GEOGRAPHY OF WESTERN EUROPE

GEOGRAPHY OF WESTERN EUROPE

LEARNING TARGET

• WHAT? WE WILL ANALYZE AND DESCRIBE THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF WESTERN EUROPE.

• HOW? WE WILL COMPLETE THIS LESSON SHEET.

• WHY? WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS REGION WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE U.S.

MAP OF WESTERN EUROPE

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IDENTIFY EACH OF THE COUNTRIES

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Multiple Select

UNITED KINGDOM

• 3

• 4

• 5

• 6

Multiple Select

FRANCE

• 5

• 6

• 7

• 8

VOCABULARY

BENELUX COUNTRIES OR LOW COUNTRIES

Reformation a period when many Christians broke away from the Catholic Church and started Protestant churches

feudalism a political system in which powerful lords owned most of the land

nationalism the belief that people should be loyal to their nation

Holocaust the Nazi program of mass murder of European Jews during World War II  

Extreme Nationalism

Berlin Wall a wall erected by East Germany in 1961 to divide the capital of Berlin in two; dismantled in 1989 

after World War II during the COLD WAR

Multiple Select

CHECK ALL THE BOXES THAT WERE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS OR IDEAS IN EUROPEAN HISTORY.

• NATIONALISM

• THE COLD WAR

• THE BERLIN WALL

• THE HOLOCAUST

• THE REFORMATION

FRANCE AND GERMANY

France and Germany are dominant countries in Western Europe. They have influenced Austria, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Switzerland and the Benelux countries. French is a Romance language. It evolved from the language of Rome. Rome never fully conquered the Germanic tribes in the lands east of France. Germanic languages are still spoken there. 

Multiple Choice

WHAT LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN IN BELGIUM?

• FRENCH AND DUTCH

• FRENCH AND GERMAN

• GERMAN AND DUTCH

CHARLEMAGNE

In the late 700s, a Germanic king conquered most of the region. His name was Charlemagne. His empire fell apart after his death. Western Europe remained a region of small, competing kingdoms

Multiple Select

CLICK ON ALL THE LASTING EFFECTS OF CHARLEMAGNE'S RULE.

• THE CATHOLIC RELIGION BECAME DOMINANT IN EUROPE

• LEARNING WAS PRESERVED.

• EUROPE FELL INTO FEUDALISM AFTER HIS DEATH

THE REFORMATION

Religion also divides the region. In 1517, Martin Luther published 95 statements that criticized the Catholic Church. This began the Reformation. During the Reformation, many Christians left the Catholic Church and started Protestant churches. Today, France is mostly Catholic. Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland have both Protestants and Catholics. 

Poll

CLICK ON THE MOST IMPORTANT RESULT OF THE REFORMATION.

• THE POPE LOST CONTROL OF THE NORTHERN PARTS OF EUROPE.

• KINGS BECAME MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY SELECTED THE RELIGION

• LEARNING ADVANCED BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE BIBLE FOR THEMSELVES

• RELIGIOUS WARS

• INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS BECAME MORE IMPORTANT

FEUDALISM THEN NATIONALISM

After Rome fell, feudalism evolved. It was a system in which lords owned most of the land. They gave land to nobles who served in their armies. Over time, strong kings gained power over feudal lords, and nationalism evolved. Nationalism is the belief that people should be loyal to their nation, with whom they share land, culture, and history. 

Multiple Choice

The term feudalism is best defined as a

• Division of power between branches of government
• Holy war between Christians and Muslims
• Process in which goods are traded for other goods
• System in which land is exchanged for military service or loyalty

MODERN NATIONS

Nationalism caused modern nationstates to form. A nation-state is an independent nation of people with a common culture. France was one of the first nation-states. French kings abused their power, so in 1789, the people began the French Revolution. They deposed the king and started a republic. Later, Napoleon Bonaparte seized power. In 1804, he made himself emperor. He tried to conquer Europe but was defeated.

Multiple Choice

Groups of people who are similar (ex.- language, customs and institutions) that want to be an independent nation state or country.

• Liberalism

• Conservatism

• Socialism

• Nationalism

IMPERIALISM

In the 1800s, a new wave of nationalism swept Western Europe. Industrial growth also took place. Europeans wanted raw materials and markets. To get them, European nations set up colonies in other lands. 

WORLD WARS

Nationalism & imperialism helped start World War I. The Allied Powers, including France, fought the Central Powers, including Germany. The Allies won and treated Germany harshly. German anger helped cause World War II. Germany, led by Hitler, tried to conquer Europe. The Nazis carried out the Holocaust, a program of mass murder of 2/3s of European Jews and the murder of other minorities. In 1945, the Allies defeated Germany. 

Open Ended

HOW CAN NATIONALISM BE BOTH A POSITIVE GOOD AND A POSSIBLE EVIL?

THE COLD WAR AND THE END OF COMMUNISM

After the war, Germany was split in two nations. East Germany was Communist. West Germany was non-Communist. The Berlin Wall cut the capital city of Berlin in two. In 1989, anti-Communist reforms swept Europe. East Germany opened the Berlin Wall. In 1990, the two Germanys united under a democratic government. 

ECONOMICS IN WESTERN EUROPE

Western Europe has long been rich in agriculture. In the 1800s, it was one of the first regions to develop industry. France, Germany, and the Netherlands are still three of Europe’s top manufacturing nations. 

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

1. THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION (1700-1900) WAS A PERIOD WHEN FACTORIES AND MASS PRODUCTION REPLACED HOME INDUSTRY AS THE METHOD OF MAKING PRODUCTS. THIS HAS MADE EUROPE RICH.
2. WHY DID IT START IN EUROPE?
A. LARGE DEPOSITS OF COAL AND IRON
B. LARGE POPULATIONS FOR LABOR
C. THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM OF CAPITALISM REPLACED FEUDALISM.
3. RESULTS
A. URBANIZATION- GROWTH OF CITIES
B. GROWING MIDDLE CLASSES AND WEALTH
C. COMPETITION FOR WEALTH, COLONIES AND RESOURCES.

LEADER IN TECH

High-tech and service industries are important. The Netherlands makes electronics. Germany produces electronics and scientific instruments. France has high-speed trains and a space program. France also relies heavily on nuclear energy. Switzerland specializes in banking. 

Poll

DO YOU THINK NUCLEAR ENERGY SHOULD BE USED INSTEAD OF FOSSIL FUELS?

• YES. FOSSIL FUELS ARE ENDANGERING THE ENVIRONMENT.

• NO. NUCLEAR POWER IS FAR TOO DANGEROUS.

• NO. WE MUST FIND AN ALTERNATIVE TO BOTH FORMS OF ENERGY.

TOURISM

Tourism is also a major part of the economy. The region also exports luxury goods to the world. These include German cars, French fashions, and Swiss watches. 

PROBLEMS IN THIS RICH AREA.

Germany’s reunification caused economic problems. West Germany has a higher standard of living. East Germany’s factories are outdated, and many shut down. Germany is trying to foster growth in the East. In 2005, however, the number of jobless workers remained twice as high in the East as in the West. 

MASS IMMIGRATION TO EUROPE

TERRORISM

BREXIT

Brexit refers to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community at the end of 31 January 2020

Poll

WHICH ONE OF EUROPE'S PROBLEMS DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TO SOLVE?

• BREXIT AND OTHER EU PROBLEMS

• IMMIGRATION

• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN WESTERN EUROPE

ART AND CULTURE

Western Europe has a strong artistic legacy. Germany and Austria are famous for music. Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart were composers from those countries. France and the Netherlands have had many important painters. Vermeer and Rembrandt were famous Dutch artists. Major French painters include Monet, Cézanne, and Gauguin.