GEO 121: World Regional Geography Learning Unit 2: Handout Page 1 of 16 European Sub-regions Geographers divide Europe into four different sub-regions. These regions are separated from one another based on a combination of physical, political and cultural characteristics. The sub-regions are Western Europe, Northern Europe, Mediterranean Europe and East Central Europe. Western Europe is the most developed and economically advanced region, including the 3 largest current national economies of Europe – Germany, France and Great Britain. Northern Europe is the home to the Scandinavian peoples and the Finns, whose culture has been heavily influenced by the neighboring Swedes. Mediterranean Europe is home to some of the older centers of European civilization that originated with the Greeks and Romans, as well as the influential Portuguese and Spanish cultures. Finally, East Central Europe consists of countries that were for much of the twentieth century dominated by communist governments. Some of these countries have a proud history of what were at times powerful kingdoms, while other states are new creations that have not existed as independent political entities until the modern era. The sub-region of Western Europe includes Great Britain, Ireland, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria. The physical geography of this region varies greatly, from the warm Mediterranean coastline of France to the cold highlands of Scotland. Some countries, such as the island nation of Great Britain and the mainland country of France have long coastlines, while others such as Austria and Switzerland are landlocked. The climate of this
16
Embed
European Sub-regionsGEO 121: World Regional Geography Learning Unit 2: Handout Page 1 of 16 European Sub-regions Geographers divide Europe into four different sub-regions. These regions
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
GEO 121: World Regional Geography Learning Unit 2: Handout
Page 1 of 16
European Sub-regions
Geographers divide Europe into
four different sub-regions. These
regions are separated from one
another based on a combination
of physical, political and cultural
characteristics. The sub-regions
are Western Europe, Northern
Europe, Mediterranean Europe
and East Central Europe. Western
Europe is the most developed
and economically advanced
region, including the 3 largest
current national economies of
Europe – Germany, France and
Great Britain. Northern Europe is
the home to the Scandinavian
peoples and the Finns, whose
culture has been heavily
influenced by the neighboring Swedes. Mediterranean Europe is home to some of the older centers of
European civilization that originated with the Greeks and Romans, as well as the influential Portuguese
and Spanish cultures. Finally, East Central Europe consists of countries that were for much of the
twentieth century dominated by communist governments. Some of these countries have a proud history
of what were at times powerful kingdoms, while other states are new creations that have not existed as
independent political entities until the modern era.
The sub-region of Western Europe
includes Great Britain, Ireland,
France, Belgium, Netherlands,
Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland,
Liechtenstein and Austria. The
physical geography of this region
varies greatly, from the warm
Mediterranean coastline of France to
the cold highlands of Scotland. Some
countries, such as the island nation
of Great Britain and the mainland
country of France have long
coastlines, while others such as
Austria and Switzerland are
landlocked. The climate of this
GEO 121: World Regional Geography Learning Unit 2: Handout
Page 2 of 16
region is heavily influenced by the North Atlantic Drift, a continuation of the warm waters of the Gulf
Stream which helps some areas of Western Europe to maintain a Middle Latitude West Coast Climate.
The climate of northern and central Germany is also influenced by the warm ocean and sea currents, but
the eastern and southern interior of Germany experiences much more of a middle latitude continental
climate. The climate of the landlocked states such as Austria and Switzerland are much more continental
in nature, and are also influenced by the relatively high elevations that exist in these countries.
The destinies of
European peoples, like
people around the world,
have been shaped to
some extent by the
physical geography of
their surroundings.
Europe is one giant
peninsula sticking out
from the Eurasian
continent, with many
smaller peninsulas jutting
out from this large one.
Many European states
thus have extensive
coastlines, especially
island and peninsular
states, influencing the
orientation of the
people toward economic
activity on the water. Fishing,
trade and commerce are an important element of almost every major European state. Some countries
have also benefited from having a significant natural resource base upon which development could
occur. For instance, the Industrial Revolution began in England at least in part because the English were
dependent upon coal as a source of energy.
The North Atlantic Drift (Gulfstream)
GEO 121: World Regional Geography Learning Unit 2: Handout
Page 3 of 16
Western Europe is a highly
developed and overall
prosperous region.
Germany and France, as a
result of their economic
power within the EU, and
historical importance of
these two large states,
heavily influence the
current direction of the
European Union. Germans
produce the largest economic
output in Europe, and the
German GDP is number four
in the world. France is not
that far behind Germany however at number five in the world and the United Kingdom of Great Britain
is number seven. Germany is one of the most heavily industrialized and technologically highly advanced
systems in the world. France also has a very advanced economic system, but a significant percentage of
the French economy is also based on the productive French agricultural sector. For much of the 19th
century Great Britain had the largest economy in the world, however the British industrial system has
aged and declined for most of the twentieth century.
Germany has many major
urban industrial zones as
well as several other very
large urban centers.
Hamburg in the north,
Frankfurt in west central
Germany, Stuttgart in the
southeast and Munich in
the southern province of
Bavaria are all important
highly urbanized industrial
regions. However, the
largest metropolitan area
and a very heavily
industrialized region is the
area of Rhine-Ruhr along
the Rhine River. This area
includes the large cities of
Dusseldorf, Cologne and Bonn.
A young "drawer" pulling a coal tub along a mine gallery. The
British passed laws in 1842 and 1844 that improved working
conditions in mines.
Hamburg
GEO 121: World Regional Geography Learning Unit 2: Handout
Page 4 of 16
Germany is known for its iron and steel production, chemical plants, auto industry, machinery and
textiles. The Stuttgart region is known as the high tech center of Germany, with the highest density of
scientific, academic and research organizations in the country. Germany is a federal republic with
sixteen different states (lander). These range from the heavily Catholic province in the south, Bavaria to
what was the center of the Prussian Kingdom, and the state of Brandenburg where the capital city of
Berlin is located, although the capital city is itself is now a separate state within Germany.
Following its defeat in WWII the territory of Germany was reduced by the victorious powers and
Germany was divided into four occupation zones. The eastern zone under the control of the Soviet
Union was established as the separate communist state of East Germany and the three other zones
were combined to form West Germany. East Germany was able to maintain a highly industrialized
communist state however the Western
German economy did even better, rapidly
become once again one of the largest
economic systems in the world. In 1989 the
communist systems of Eastern Europe began
to fall apart and that same year the Berlin
Wall was torn down. In 1990 the two
German states were re-unified into the
modern Republic of Germany. Initially there
was a flood of Ossies (Eat Germans looking
for work) that flooded into the west.
Although the transition from two separate
states to one was at times difficult Germany
has attained a new equilibrium and Germany
is once again a great economic power.
France was Germany’s historic rival and
is one of the oldest states of Europe.
France is slightly larger than Germany
in size but has a smaller population.
Unlike Germany, France does not have
a large number of major urban centers.
Besides the capital city of Paris which
has a metropolitan population over ten
million strong, the only other city in
France with more than a million people
is Lyon. With such a large urban
population and as the center of French
government, finance and economics
the city of Paris is a perfect example of
what geographers call a primate city. Vineyards near the French castle Carcassonne.
GEO 121: World Regional Geography Learning Unit 2: Handout
Page 5 of 16
Paris of course is also an important tourist attraction with sites such as the famous boulevard the
Champs-Elysees, the cathedral of Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower. Long a favorite
destination of newlyweds the city has been called the “city of love.”
Although not as highly industrialized as Germany the
French have developed a productive economic system.
This system includes a productive agricultural sector,
and of course the French are known for their wine
producing regions that are scattered across the
country. The French economy also benefits from many
resort beaches and tourist destinations along the
French Riviera. In addition to being the political and
financial center of the country the city of Paris is also a
leading industrial region of France. The northeastern
region of the country that shares borders with Belgium
and Germany is also a heavily industrialized zone.
France has developed an advanced aerospace industry,
a high speed rail system known as the TGV, and the French were telecommunications industry put in
place a well-integrated fiber optics system. Perhaps because of the relative lack of coal or other fossil
fuels the French invested heavily in nuclear power and now get more than seventy-five percent of their
power from this industry. Along with Germany the French have also played an active role in expanding
the size of the European Union.
Belgian Communities:
Flemish Community / Dutch language area
Flemish & French Community / bilingual language area