II. Cultures & Lifestyles A. A Rich Ethnic Mix 1. Today Europe is home to many ethnic groups. a) An ethnic group is a group of people with shared ancestry, language and customs. 2. Many Europeans identify strongly with their particular country or ethnic group. a) Having a common heritage or culture creates bonds among people. b) These bonds can lead to conflict. c) In the 1990s, Yugoslavia split into 7 different countries.

II. Cultures & Lifestyles 3. Europeans have a growing sense of unity. a) They realize since their countries are linked geographically, cooperation can bring peace and prosperity. b) Many European nations are welfare states in which the government is the primary support for the needy, sick, and retired. B. Population Changes 1. Europe’s population is still undergoing change. a) Since WWII, many people from Asia, Africa, and Latin America have settled in Europe. b) Tensions have risen because of the competition for jobs.

II. Cultures & Lifestyles 2. European nations have dealt with immigrants in various ways. 3. Europe’s overall population is decreasing. a) Europe has a low fertility rate, which is the average number of children born to each woman. b) 10% fewer people by 2050. c) Less workforce. d) People are getting older and younger workers will face higher taxes to support them. C. Cities 1. Beginning in the late 1700s, the Industrial Revolution changed Europe into an urban, industrial society.

II. Cultures & Lifestyles a) Rural -> Urban b) The concentration of people in cities is known as urbanization. 2. Today, 3 out of every 4 people in Europe live in cities. a) Paris and London rank among the largest cities. 3. Many European cities blend the old with the new. a) Europe has embraced public transportation. D. Transportation 1. Transportation systems are government owned. a) Rail system is vast.

II. Cultures & Lifestyles b) 31 mile “Chunnel” between England and France. c) High speed rail lines. 2. Highways also offer high speed long distance travel. a) Germany’s autobahn has no speed limit. 3. Canals and rivers are used to transport goods. a) The Main-Danube canal links the North Sea to the Black Sea. 4. Airports link European cities. E. Education & Income 1. Europeans take schooling seriously. a) One of the highest literacy rates in the world and more than ¾ graduate high school.

II. Cultures & Lifestyles 2. Europeans earn more money than people in other parts of the world. a) Incomes are higher in northern and western Europe. 3. Income can vary within countries as well. F. Leisure 1. Many Europeans enjoy leisure time. a) Many receive four weeks of paid vacation a year. G. Religion 1. For centuries, Christianity was a major influence in European life. a) Since the 1700s, European attitudes have become more secular, or nonreligious. b) A lot of Europeans do not belong to a particular religion.

II. Cultures & Lifestyles 2. Most of European’s Christians are Roman Catholic. a) Southern part of western Europe and some Eastern European countries. 3. Islam and Judaism have also influenced European culture. a) Despite persecution, Judaism has made significant contributions. b) Followers of Islam, or Muslims, are pouring into Europe by the 1,000s. 4. Europeans of different religions, generally, live together in peace. a) Catholics vs. Protestants in Northern Ireland. b) Muslims, Roman Catholics, and Eastern Orthodox on the Balkan Peninsula.

II. Cultures & Lifestyles H. Arts 1. The arts have flourished in Europe for centuries. a) Greek and Roman architecture. b) Gothic architecture became prominent in the Middle Ages, for example, cathedrals with pointed arches and huge stained glass windows. 2. Religion also inspired Europeans, art, music, and literature. a) From ancient times to the Middle Ages, artists focused on holy or heroic subjects. b) Composers wrote for religious services.

II. Cultures & Lifestyles c) In eastern Europe, Christian art consisted of icons, or symbolic Christian images painted on wood. 3. During the 1500s and 1600s, Renaissance artists created art that portrayed the everyday world. a) da Vince, Michelangelo, Shakespeare, de Cervantes. 4. In the 1600s and 1700s, new types of music such as opera and symphony were developed. a) 1800s spawned Romanticism which aimed to stir strong emotions. b) Later in the 1800s began the Impressionist movement where artists created impressions of the natural world.

II. Cultures & Lifestyles 5. In the 1900s, abstract painting emerged which expressed feelings and ideas. a) Architects started to use glass and concrete. b) Rock and roll and hip hop started to catch on.