2.  Regions: France has strong national identity and historical cultural. Northern France:  Paris Basin, large flat, circular area drained by the Seine and other rivers.  Paris is in this region  The economic, political, and cultural capital of France  Lille north of Paris, important industrial center.  Steel mills, textile factories and chemical plants in this area provide many jobs.

3.  Vineyards of the Southwest: Air is warmer and the soil drier Wine is major production in this region Bordeaux is a busy seaport, in southwestern France

4.  Southern France: Mountainous areas – Massif Central, and the Alps. Landscape of the Massif Central is a mixture of older peaks and new peaks starting to form. Alps: hindered movement between France and Italy,. Engineers dug a highway tunnel through Mont Blanc, borders France and Italy. Alps famous for their ski resorts.

5.  Mediterranean: Thin strip of low-lying coastal land. Riviera, tourist area Warm climate, famous beaches and swimming in the sea. Cannes, Nice, Saint-Tropez Marseille- busiest seaport in France and second most active in all of Western Europe.

6.  Industry in the East: Rhine Valley Europe’s busiest waterway, forms part of France’s border with Germany. Alsace (al zas) Lorraine rich in resources Both have changed hands between France and Germany. Lorrain largest iron ore deposits in France.

7.  France’s History: Gaul when the Romans conquered the region Gaul's native people of the area. Influenced by the Romans, Latin was their language and Christian religion. Franks came into the region Franks gave France its name. Charlemagne, king of the Franks Nobles controlled land in the kingdom 1789 a bloody revolution came known as the French Revolution. Different forms of government/ republic, constitutional monarchy, empires under Napoleon. Germany also controlled much of France during this time as well.

8.  Language and Culture: Language and culture have united France. French was only spoken in and around Paris Alsatian, German, Basque and Breton are still spoken in parts of France. Dialect-variations of a language that are unique to a region or community. French is the national language.

9.  Language and Culture: France has enormous pride in their intellectual and artistic achievements. Rene Descarts, Jean-Paul Sartre and Voltaire (famous French Painters) Leaders in the style of Impressionism. –made color, light, and shadows. Paris capital of the cultural center.

10.  France Today Formed new trade agreements French government taken different approaches to stimulating its economy. Nationalized- brought under state control some businesses considered vital to national interests. 1900s France was in a deep recession Over came that and is now doing well due to business

11.  Divided German states:  United Germany’s defeats:  One people, two Countries:  Mosaic of Regions:  Plains, Rivers and cities:  Rich Resources and Industry:  Scenic Southern Germany:  Germany Today:

12.  Germany’s struggle for Unity: 1961 Germany was divided. East Germany and West Germany. Berlin Wall created a physical boundary between two different political regions. History:  Germany was part of Charlemagne’s great Holy Roman Empire.  Germany broke into small states.  1500s Protestant Reformation divided the German states  1700s Prussia led a movement to merge many German states into a single confederation.  Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871 German states remained independent and agreed to join the new German Empire

13.  1882 Germany joined with Austria- Hungary and Italy to form a military alliance ( Triple Alliance.  1914-1918, Germany, Austria-Hungary fought against France, Russia and the United Kingdom in World War 1  Germany lost and had to pay a fee of reparations- money for war damages.

14.  Germany economy falls in 1920 due to inflation- sharply rising prices, ruined the value of Germany’s currency.  1929 the depression hits the world.  1930s Hitler promise to restore Germany  Blamed the Jews and other people whom he considered to be racially inferior for all of Germany's problems.  1939- Germany invaded Poland WW II

15.  Millions of Jews, Poles, Gypsies and Slavs were killed.

16.  Regions: Northern Germany is covered by the North German Plain. Flat, sandy plains spread out until they reach the North and Baltic seas. Manufacturing and trade are also important economic activates in this region. Industry& Rich Resources:  Rhine and Elbe Rivers, flow through the central parts of Germany.

17.  Industry& Rich Resources: Germany is one of the most important industrial centers in the world. Ruhr valley became Germany’s first industrial center. Most of Germany's iron and steel come from here. Eastern part of central Germany is another large industrial region Lignite- soft, brown coal, easy to mine but it pollutes the air heavily.

18.  Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg  Belgium and the Netherlands are the most densely populated countries in Europe. Land  Romans conquered the area they constructed dikes- or embankments of earth and rock to hold back the water.  1200s Dutch used windmills to power the pumps of the polder.  Polder- land reclaimed form the sea.

19.  Land Half of the land is used for agriculture (crops or pastures) Rotterdam and Amsterdam are both important ports Rotterdam serves as a link between much of Europe and the rest of the world.

20.  People 30 % of all Belgians speak French and call themselves Walloons 55 % speak Flemish (dialect of Dutch) Belgium gained independence from the Netherlands in 1830 tension grew between the two Most leaders spoke French and all universities used French as their language. The Flemish wanted same rights as the Walloons, in recent years the Belgian Parliament passed laws to decentralize its government.

21.  Luxembourg Only 990 square miles, smaller than the state of Rhode Island. Close culture ties to Germany, France and Belgium. Three languages spoken: French, German and a German dialect called Luxembourgish. One of the highest of standard of livings in Europe. High-tech firms and service industries Member of the EU and trades most of its goods and services with other EU members.

22.  Switzerland: Three official languages, French, German, and Italian. Some people speak a dialect called Romansch. 64% of population speak German and 19 % speak French. Swiss has different Ethnic groups (German speaking Swiss call Switzerland Schweiz (SHVYTS) Suisse (SWEES) is the name used for French speaking citizens and Italian speaking citizens call their country Svizzera ( SVEE TAY RAH) )

23.  Switzerland: Swiss Confederation Confederation- is a loose organization of states united for their common good.

24.  Switzerland: Formed in 1291 when leaders of three cantons- states, formed the Swiss Confederation to fight an Austrian emperor.