left fertile deposits on most of the

North European Plain that are productively farmed today

Matterhorn Above Zermatt Resort, Switzerland

Maximum Extent of Pleistocene Glaciation

4.2.3 Diversity of Climate & Vegetation

Despite its relatively small size, Europe has remarkable climatic and biotic diversity Marine West Coast Humid Continental Short-Summer (Cold) Humid Continental Long-Summer (Warm) Mediterranean Subarctic and Tundra Undifferentiated Highland

Climate Types of Europe

Biomes of Europe

Land Use in Europe

Mediterranean Landscape in Greece

4.2.4 Rivers and Waterways

Uses of River Systems Transport Water Supply Electricity Generation Recreation

Romans used rivers for transport and today, riversstill make it possible to move cargo at low cost

Dutch developed the pound lock for canals The Rhine and Danube traverse many countries

and are important arteries for the flow of goods Important Seaports

London on the Thames Antwerp on the Scheldt Rotterdam in the delta of the Rhine Hamburg on the Elbe

4.3 Cultural & Historical Geographies

Europe is a region marked by extraordinary cultural diversity Many countries crowded into a relatively small land area This richness can be experienced through a brief train

ride through Europe

4.3.1 Linguistic & Ethnic Groups of Europe

Europe emerged from prehistory as thehomeland of many different peoples Great expansion of the Greek and Celtic peoples in the

first millennium B.C.E. Europe’s Greek and Celtic languages expanded at

roughly the same time, but are represented today only by remnants

Major Language Families Romance (Evolved from Latin)

Examples: Italian, French, Spanish & Portuguese Germanic

Examples: German, English, Dutch, Danish & Swedish Slavic

Examples: Russian, Polish, Czech, Slovak & Serbian

Languages of Europe

4.3.2 Europeans’ Religious Roots

Dominance of Christianity Embraced by Emperor Constantine in the 4th Century Roman Catholic Church

Europe’s largest religious group (280 million followers) Eastern Orthodox Church

Developed in Constantinople during Middle Ages as rival to Rome Sects Emerging from Protestant Reformation (16th Century)

Church of England Calvinism Lutheran Protestantism

Europe has become increasingly secularized Islam is fastest growing religion in Europe Only one million Jews in Europe today

Religions of Europe

4.3.3 European Colonialism & Consequences

The Silk Road was an important global trade route, connecting China and Venice

The balance of world affairs started shifting to Europe with the beginning of the Age of Discovery in the 15th century

The process of exploration and discovery began with Portuguese expeditions down the west coast of Africa

Explorers were the vanguards of a global European invasion that would bring the missionaries, soldiers, traders, settlers, and administrators

The Columbian Exchange Important in reshaping the world’s biogeography The transfer of plants and animals from one place to

another following Europe’s conquest of the Americas

4.4 Economic Geography:Awash in Cash and Talent

Europe had significant material and cultural riches, which the colonial system built on to make it the world’s wealthiest region for centuries

Achievements in shipbuilding, navigation, and the manufacture and handling of weapons gave Europe decided advantages

Foundations of modern science primarily came out of Europe

First world region to evolve from an agricultural to an industrial society

4.4.1 Europe Displaced

By 1900, European cities created about 90% of world’s manufacturing output

In 20th century, Europe’s preeminence in world trade and industry diminished to about 25% of the world’s manufacturing output.

This happened for several reasons: Warfare Rising nationalism Rising economic and political stature of U.S. and U.S.S.R. A major shift in global manufacturing patterns Dependence on outside sources of energy

Ruins of the Reichstag in Berlin, 1945

4.4.2 An Imbalance of Wealth

Western Europe is wealthier than Eastern Europe Trend dates to at least the 1870s, when per capita

incomes in the west were twice those in the east After World War II, eastern European countries were

in effect colonized by the Soviet Union Served as vassal states that gave up human and material

resources to service the motherland Hope for Eastern Europe

Dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 Admission of eastern European countries to the EU

4.4.3 Living off the Land and Sea

Agriculture was the original foundation of Europe’s economy and is still very important

Agricultural advances after about 1500: Introduction of new crops, such as the potato New systems of crop rotation Scientific advancements Industrial cities provided growing markets for farmers Farmers protected through tariffs or direct subsidies

Fishing an important part of the European food economy Control of fishing grounds as commercial / political

objective Overfishing of cod

4.4.4 Postindustrialization

Europe’s Postindustrial Economy Shift from energy-hungry, labor-costly, and polluting

industries toward an economy based on services and production of high-tech goods

These industries do not employ as many people as the old manufacturing sector, so there are unemployment problems

Many European nations fit model of welfare state Use resources collected through high taxation rates to

provide generous social services to citizens

4.4.5 The European Union

Headquartered in Brussels, Belgium Most important of Europe’s supranational organizations Began as the European Economic Community, 1957

(also known as the Common Market) France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands

Initially designed to secure the benefits of large-scale production by pooling resources & markets of its members Tariffs eliminated on goods moving between member states Restrictions on the movement of labor and capital between member

states were eased Monopolies that restricted competition were discouraged Common set of external tariffs established to regulate imports

Acquired the European Union name in 1993 By 1996, nine additional members had joined the EU

Members of the European Union

4.4.6 Bring on the Euro

A single European Union currency (the euro) was launched in 1999 as the centerpiece of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) European Central Bank decides interest rates and other critical

decisions

Believed advantages of a common currency Lower transaction costs More certainty for investors Enhanced competition More consistent pricing Restrain public spending, reduce debt, and tame inflation

Currently 17 countries using the euro as its currency

Eurozone: Countries that use the Euro

4.4.7 Europe’s “Big Bang”

Ten Eastern European nations joined the EU in 2004 Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia,

Lithuania, Slovenia, Malta, and Cyprus Created a Mega-Europe of 450 million people and an

economy valued at nearly $10 trillion Embracing the less wealthy

The most outstanding differences between the old and new EU members is in their economies, with the old EU countries having 95% of the continent’s wealth

When the big bang countries joined in 2004, the EU’s average wealth per person fell by 13 percent

4.5 Geopolitical Issues

Europe’s geopolitical situation has changed more profoundly and violently in the past 100 years than any other world region

Europe experienced two world wars that wrought unprecedented devastation World War I (1914-1918) World War II (1939-1945)

4.5.1 Postwar Europe

European Union Federation of nations similar to the United States Largest post-war European supranational organization Member countries united beyond the authority of any single national

government and planned/controlled by a group of nations

The Cold War and Its Aftermath North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Military alliance founded in 1949 between the U.S., Canada, most European countries west of the Iron Curtain & Turkey

NATO faced off against the Warsaw Pact, an alliance of the Soviet Union and its eastern European satellites

Cold War ended with collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 Warsaw Pact was dissolved Nuclear arsenals of the respective alliances were reduced Plans made to turn the path of the Iron Curtain into the European

Greenbelt, a mosaic of national parks and other protected areas NATO remains today with a membership of 28 countries

European Membership of NATO

4.5.2 Welcome to Schengenland?

The EU would like to move toward a situation in which there were no passport, visa, or other control issues at any internal land, sea, and airport frontiers of its member countries

Schengen Agreement seeks this integration Allows for the free circulation of people between nations that signed

the agreement Member states exercise common visa, asylum, and other policies at

their external borders

Truly open borders are probably still far in the future Anti-immigrant fears Cheap eastern labor Terrorists

4.5.3 Differences Between Europeans & Americans

Concept of Social Justice Provision of and Spending on Public Education Taxes on Gasoline Views on U.S. “Cultural Industries” (e.g., Hollywood films) Allowance of questions of spirituality into political debates Acceptance of Death Penalty (outlawed in EU countries) Differences on the Geopolitical Front

4.6 Regional Issues and Landscapes

European Core Great Britain, Ireland, France, Germany, smaller

nations in British Isles, and west central portions of European mainland

European Periphery Northern Europe Southern Europe Eastern Europe

4.6.1 The European Core

Properties of the European Core Densest, most urbanized population Most prosperous economy Lowest unemployment Most productive agriculture Most conservative politics Greatest concentration of

highways and railroads Highest levels of crowding,

congestion, and pollution 1 of only 4 world regions

classified as a major clusterof continuous settlement

The British Isles

4.6.2 Great Britain

Political Units of the United Kingdom England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland

World’s Strongest Country From defeat of Napoleonic France in 1815 to start of WWI in 1914 British Empire once covered one quarter of the Earth Commonwealth of Nations

Voluntary association of 54 countries that nominally recognizethe British monarch as its head

Legacy Much world culture has British roots Importance of English language around the world London as an example of a World City

4.6.3 Ireland

Troubles and Resilience on the Emerald Isle Irish Economy as “Celtic Tiger”

Traditionally low-ranking economy doubled in size in 1990s Economy boosted by emergence of high-tech industries The strong economic growth (about 7% annually) enjoyed

between 1999-2007 was followed by a recession

Potato Famine of 1845-1851 10 percent of population died of starvation

or disease A greater number emigrated to North America,

Australia & UK

Conflict in Northern Ireland Officially part of the United Kingdom British direct rule vs. Irish Republican Army (IRA) Catholic Republicans and Protestant Unionists

4.6.4 France: All Roads Lead to Paris

Paris as a Primate City 10.4 million in metropolitan area Greater population than those of

the next two largest cities combined(Lille – 1 million and Lyon 1.5 million)

Primate cities are rarely seen in developed countries Can be detrimental to national development by diverting a

disproportionately high share of the country’s goods, services, resources, and minds to the city and away from outlying areas

Important geographic situationon the Seine River

Largest city of mainland Europe Leading urban tourist destination

4.6.5 Germany

Reunification of Germany in 1990 was one of the most important geopolitical events of late twentieth century Inequity between western and eastern Germany

Europe’s Dominant Country 82 million population greater than any other country Along with France, seen as political cornerstone of EU Fourth-largest economy in the world One of top three countries globally in exports of goods

Concerns about Germany’s commitments To the European community To Atlantic alliances, such as NATO

4.6.6 Europe Paves the Way on Alternative Energy

European Union seeks to achieve the following by 2020: Reduce greenhouse gases to 20% below 1990 levels Get 20% of its energy from renewable sources

To achieve this, EU members will: Promote fuel efficiency in automobiles Encourage the use of public transportation Use alternative energies

Wind power Hydroelectric power Solar power Tidal power Wave power Geothermal power Trash power

4.6.7 The European Periphery

Properties of the European Periphery “Rimland” of countries whose interests are tied closely to

and strongly influenced by those of the core Have less political and economic clout than core countries Dependent on the core countries

Subregions Northern Europe Southern Europe Eastern Europe

4.6.8 Northern Europe

Norway and Iceland’s refusal to join the European Union Fear EU fishing policies will diminish

profits vital to their economies Both countries, along with Japan,

engage in whaling Whale meat is a prized food Claim that populations of whale

species have rebounded to levels that should allow regular, limited harvesting for human consumption

Argue that growing whale populations will feed on huge amounts of commercially-important fish stocks

4.6.9 Southern Europe: Basque Country

The Basques Have a unique ethnicity and

culture unrelated to those oftheir host country majorities 2.3 million Basques of Spain 300,000 Basques of France

Have often been targets of discrimination and violence In the 1960s, Basque desire for independence led to

militant group ETA (Basque Homeland and Liberty) ETA is seen as a terrorist organization by the EU and U.S. In 2011, the ETA vowed to cease violence

4.6.10 Southern Europe: North vs. South in Italy

Within Italy, there is a longstanding vernacular distinction between the north and south: Northerners, in Padania,

see themselves as sophisticatedand cosmopolitan Northern Italy has labor shortages Industries are more productive

and income levels are higher Southerners, in Mezzogiorno,

acknowledge agrarian roots asthe source of their kinshipvalues and enjoyment of life Southern Italy has more

unemployment

Mediterranean island gained independence as the Republic of Cyprus in 1960, but is divided: Greek Cypriots

Greek Orthodox Christians Make up about 75% of

estimated population of 1 million Turkish Cypriots

Muslims Make up about 25% of population

Buffer Zone (“Green Line”) Sealed off the Turkish north and Greek south Capital city of Nicosia is divided by this line Depressed north is tied to Turkey, but the Greek sector enjoys

flourishing tourism and aid from Greece, Britain, the U.S. and the United Nations

4.6.11 Southern Europe: North vs. South in Cyprus

4.6.12 Eastern Europe

Unifying features prior to end of Cold War: Majority Slavic ethnicity Former Communist statue Subjugation to Soviet interests

The true complexity of this region is now more apparent Eastern Europe as a Shatter Belt

A large, strategically located region composed of conflicting states caught between the conflicting interests of great powers

Countries as Soviet Satellites Local communist governments effectively controlled from Moscow

Eastern European Shatter Belt

4.6.13 Principal Traits of Communism

One-party dictatorial governments National economies planned and directed by

organs of the state Abolition of private ownership (with some

exceptions) in the fields of manufacturing, mining, transportation, commerce, and services

Abolition of independent trade unions Varying degrees of socialization (state

ownership) of agriculture

4.6.14 Balkanization

Political-geographic term forfragmentation into ethnicallybased, contentious units thattook its name from thecharacteristic disharmonyof the Balkan region

As the Iron Curtain dissolved,Yugoslavia began to fracturealong ancient ethnic fault lines Yugoslav state dissolved in 1991

Ethnic Cleansing Forced emigration or murder of

one ethnic group by anotherwithin a certain territory

4.6.15 The Roma

The Roma (aka “Gypsies”) At 12 million, one of Europe’s

largest ethnic minorities Romania has the highest number,

about 2.5 million Originally from what is now India

Romany language similar to thosespoken on Indian subcontinent

An itinerant people that stilloften moves in caravans

Poorer than the majoritypopulations, and have higherunemployment rates

Subjected to a great deal ofprejudice and discrimination