Human Geography People and Their Environment Northern Europe Northwestern Europe Southern Europe

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 WWII, the Nordic countries developed democracies.

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.

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.

Economic Activities All of the Nordic countries are small, open economies that rely on foreign trade. Nordic countries rapidly evolved from agrarian- based economies into modern, industrialized countries. Commercial fishing, mining, forestry, and energy are the main resources in the area. The Nordic model emphasizes labor force participation and promotes gender equality and fiscal expansion.

Managing Resources Natural factors and human activity are causing environmental problems. The Baltic Sea has a unique ecology because of its isolation from the open ocean. Increased shipping has brought a number of invasive species, non-native organisms that threaten local habitats. Industrialization has damaged many wetlands.

Human Impact Climate change, acid rain, and pollution are affecting Northern Europe. Scandinavian scientists were among the first to understand the environmental effects of acid rain. The high latitudes and steep mountain valleys make climate change more noticeable in Northern Europe.

Addressing the Issues Governments and civic groups are taking steps to address environmental problems. Environmental management focuses on sustainability and long-term planning. Conservation has been an important issue for the Nordic countries for over 100 years. The region supports ecotourism, a way to encourage tourism that limits damage to the unique lands of Northern Europe.

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. 

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.

Society and Culture 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.

Economic Activities Northwestern Europe is the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Over 70 % of workers are employed in service industries. Agribusiness, or large-scale corporate farming, arose to address the increasing demand for food as the number of farmers shrank. The EU has achieved high volumes of trade by eliminating tariffs and trade barriers among member nations.

Managing Resources As a highly developed and industrialized economy, Northwestern Europe consumes large amounts of natural resources and generates large amounts of waste products. Countries that border the Mediterranean Sea sometimes use it for waste disposal. Overfishing has been a problem in the subregion. Fragmentation of the landscape is causing some animal populations to become isolated.

Human Impact Manufacturing and heavy auto use has increased air pollution. Polluted clouds drift from the industrial belt and cause acid deposition, wet or dry acid pollution that falls to the ground. This acid pollution withers forests, reduces oxygen for fish in rivers and lakes, and even damages buildings. 

Addressing the Issue Countries in the EU can face legal action if they do not respect environmental protection laws. Many factories now burn natural gas instead of coal, or are powered by alternative energy sources. All the countries in Northwestern Europe have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, part of a treaty on climate change. Many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are working to protect ecosystems.

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.

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.

Society and Culture 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.

Economic Activities The global recession of 2008 hit Southern Europe hard. Spain and Italy continue to face challenges. As one of the least developed in the area, Greece’s economy remains weak as it grapples with high public spending, low productivity, and  tax evasion. The EU is facing its first test of economic stability with Southern Europe suffering from record national debt and high unemployment. 

Managing Resources Large algae blooms are damaging the delicate marine biomes of the Adriatic Sea. Changes in the global climate has made weather more unpredictable. Effects of climate change include increased erosion, higher risk of fires, increased deforestation, and the loss of glaciers at high altitudes.

Human Impact The decline of fish stocks has adversely affected the overall health of the marine biome. Manufacturing and tourism cause pollution that is a major threat to surrounding seas and agricultural resources. Pollutants and other human impacts have led to pollution hot spots, the extreme damage or even death of the local ecosystem. 

Addressing the Issues The EU created the European Environmental Agency to effectively deal with environmental issues. Many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), such as Earthwatch, are working on solutions to environmental problems. Certification is a way to combat deforestation and to ensure that forest resources are being used responsibly.