Europe isn’t even its own continent. It’s the western part of the Eurasian continent.

Some scholars believe the word Europe is related to an Indo-European word, Ereb, which means “the western lands,” and similarly, Asia means “the eastern land.”

European soil was divided into “Imperium Romanum” and “Germania.”

Europe was designated as Christendom to distinguish it from the Moslems and Eastern Greek Orthodox Christians.

Religious differences destroyed the unity of Christendom, encouraging the development of unique independent states.

Sovereignty of individual states was recognized. The concept of nationality had trumped the idealized unity of the Papacy.

Through the efforts of Peter the Great, by the 18 th century Russia was now included in Europe.

Since the Ural Mtns. of Russia are the first natural barriers to the east, it made sense to make Europe’s eastern boundary there.

This is why sometimes Eastern Europe is called Central Europe—these countries are sandwiched in between Russia in the east and western Europe.

Is Russia a part of Europe today? What do you think?

World’s largest island, Greenland, is also considered a part of Europe, not North America, because it is a part of Denmark.

 27 states presently make up the European Union. However, not all countries belong and Turkey, a Moslem nation, since 2005 has been a candidate for full membership.

How would you answer the question: What is Modern Europe?

 What is Europe? An odd shaped peninsula. A continent gouged with seas, inlands, bays, and gulfs. Contains a series of large and small islands. Narrow in the east near the Atlantic and widens as you travel west into the Eurasian landmass. A diverse combination of navigable rivers, mountain ranges, and plateaus in a very small area.

Europe is well defined by water to the north, west, and south.

B o d i e s of W a t e r B o d i e s of W a t e r Mediterranean Sea North Sea Atlantic Ocean Baltic Sea Black Sea Aegean Sea Adriatic Sea Tyrrhenian Sea Bay of Biscay Strait of Gibraltar Dardanelles Strait Arctic Ocean English Channel Caspian Sea

The Mediterranean Sea: Mare Nostrum e 2,400 miles long & 1,000 miles wide e “Crossroads of 3 Continents” Caesarea on the Israeli coast Strait of Gibraltar & the “Pillars of Hercules”

RiversRiversRiversRivers RiversRiversRiversRivers Danube R. Seine R. Rhine R. Loire R. Po R. Tiber R. Tagus R. Thames R. Elbe R. Oder R. Vistula R. Dnieper R. Volga R. Don R. Ebro R.

The Danube River 1770 miles

The Volga River e The longest river in Europe --> 2,300 miles.

Why are most of the capitals of Europe on major rivers?? They are Europe’s lifeline! Why are most of the capitals of Europe on major rivers?? They are Europe’s lifeline!

Capitals on the Rivers (1) Paris, right bank of the Seine London on the Thames Prague on the Vltava Budapest on the Danube

Capitals on the Rivers (2) Berlin on the Spree Moscow on the Moscow River Rome on the Tiber Vienna on the Danube

ElevationElevation Alps Carpathians Caucasus Urals Pyrennes Apennines

The Alps e Cover most of Switzerland, Austria, and parts of Italy and France.

Mt. Blanc in the Alps e Highest mountain in the Alps: 15,771 feet

The Caucasus Mountains e The origin of the word Caucasian.

Transylvania in the Carpathian Mountains e Home of Vlad Tepeš, the Drakul (“Count Dracula”)

Ural Mountains: “The Great Divide” e Divides the European and Asian sections of Russia miles

PlainsPlainsPlainsPlains PlainsPlainsPlainsPlains Northern European Plain Steppes Siberian Lowlands

The eastern boundary does not have any physical barrier since the North European lowland is simply renamed the Russian Plain across the Russian border.

The BENELUX Countries * Belgium * Netherlands * Luxembourg * Belgium * Netherlands * Luxembourg

Holland’s Dikes

The most important feature of European physical geography is its mild climate that is a temperate mid latitude climate.

Europe’s Latitude v. US

ClimateClimate

Average Annual Precipitation

LandLandUseUseLandLandUseUse LandLandUseUseLandLandUseUse

Agricultural Activity

RESOURCESRESOURCESRESOURCESRESOURCES RESOURCESRESOURCESRESOURCESRESOURCES

Major Industrial Resources

 With a population of 582 million, Europe comprises about 9% of the world's population. Its land area of 2,193.6 square miles constitutes less than 5% of the world's land area. This gives Europe a population density of people per square mile. This is the third largest population density after south Asia, east Asia, and southeast Asia.

World Population by Continents Asia3,737,000,000 Africa823,000,000 Europe729,000,000 North America 486,000,000 South America 351,000,000 Oceania (incl. Australia) Oceania (incl. Australia) 31,000,000 Antarctica no permanent population

Continents by Size (sq. km.) Asia44,579,000Africa30,065,000 North America 24,256,000 South America 17,819,000 Antarctica13,209,000 Europe Europe9,938,000 Oceania (incl. Australia) Oceania (incl. Australia) 7,687,000

European Population Density

Oil Export Routes in the Caucasus Area

1. The diverse climate and geography allow it to cultivate almost every important agricultural product (cereal grains, livestock, POTATOS, grapes for wine) & its natural resources are key to manufacturing and industrial activities.  Accounts for Europe's economic vitality and groundwork for exploration, imperialism, Commercial Revolution, and industrialization. 2 key observations:

2. The European landmass has proved incredibly difficult for one political entity to control! Frequent warfare and shifts in the balance of power define European political and diplomatic history. The conflict of maintaining identities of individual nations and the common heritage of “Europe” extends well into today. Observation #2:

Sources: The Center for Learning. Advanced Placement European History I: Concept Europe. Dr. Paul Roebuck. Community College of Denver. Susan Pojer, The Geography and Peoples of Europe PPT.