II. Europe’s Heartland A. France’s Land and Economy 1. France is the second-largest country in Europe. a) Slightly smaller than TX. b) Most of northern France is part of the Northern European Plain. c) In the south, high mountain ranges separate the country from Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. d) Seine and Loire Rivers 2. Most of France has a mild climate and rich soil that is ideal for farming.

II. Europe’s Heartland a) France’s agriculture is characterized by specialization, or focusing efforts on certain activities to make the best use of resources. b) grapes  wine c) cows  cheese 3. France relies on industry as well as agriculture. a) Cars, trucks, chemicals, textiles, processed foods, etc. b) France also has high-technology industries, which include making computers and other products that require sophisticated engineering. c) Tourism is an important industry especially in Paris, France’s capital. d) Other places of interest are Mediterranean beaches, skiing in the Alps, or visiting châteaux.

II. Europe’s Heartland B. France’s People and Culture 1. Most French trace their ancestry to the Celts, Romans, and Germanic peoples of early Europe. a) Majority speak French and are Roman Catholic. 2. Most of France’s 60.7 million people live in urban areas. a) Paris is one of Europe’s largest cities. b) The Seine River flows through Paris and the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral are located there. 3. The French culture has greatly influenced the Western world. a) Cooking, fashion, philosophers, writers, artists, composers, and film directors.

II. Europe’s Heartland C. The Benelux Countries 4. The French Revolution of the late 1700s also influenced the Western world. a) ↓ monarchies, and ↑ democracies. b) Today, France is a democratic republic with both a president and a prime minister. c) The president has a great deal of power; he can even dismiss the legislature and call for elections to replace it. C. The Benelux Countries 1. The small Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) have much in common. a) Low, flat, and densely populated. b) Most people live in cities, work in businesses or factories, and enjoy a high standard of living.

II. Europe’s Heartland c) All three are parliamentary democracies with monarchs as head of state. 2. Belgium has long been a trade and manufacturing center. a) Imports what it needs to manufacture vehicles, chemicals, textiles, etc. b) Antwerp is a busy port and the center of the world diamond industry. c) Brussels is the capital and headquarters of the European Union (EU). 3. Belgium is made up of three regions. (Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels)

II. Europe’s Heartland a) Flanders in the north and west of Brussels, most people speak Dutch and are known as Flemings. b) Wallonia are the areas south and east of Brussels, most people speak French and are known as Walloons. c) The Brussels region is officially bilingual, using two languages. d) Tensions sometimes arise between Flemings and Walloons. 4. To the north of Belgium is the Netherlands, whose people are known as the Dutch. a) 25% lies below sea level. b) Drained lowlands known as polders, have rich farming soil. 5. 90% of the Dutch live in cities.

II. Europe’s Heartland a) Amsterdam is the capital and largest city. b) The Dutch work in service industries, manufacturing, and trade. c) Major exports are cheese, vegetables, and flowers (tulips). 6. Southeast of Belgium lies Luxembourg, one of Europe’s smallest countries. a) Luxembourg thrives as a center of trade and finance. b) Many multinational companies, or firms that do business in several countries, have their headquarters here. c) Mixed German and French background.

II. Europe’s Heartland D. Challenges E. Germany’s Land 1. France and the Benelux countries are challenged by population changes. a) Populations are aging. b) Large African and Asian minority populations that seem to have difficulty assimilating into the majority culture. c) Governments have vowed to fight discrimination. E. Germany’s Land 1. Germany is a large country encircled by 9 other nations.

II. Europe’s Heartland a) The flat Northern European Plain extends across northern Germany. b) Rocky highlands of rich coal deposits cover the central part of the country. c) The Alps rise in the south of the country. 2. Rivers have been vital to Germany’s economic growth. a) Transport raw materials and carry manufactured goods to market. b) The Danube River begins in the Black Forest and winds eastward across southern Germany. c) The Elbe River flows from the Central Highlands to the North Sea. d) The Rhine River starts in the Swiss Alps and flows north through Germany and the Netherlands to the North Sea.

II. Europe’s Heartland F. History and Government 1. Germany’s central location has long made it a crossroads for people, ideas, and armies. a) In 1871, several states merged into the modern nation of Germany. 2. During the 1900s, Germany’s efforts to dominate Europe led to two world wars. a) Germany was defeated in WWII and was divided up between the U.S., the U.K., France, and the Soviet Union (Russia). b) The Soviet zone later became the Communist led East Germany and the other three zones became democratic West Germany. c) After the collapse of Communism, Germany was reunited in 1990.

II. Europe’s Heartland G. Germany’s People 3. Today, Germany is a federal republic. a) A president serves as Germany’s head of state, but a chancellor is the real head of government. G. Germany’s People 1. Germany has the largest population of the European countries, 82 million people. a) 90% live in urban areas like Berlin, Germany’s capital. b) About 90% of the population are native Germans and German is the main language. c) Most Germans are Protestant or Catholic.

II. Europe’s Heartland H. The Economy 1. Germany is a global economic power and a leader in the European Union. a) Agriculture and industry are the main part of Germany’s economy. 2. One of Germany’s economic challenges has come as a result of reunification, when East and West Germany united under one government in 1990. a) East Germany lagged behind the more technologically superior West Germany.

II. Europe’s Heartland I. The Alpine Countries 1. The Alpine countries take their name from the Alps of central Europe. a) Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein. b) Liechtenstein is 62 square miles with 40,000 people (Berks County is 866 square miles with 413,691 people). c) Switzerland is known as the “gatekeepers of the Alps”. d) Switzerland practices neutrality, or not taking sides in war. e) German, French, Italian, and Romansch. 2. Switzerland produces vast amounts of hydroelectric power. a) Swiss produce high quality electronic equipment.

II. Europe’s Heartland 3. East of Switzerland is landlocked Austria. b) Cheese, chocolates, and the highly versatile Swiss Army Knife. c) Highly dependent on its banking and financial services. 3. East of Switzerland is landlocked Austria. a) ¾ of Austria is covered with mountains that attract tourists and skiers. b) Hydroelectric power. c) Manufacturing, banking, and financial services. 4. The people of Austria mainly speak German and are Roman Catholic. a) Vienna, on the Danube River, is Austria’s capital and largest city.