Northern Europe

Countries of Northern Europe

• United Kingdom

• Ireland

• Nordic Countries- Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Norway

Peninsulas

• Scandinavian Peninsula- includes Norway and Sweden

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

British Isles

• 1801 - England won control of Wales, Ireland and Scotland. The nation was known as the

United Kingdomof Great Britain and Ireland

• The British Isles today consists of Great Britain (England), Ireland and many smaller surrounding islands

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

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

Peat

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

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.

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.

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

Modern Art

• Many famous writers are from the north region of Europe

• Some of these are William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth, and James Joyce

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

Customs

• British= afternoon tea

• Sweden=Smorgasbord

• Finland= saunas

Eastern Europe

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

o Romanso Byzantineso Ottoman Turkso Slavso Magyars (non-Slavic)

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

Modern Conflicts• Wars occurred in 1908, 1912 and 1913• Balkanization –

Eastern European

nations broke into

individual and hostile

countries

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

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.

Country or Area Year Item Value

Eastern Europe 2007 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 8,422

Eastern Europe 2006 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 6,543

Eastern Europe 2005 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 5,361

Eastern Europe 2004 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 4,308

Eastern Europe 2003 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 3,348

Eastern Europe 2002 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2,748

Eastern Europe 2001 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2,435

Eastern Europe 2000 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2,128

Eastern Europe 1999 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 1,918

Eastern Europe 1998 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2,245

Eastern Europe 1997 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2,592

Eastern Europe 1996 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2,535

Eastern Europe 1995 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2,487

Eastern Europe 1994 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2,345

Eastern Europe 1993 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2,465

Eastern Europe 1992 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2,542

Eastern Europe 1991 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2,766

Eastern Europe 1990 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 2,885

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

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