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West-Central Europe�and France

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West-Central Europe Physical Features

  • Northern European plain
    • Stretches from the Atlantic ocean to Eastern Europe
    • Only about 500 feet above sea level
      • Minnesota about 1,200 feet. Highest=Eagle Mountain 2,300, Lowest=Lake Superior 600.
    • In Netherlands-it goes below sea level
      • Must build walls to hold back the water
    • Provides great farmland
  • Central uplands
    • Rounded hills, small plateaus, and valleys.
    • Area is important mining and industrial area

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West-Central Europe Physical Features

  • Alpine mountain system
    • Pyrenees and alps are part of this system.
  • Water features
    • North Sea and the English channel lie to the north
    • Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic ocean lie to the West
    • Mediterranean Sea lies to the South
  • Climate and resources
    • Marine west coast climate
      • Cold winters, mild summers
      • 25 degrees C in summer 1 degrees C in winter. (33.8 degrees F to 77 degrees F).
    • France has coal and iron ore
    • Germany has coal
    • Netherlands has natural gas
    • Hydroelectric power from fast moving mountain rivers.

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France

  • 1500’s to 1700’s France set up colonies in America, Africa, and Asia.
    • Most people in France lived in poverty and had few rights
    • 1789 the French people overthrew the king.
    • Napoleon took control a few years later.
      • He conquered much of Europe.
      • 1815 European countries joined together and defeated Napoleon.
        • Place a new king in power.
  • Modern history
    • Wwi and WWII-France was invaded.
    • 1950’s and 1960’s many French colonies gained independence.
    • France is now a republic with an elected parliament and president.

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image taken from: http://www.biography.com/people/napoleon-9420291

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French President Francois Hollande

image taken from: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/09/06/322427/france-to-wait-for-un-report-on-syria/

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France

  • Language
    • Most speak French
  • Religion
    • Roman Catholic
  • Customs
    • French cooking some of the best in the world
    • French enjoy festivals
      • Bastille Day is on July 14
        • 1789 the French people destroyed a French prison, the Bastille.
  • Ideas and the Arts
    • Built cathedrals in the Gothic style
    • 1800’s center of the impressionism art movement.

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Storming the Bastille.

Image taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storming_of_the_Bastille

Present day Bastille Day.

Image taken from: http://photoblog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/07/14/12741335-bastille-day-celebrations-take-over-paris

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Unit Goal

Lesson Goal

Agenda

Students will be able to describe how Physical and environmental features of Europe and Russian affect human activity and settlement.

I can identify issues with changing environmental and physical features

Current Event Discussion

Finish France and Benelux Discussion

Eastern Europe Discussion

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France Today

  • Plays a leading role in the European union
  • About 75% of people live in cities.
    • Paris is the largest city-about 10 million people live there.
      • more than 42 states in the U.S.
      • Minnesota 5.4 million people.
  • Has a strong economy
  • Is European Union’s top agricultural producer
    • Wheat and grapes are major crops
  • Tourism

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Benelux Countries

  • Comes from the first letters of the countries that make up this region.
    • Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg.
  • 1648 the Netherlands gained its independence.
    • Netherlands ruled Belgium until 1830 and Luxembourg until 1867.
  • World War II occupied this region
  • After WWII they joined NATO and in the 1950’s joined the European union.
  • Each country now has a parliament and a ceremonial monarch.

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Benelux Countries

  • Netherlands
    • Some land is below sea level
    • People are Dutch and they speak the Dutch language.
    • Agriculture is important to the Dutch
  • Belgium
    • More than 95% of people live in cities.
    • Brussels is the capital
      • Serves as center for European Union and NaTO
    • North and coast areas are called Flanders
      • Speak Flemish
    • Southern interior are called Wallonia
      • People speak French and are called Walloons.
    • Known for cheeses, chocolate, cocoa and lace.

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Benelux Countries

  • Luxembourg
    • Forested and hilly
    • Has one of the world’s highest standards living
    • Most citizens are roman catholic
    • People speak French or German
    • Earns much of its’ income from services
    • Produces steel and chemicals.

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Netherlands Tulip Fields.

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Image taken from: http://blog.akamundo.com/2131/netherlands-technicolor-tulip-fields-all-that-is-interesting/

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Netherlands Tulip Fields.

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Image taken from: http://blog.akamundo.com/2131/netherlands-technicolor-tulip-fields-all-that-is-interesting/

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Eastern Europe

Physical Geography

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Physical Features-Landforms

  • North contains Northern European Plain
  • South of Plain is Carpathians.
    • Low mountains.
    • Are an extension of the Alps.
  • South of Carpathians is Great Hungarian Plain
    • Fertile plain that contains much of Hungary.
  • South of Hungarian Plain are two ranges that cover the Balkan Peninsula.

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Physical Features-Water Features

  • Southwest-between Italy and Greece
    • Adriatic Sea
  • East
    • Black Sea
  • North-between Poland and Scandinavia
    • Baltic Sea
  • Danube River
    • Starts in Germany and flows across Great Hungarian Plain.
    • Longest river in Eastern Europe.

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Climate and Vegetation

  • Baltic Coast
    • Shores of Baltic Sea are coldest in Eastern Europe
    • Receives less rain than other areas
    • Fog is common
      • Allows forests to grow there.
  • Interior Plains
    • More mild climate than north
    • Winters very cold-summers more pleasant & mild
    • Forests cover much of north.
      • Many were damaged by Chernobyl accident.
    • Plains and grasslands in the south.

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Climate and Vegetation

  • Balkan Coast
    • Along Adriatic Sea-Mediterranean climate
    • Not many forests
    • Land covered by shrubs.

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Unit Goal

Lesson Goal

Agenda

Students will be able to describe how Physical and environmental features of Europe and Russian affect human activity and settlement.

I can identify issues with changing environmental and physical features

Mr. Voce

Turn in Map Assignment

Discuss Solutions for Environmental Issues

Baltic States Discussion

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Poland and the Baltic Republics

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The World Wars

  • Countries
    • Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
  • During WWI
    • Most of the fighting took place in Poland
    • Millions of soldiers and civilians died.
  • During WWII
    • While Germany invaded Poland from west-Soviet Union invaded from the east.
    • Millions of people were killed.
    • Lots of property was destroyed.

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Soviet Domination

  • Soviet dominated Eastern Europe after WWII
  • Poland remained free
    • Russia forced them to have a Communist govt.
  • In 1989-
    • Poland rejected Communism and elected new leaders.
    • Other countries broke away in 1991.

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Culture

  • Languages
    • Polish is similar to languages farther south
    • Estonian is similar to Finnish
    • Latvian and Lithuanian are similar.
  • Religion
    • Poland and Lithuania are mostly Catholic
    • Latvia and Estonia are mostly Lutheran.
  • Similarities
    • Food is similar
      • Potatoes, sausage, and seafood are all very popular
      • Pottery, painting, and embroidery are common crafts
      • Music festivals are very popular..

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The Region Today

  • Economies
    • Because of years of Soviet rule they do not have suitable infrastructure.
      • Roads, airports, and factories to support economy.
    • Area working to rebuild economies and make them stronger.
      • Replacing old Soviet factories with new technology.
      • Seeking new sources of income
        • Tourism
          • Warsaw and Krakow for history.

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Inland Eastern Europe

The countries of: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova.

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Czech Republic and Slovakia

  • Area once home to many small kingdoms.
  • After WWI land was taken away from Austria-Hungary empire
    • Made Czechoslovakia.
    • Split in 1993 into Czech Republic and Slovakia
  • Long ties with Western Europe
    • Western influences are common.
    • Roman Catholic common religion.

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Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova

  • Slavs settled first and then conquered by the Vikings.
  • 1700s the area became part of Russia
  • Became independent nations with the breakup of the Soviet Union.
  • Russian influence can be seen in the culture
    • Orthodox Christians
    • Ukrainian and Belarusian languages are written using the Russian alphabet.

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Orthodox church in Kiev, Ukraine.

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Ukrainian Eggs.

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Eastern Europe Today-Government

  • The Soviet Era
    • All had communist governments
      • Few freedoms
      • Poor economy
  • After the collapse of the Soviet Era
    • Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Moldova are republics.
      • They elect their leaders.
    • Belarus is a dictatorship
    • Many countries members of Commonwealth of Independent States.
      • Meet to discuss trade and immigration.
    • Czech Rep., Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria are members of the European Union.

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Eastern Europe Today-Economy & Cities

  • Economic development has been a challenge.
  • Czech Rep., Slovakia, Hungary, and Ukraine are industrial centers.
  • Life is centered around cities.
  • Prague, Kiev, and Budapest are the especially important.
    • Most prosperous in the region.
    • House universities
    • Popular tourist destinations

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Kiev, Ukraine.

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Budapest, Hungary