Western Europe France, Monaco, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria.

Western EuropeWestern Europe

France, Monaco, Luxembourg, France, Monaco, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, Belgium, Germany,

Netherlands, Switzerland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, AustriaLiechtenstein, Austria

Major Landforms: Alps, Rhine River, Major Landforms: Alps, Rhine River, Black Forest, English Channel.Black Forest, English Channel.

CultureCulture

France and Germany are the dominate countries France and Germany are the dominate countries in Western Europe. in Western Europe.

Their access to resources, ports, and trade routes Their access to resources, ports, and trade routes helped them build productive economies.helped them build productive economies.

Important Historical EventsImportant Historical Events Around 50 B.C. the Roman Empire had Around 50 B.C. the Roman Empire had

conquered the Celtic tribes in what is now conquered the Celtic tribes in what is now France. French is on the Romance France. French is on the Romance languages that evolved from Latin but languages that evolved from Latin but Rome never fully conquered the Germanic Rome never fully conquered the Germanic tribes that migrated into the lands east of tribes that migrated into the lands east of France. In the late 700s a Germanic king, France. In the late 700s a Germanic king, Charlemagne, conquered most of the Charlemagne, conquered most of the region; however his empire began to fall region; however his empire began to fall apart soon after his death. In result apart soon after his death. In result Western Europe remained a region of Western Europe remained a region of small competing kingdoms. small competing kingdoms.

ReformationReformation During the Renaissance scholars questioned During the Renaissance scholars questioned

authority. Some people even began to question authority. Some people even began to question the Catholic Church. In 1517 Martin Luther the Catholic Church. In 1517 Martin Luther published 95 statements that criticized church published 95 statements that criticized church practices that he believed were wrong. That practices that he believed were wrong. That began the Reformation, a period when many began the Reformation, a period when many Christians broke away from the Catholic Church Christians broke away from the Catholic Church and started Protestant churches. Mutual hostility and started Protestant churches. Mutual hostility led Catholics and Protestants to fight religious led Catholics and Protestants to fight religious wars that tore Europe apart. wars that tore Europe apart.

Religion TodayReligion Today

France is mainly CatholicFrance is mainly Catholic The Netherlands, Switzerland, and The Netherlands, Switzerland, and

Germany contain both Protestant and Germany contain both Protestant and CatholicCatholic

In Germany Protestants mainly live in In Germany Protestants mainly live in the North and Catholics in the Souththe North and Catholics in the South

The Rise of Nation-StatesThe Rise of Nation-States The period btwn the fall of Rome and the Renaissance was The period btwn the fall of Rome and the Renaissance was

called the Middle Ages. During this time Europeans called the Middle Ages. During this time Europeans gradually developed the nation-state, an independent gradually developed the nation-state, an independent nation of people with a common culture.nation of people with a common culture.

Nationalism:Nationalism:– During the centuries after Rome fell, feudalism gradually During the centuries after Rome fell, feudalism gradually

developed in Europe. This was a political system in developed in Europe. This was a political system in which powerful lords owned most of the land. They gave which powerful lords owned most of the land. They gave some land to nobles in exchange of military services by some land to nobles in exchange of military services by those nobles. Over time strong kings gained power over those nobles. Over time strong kings gained power over feudal lords, and nationalism evolved. feudal lords, and nationalism evolved.

– Nationalism is the belief that people should be loyal to Nationalism is the belief that people should be loyal to their nation, the people whom they share land, culture, their nation, the people whom they share land, culture, and historyand history

Nationalism often caused the want Nationalism often caused the want of their own countries, so this led to of their own countries, so this led to the rise of the modern nation-state. the rise of the modern nation-state. (what we see today)(what we see today)

France was one of the first nation-France was one of the first nation-state. By the late 1600s, French state. By the late 1600s, French kings held absolute power, which kings held absolute power, which they often used to benefit they often used to benefit themselves, not the people. In 1789, themselves, not the people. In 1789, the people began a rebellion the people began a rebellion (French Revolution). They deposed (French Revolution). They deposed the king and formed a republic. But the king and formed a republic. But after a few years an army officer after a few years an army officer named Napoleon Bonaparte seized named Napoleon Bonaparte seized power. In 1804 he made himself power. In 1804 he made himself emperor. He tried to conquer all of emperor. He tried to conquer all of Europe but was defeated.Europe but was defeated.– Result was the creation of several Result was the creation of several

rivals in Europe.rivals in Europe.

Germany did not unify as a Germany did not unify as a nation until 1871, by a nation until 1871, by a man named Otto von man named Otto von Bismarck. It was one of Bismarck. It was one of the many European the many European countries affected by a countries affected by a new wave of nationalism in new wave of nationalism in the 1800s. Western the 1800s. Western Europe also experienced Europe also experienced industrial growth in the industrial growth in the 1800s. Industrialism 1800s. Industrialism caused European nations caused European nations to set up colonies in other to set up colonies in other lands in order to gain raw lands in order to gain raw materials and markets. materials and markets. Many European nations Many European nations saw each other as rivals in saw each other as rivals in the race to gain colonies.the race to gain colonies.

Modern ConflictModern Conflict The rivalry btwn these two The rivalry btwn these two

nations for colonization was nations for colonization was one of the main cause of WWI.one of the main cause of WWI.

There were the allied powers There were the allied powers and central powers. Allied and central powers. Allied powers win. Germany has powers win. Germany has huge debt to pay. Germans huge debt to pay. Germans have resentment. Result is have resentment. Result is the rise of Hitler. Hitler and the rise of Hitler. Hitler and the Nazis try to conquer the Nazis try to conquer Europe and they also carried Europe and they also carried out the Holocaust. After the out the Holocaust. After the war Germany was split into war Germany was split into two sections, West and East two sections, West and East Germany. Germany.

In 1990, the two Germany’s In 1990, the two Germany’s reunited under a democratic reunited under a democratic governmentgovernment

Current Governments:Current Governments:

Monaco- constitutional monarchyMonaco- constitutional monarchy Germany- federal parliamentary republic Germany- federal parliamentary republic

(president and a chancellor)(president and a chancellor) France- republicFrance- republic Switzerland- federal stateSwitzerland- federal state Belgium- constitutional monarchyBelgium- constitutional monarchy Netherlands- constitutional monarchyNetherlands- constitutional monarchy Luxembourg- constitutional monarchy (Grand Luxembourg- constitutional monarchy (Grand

Duchy) Duchy) Liechtenstein- monarch and democracyLiechtenstein- monarch and democracy Austria- republicAustria- republic