Culture of Europe

Regions of Europe Culture Graphic Organizer   North Europe Northwestern Europe Southern Europe History Society and Culture Population Patterns

Ch. 10:2-3 Northern Europe

History and Government Ch. 10 - Human Geography of Northern Europe History and Government Northern Europe, also referred to as the Nordic countries, has been shaped by years of invasions, migrations, and trade. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland have similar structures of societies and cultural traits. Industrialization brought an influx of new social classes, which changed the political culture. Following World War II, the Nordic countries developed democracies.

Ch. 10 - Human Geography of Northern Europe Population Patterns Migration and ethnicity have influenced where people have settled. The Sami are descendants of nomadic peoples who lived in Scandinavia for thousands of years. The Nordic countries have lower population densities than most other countries in Europe. Populations concentrate in areas near the sea and in metropolitan areas.

Why do you think population density is less than rest of Europe Why do you think population density is less than rest of Europe? Why would most of the population live next to the sea or ocean?

Society and Culture Today Ch. 10 - Human Geography of Northern Europe Society and Culture Today While Protestant religions dominate in every Nordic country, society is very secular. Northern Europe is filled with the world’s most educated population, with literacy rates at nearly 100 percent throughout the region. The governments function as welfare states, providing social services but levying large taxes. Women are achieving equal status in Nordic society, nearing the same status as men in the workplace.

NORTHWEST EUROPE

Society and Culture Today Ch. 11:2 - Human Geography of Northwestern Europe Society and Culture Today Many people speak more than one language in most of the countries located in Northwestern Europe. Christianity is the primary religion in the region, although many do not actively practice their faith. Women in this region achieved suffrage, or the right to vote, before women in the United States and many other areas of the world. Many influential artistic movements began here, such as Romanticism, Realism, and Impressionism.

History and Government Ch. 11:2 -cHuman Geography of Northwestern Europe History and Government Northwestern Europe was profoundly influenced by Christianity and the Roman Empire. The Crusades opened up trade routes to the eastern Mediterranean. During the Enlightenment, people began to embrace reason and to question tradition. The European Union was formed in the 1990s as an alliance that works toward European economic and political unity.

How do you believe women are viewed in society in Northwestern Europe?

Ch. 11:2 - Human Geography of Northwestern Europe Population Patterns Internal and external migration have shaped this area of Europe. After World War II, guest workers, or foreign laborers working temporarily in industrialized countries, helped encourage economic growth in the postwar period. Low birthrates have resulted in decreasing populations in some countries. Cities along navigable rivers like the Seine and Thames are key trading centers.

Why would a low birth rate be a problem in society?

History and Government Ch. 12:2 - Human Geography of Southern Europe History and Government The civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome laid the foundation for Western civilization. The Renaissance marked a period of cultural revival and enlightenment. Spain and Portugal became leaders in the Age of Exploration, establishing new empires. Nationalism and unification in the 1800s and 1900s brought political stability to the area. Recent economic challenges include high unemployment rates and credit problems.

GREEK EMPIRE

Ancient Athens

The Acropolis, Athens, Greece

ROMAN EMPIRE

Ancient Rome

Roman Forum

Italian Renaissance Painting

1400’s – 1700’s A.D.

Ch. 12:2 - Human Geography of Southern Europe Population Patterns Southern Europe is one of the most populated regions of the world. As the populations of Greece, Italy, and Spain age and the birthrates fall, care for the elderly is straining the social welfare systems. Demand for labor is being met by migrants within the European Union. Economic migration throughout the EU has resulted in a growing diversity of cultures.

Why is immigration important to Europe?

Society & Culture Today Ch. 12:2 - Human Geography of Southern Europe Society & Culture Today Education in Southern Europe is mandatory for all children. The cultures of Greece, Spain, and Italy are centered on the family and are influenced by the Roman Catholic religion. Women have achieved a high level of gender equality in higher education and business, though their success in politics has been slower to develop. The Greeks and Romans developed many important elements of art and architecture.