Chapter 18 Introduction and Overview Central Europe and Northern Eurasia

Skillbuilder The map of Central Europe and Northern Eurasia has been redrawn many times. What factors have changed the area’s political boundaries. (for example, the fall of communism, ethnic strife, civil wars, etc…)

I. Historical Overview A. Migrations and Religious Diversity 1. Huns and Avars invade, Slavs move East 2. Roman Catholic missionaries convert Russians 3. Islam brought to the Caucasus B. The Growth of Empires 1. Large empires emerge a. Poland & Lithuania b. Ottoman c. Austrian Hapsburg 2. Russian empire extended from Baltic and Black seas to the Pacific Ocean

Historical Overview cont. C.Political Change 1.World War I a. Ottoman Empire collapsed b. Formation of nation states increased c. Formation of Soviet Empire=communism 2.World War II a. Hitler invades European countries b. Soviet control of Eastern Europe c. Holocaust 3.Soviet Union dissolved a. Countries of Soviet Union revolted b Russia broke into 13 smaller countries

II. Physical Characteristics A.Land is flat in west, higher in the south and east B.Eurasia=referred to as one continent C.The Danube River 1.Second longest in Europe 2.Flows eastward from Germany to the Black Sea D.Lake Baikal 1.Siberia 2.World’s largest and deepest freshwater lake 3.20% of all freshwater in the world

III. Climates A.Variety of climates 1. tundra= 2. subarctic= 3. humid Continental Climate = B.Winter on the Neva 1.River runs through St.Petersburg 2.Ice fishing C.Black Sea Resort 1. inland sea= a sea almost completely surrounded by land 2. warm summers 3. strong winter storms D.Comparing Climate Zones 1. mild Mediterranean to frigid tundra 2. coldest winters except for antarctica

IV. Ecosystems A.Variety of ecosystems 1.tundra= 2.taiga= 3.steppe= B.Forest Ecosystem 1.Bialowieza Park a. Poland b. Covered much of Europe in 8000 B.C. 2.mixed forest=predominant ecosystem in Poland C.Grassland Ecosystem 1.Ukraine and Southern Russia 2.fertile soil D.Tundra 1.Northern Eurasia 2.polar conditions

V. People and Culture A.Movement 1.easy 2.multiethnic= B.Orthodox Christianity 1.Central Europe 2.democracy has given freedom of religion C.Estonian Culture 1.dozens of ethnic groups 2.ethnic group= D.Urban Life 1.traditional architecture 2.modern business

VI. Economics, Technology, and Environment A.communism to capitalism 1.communist economy= 2.capitalist economy= B.Women in the Work Force 1.many men died in WW II 2.women 50% of workforce C.Baltic Port 1.Vyborg 2.important to have ports open during winter D.Acid Rain=

Comparing Health Care