EuropeEconomic and Political

Characteristics

Economic Characteristics

• The Mountain regions of Europe are famous for tourism, recreation and mineral resources.

Pollution is a major issue....

–Forests--Black Forest of Germany (acid rain)

–Cities--Venice, Italy (water pollution and wave erosion)

–Rivers--Danube, Rhine, and Seine (water pollution)

Acid RainCoal burning in factories releases sulfur which causes acid rain.

Bavarian Region: Germany’s Black ForestEmissions from coal- burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests

Venice

Italian city built on a foundation of sand in the Adriatic sea. It is slowly sinking and suffers from wave erosion caused by the boats there.

• Many of Europe’s largest industrial and transportation centers developed near mineral deposits, especially coal and iron ore–Ruhr Valley (Germany)–Po Valley (Italy)

Seaports and WaterwaysEuropean ports handle about half the world’s international shipping. Ports include London, England; Odesa, Ukraine; and Rotterdam, the Netherlands: the largest port in the world.

RiversThe Rhine and the Danube rivers carryfreight across Europe.

CanalsHave been dug to connect many of these rivers.

OceansShipping in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans

• There are oil reserves in the North Sea. Great Britain has claimed many of them.

• Most countries of Europe, especially Western Europe, have a well educated workforce.

• Most are industrial or technological societies (Switzerland specializes in banking).

• The countries of Western Europe also use advanced farming techniques which gives them high crop yields.

• Fertile soils and the chernozem (black earth of Russia) are also found in Europe.

• Most of Europe has a well developed infrastructure.

• Infrastructure is things such as roads, power companies railroads and air carriers

• France and Great Britain have built the Chunnel to provide a railroad transportation between their countries.

ChunnelThe Chunnel, or Channel-Tunnel, is a 31-mile tunnel that goes under the English Channel connecting England and France.

Autobahn

Major highway system in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Contrary to popular belief, only 40% of the autobahn has an unrestricted speed limit. The "recommended speed" is 130 km/h (80 mph). Austrian and Swiss autobahns have general speed limits of 130 km/h and 120 km/h (75 mph).

The average speed traveled on the autobahn in unregulated areas by automobiles not regulated by other laws is about 150 km/h (93 mph).

• Western Europe and Eastern Europe have different industrial systems and different industrial development because of different economic and political systems since 1945.

European Union= EU

• Most of western Europe belongs to the Economic Union today. Eastern Europe is slowly catching up after changing their systems in the early 1990s

• The Economic Union is a economic union used to tie the economies of Europe together for the benefit of all members. It is an ECONOMIC ALLIANCE.

• Trade is important in Europe, especially to the island nations.

• Sweden and Denmark allow their governments to play a large role in their economies.

• Eastern Europe has begun the switch from communism to capitalism

• the Netherlands grows crops on land reclaimed from the sea (Polders)

• Their demographics are typical of a developed nations.

For example:• High per capita GDP• High literacy rate• high life expectancy • low infant mortality• low percentage of the population under the

age of 15

Cultural Characteristics• Europe is the birthplace to the Industrial

Revolution• The Industrial Revolution was the switch from

hand or manual labor to using machines for labor

• England was the center of the Industrial Revolution

• Europe is the home to many ethnic groups

• Each group brings different languages, religions and customs

• This has led to sporadic conflict among the groups

• For example- religious conflict in Northern Ireland Protestant vs Catholics

Northern Ireland has been for many years the site of a violent and bitter ethno-political conflict.

In general, Protestants consider themselves British and Catholics see themselves as Irish. The campaigns of violence

have become known popularly as The Troubles

IRA: Irish Republican Army: Guerilla unit which has battled British rule in Northern Ireland. Many view them as terrorists.

Good Friday Peace Agreement: Met in 1998, allowed for some shared political power.

Conflict in Northern IrelandReligious and political conflict between the Catholics who are Irish and the Protestants who are part of the UK.

• Europe is the birthplace of modern democracy

• Greece is the home of Democracy

• Europe has spread its’ culture to other parts of the world through

• exploration• colonization• imperialism

• Europe is highly urbanized• It is one of the most densely

populated areas of the world• Most of Western Europe is a

member in the political/military alliance called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Commonwealth of Nations-53 nations-comprised of Great Britain and the nationsit once ruled

United Nations-political organization started in 1945-190 countries belong-goal is to work for peace-headquarters in NYC

Red Cross- organization to provide assistanceduring disasters

EducationEuropeans have traditionally valued education.The first universities were founded here.

Most European countries have literacy rates above 90%

State Sponsored Human ServicesWelfare StatesCountries with tax-supported programs for higher education, health care, and social security. Socialist HealthcareSweden, France, and England

“From the cradle to the grave”

LifestylesHome LifeFamily life and extended families are still important to many Europeans.

Sports and RecreationSoccer is the major sport of EuropeRugby is popular in the UK, France and Ireland.TennisCricketAlpine sports, the Alps provide great area for recreation

CelebrationsMany religious holidays