Switzerland and Austria

Austria

Present borders created at the end of WWI Countries roots reach back more than 1000 years. Alps cover more than ¾ of the country

History 976 A.D. – small region with a king Grew to the Austrian Empire by early 1800’s 1866 became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire Fought with Germany and Italy in WWI Empire collapsed after defeat Austria and Hungary were separated. Much of their land was taken to form new Eastern European countries.

Modern Austria Like Switzerland – specialized industries –Machine tools –Chemicals –textiles Like Switzerland – dairy farming Unlike Switzerland – Austria has some mineral resources, and can do more heavy manufacturing

Modern Challenges Trying to rebuild within smaller boundaries Population is concentrated in the eastern lowlands because the rest of the country is mountains Environmental degradation – strip mining

Vienna Example of change – two million residents – one of the world’s largest cities – center of the Austrian Empire Now – 1.5 million

Fun Fact: Austria Black Death – killed 100,000 in Vienna alone! Mozart performed in front of the Austrian Empress at the age of 6! Gregor Mendel – famous scientist, the father of Genetics – was Austrian (but his birthplace is now in the Czech republic!)

Lipizzaner stallions – dancing horses

Fun Facts: Austria Rattenberg is Austria’s smallest town, and is shrinking. It was built between an alpine hill and the Inn River in the 1300’s. It was a secure location, but it does not get sunlight from November until February each year because the mountains block it. People used to trek over the river to a neighboring town on the weekends to “tank up on some sun” An Austrian company is trying to solve the problem – with mirrors called rotating heliostats. Placing some mirrors will create ‘hot spots’ of sunlight throughout the town where people can gather to ‘catch some rays’.

Switzerland

Confederation Helvetica Switzerland 3 official languages – French, German, Italian. Each language group has its own name for Switzerland: Suisse Schweiz, Svizzera Alps cover 3/5 of the country!

History Formed in leaders of three cantons (states) formed the Swizz confederation to fight an Austrian emperor. Other cantons were attracted by the strength of the confederation By 1513 there were 13 cantons. Switzerland's last war was with France in They’ve never fought in a foreign war again.

Neutral 1798 – Napoleon’s forces occupied Switzerland. When Napoleon was defeated, the countries of Europe formally recognized Switzerland as a neutral country.

Modern Switzerland 26 Cantons today – differ from each other in language, religion, customs, & ways to earn a living Cantons have a lot of control over their own affairs. (Confederation)

Market Economy One of the highest standards of living in the world. Neutrality has helped in the global market Not a lot of resources – rely on skills and technology (example – watches) Service – Banking….. Tourism Dairy farming…

Dairy…. Grazing easier than farming Dairy is perishable – so other products are made…….cheeses……chocolates….. Stay tuned for “Peril in the Alps”

Fun Facts: Switzerland The Red cross was started in Switzerland in 1859 by Henri Dunant. He shared the first Nobel peace prize in The Swiss have a citizen’s army, where all able bodied men go through basic training, serve two years, and are permanently on call between the ages of 20 and 50. The Swizz guards are the official guards of the Vatican in Rome….(you'll ready about them later!)

Fun Facts: Switzerland William Tell…… –For refusing to remove his hat when he passed the tyrannical governor’s hat that had been placed on a pole, Tell was ordered to shoot an apple off his son’s head. Tell took out two arrows from his quiver, but he only used one to shoot the apple. When the governor asked what the other arrow was for, Tell replied, “For you if I had missed.” Tell was arrested, escaped, and later killed the governor. He is known as a Swiss symbol of freedom!

Fun Facts: Switzerland St. Bernard dogs…. –The St. Bernard monks were responsible for keeping the St. Bernard pass open in the winter. The large size of the dogs helped them push snow out of the way and clear paths. These dogs rescued over 2,000 people from

Liechtenstein

Language German Size – 62 Square miles Constitutional Monarchy Tourism Hi-Tech Mfg – Like Switzerland

Peril in the Alps….. Or should it be “Peril OF the Alps?” Can cows stop avalanches???? How much tourism can an area stand???

The End ;)