1. Chapter Notes 6-1 (Northern Europe) I. The United Kingdom (island separated by the English Channel) A.The UK includes 4 regions: England, Wales, Scotland, and N. Ireland. B.90% live in cities. London is the capital and a center of business. C. Manufacturing and machinery are leading exports. Oil and natural gas from the N. Sea supply its energy. D.The UK has both a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. E. Most are Protestant Christians and speak English and some Gaelic. II. The Republic of Ireland (island that is Catholic country) A.Its called the “emerald isle” because its lush and green from its regular rainfall.

2. B. Much of the area is made up of peat which is dug up from bogs. C. Farming is important, but most employed by manufacturing. D.Celts settle the island hundreds of years ago. Most speak Irish Gaelic and English. Dublin is the capital. E.Catholics in N. Ireland would like to unite w/their southern neighbors. Protestants want to remain part of the UK. F.This dispute led to violence from the 1960’s to 1990’s. In 1998 agreement was signed to end the violence. III.Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland) A.Their standards of living are among the highest in the world. B.The northernmost part is always cold, southern and western areas are mild due to N. Atlantic Current. C.This region is made up of many landforms. Norway has fjords, Denmark has forests, and Iceland (island) have geysers.

3. D.The strong economies consist of farming, manufacturing, and service industries. Fishing is also important. E.Norway relies on oil and natural gas. Iceland uses geothermal energy, Finland uses hydroelectric power. F.Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland share ethnic ties and languages, Finland’s language and culture are different. G.Most are constitutional monarchies and all 5 are welfare states. Chapter Notes 12-2 (Europe’s Heartland) I.France (lies in W. Europe and has a mild climate) A. Farms are known for their specialization such as wine and cheese. B.Traditional and high-tech industries has allowed economy to grow. C.Tourism is important and many visit the capital of Paris.(75% urban)

4. D.Most speak French and are Roman Catholic. Immigrants from Muslim countries has made Islam 2 nd largest religion. E.Government is a republic headed by elected president and appointed prime minister. II.The Benelux Countries (have a low, flat landscape) A.Most live in crowded cities, have high standard of living, and parliamentary democracies w/monarchs. B.Belgium has 3 distinct cultural regions: Flanders (Dutch-speaking), Wallonia (French-speaking), and Brussels (bilingual) C.Netherlands means “lowlands” because 25% is below the sea. The Dutch create polders to drain land from the sea. E. Luxembourg is one of Europe’s smallest countries. F.It’s the center of trade and commerce which is home to many multinational companies. Many are mixed German and French.

5. III. Germany and the Alpine Countries A.It has plains, highlands, and Alps to the south. Danube, Elbe, and Rhine Rivers are used to transport goods and materials. B.In the early 1900’s, Germany’s attempt to control Europe led to 2 world wars. C.In 1945, Soviet Union controlled Communist E. Germany and W. Germany became democratic. D.Reunification came about in 1990, when the 2 parts united into one under a federal republic. Chancellor is the head and appointed. E.It has the largest population in Europe and Berlin is its capital. F.Most speak German and are Catholic or Protestant. G. It’s a global economic power and a leader in the EU because of its industry.

6. IV. Switzerland and Austria (dominated by the Alps range) A.Landlocked Switzerland has practiced neutrality due to location. B.Switzerland is a thriving industrial nation w/a stable democracy. C.Switzerland has 4 national languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansch. Most speak more than one. D.Austria is a landlocked country east of Switzerland. The mountains cover and provide timber and iron ore. E.Most live in cities, speak German, and practice Roman Catholic. F.The capital is Vienna, located on the Danube, and is the center of their culture

7. Chapter Notes 12-3 (Southern Europe) I. Spain and Portugal (Iberian Peninsula) A.Spain is made up of the Pyrenees Mts. & the Meseta (dry plateau) B.Dry farming is practiced since there is a lack of rain. C.Castilian Spanish is Spain’s official language though people of different regions speak different languages. D.Spain’s democratic government has given these regions a great deal of autonomy (self-rule). E.Spain’s capital is Madrid and most live in cities and are Catholic. F.Portugal is a small democratic country located west of Spain. G.Most live in small villages near the capital of Lisbon and fish for a living. Subsidies are used to support manufacturing.

8. II.Italy – boot-shaped peninsula center located on the Mediterranean. A.The Alps dominate the north and the Apennines run through the center. Sicily is a main island. B.It has an industrial economy and the Po River Valley is rich in farming (grapes and olives). C.The southern part is poorer and many have left to look for jobs. D.Italy is a democratic republic, most speak Italian and are Catholic. E.90% live in cities and Rome is the capital. F.The Vatican City, located inside of Rome, is the headquarters of the Catholic Church and is an independent country. III.Greece – extends from the Balkan Peninsula into the Mediterranean Sea making up of 2,000 islands. A.Farming is limited due to poor, stony soil.(olives and wheat)

9. B.Greece has one of the largest shipping fleets in the world. C.60% are urban and 1/3 live near the capital of Athens. Most speak Greek and follow Greek Orthodox Christianity. Chapter Notes 6-4 (Eastern Europe) I.Poland, Belarus, and the Baltic Republics A.N. European Plain, Baltic Sea, and Carpathian Mts. make up Poland. B.After WWII, the communist set up a command economy, but today is a market economy. Warsaw is the capital. C.Belarus, former Soviet Republic has a rigid government and a command economy. Main resource is potash. D.The Baltic Republics - Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were under the control of the Soviet Union until 1991. E.All are democracies and have strong economies based on dairy farming, fishing, and shipbuilding.

10. II.Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary A. All three are landlocked countries and democracies today. B. The Czech Republic and Slovakia were one country under communist rule. C. The Czech have rolling hills, lowlands, and plains bordered by mts. D.Czechs have the highest standard of living in Eastern Europe. E.Prague, the capital, is the center of service industries, tourism, and manufacturing. G.The Carpathian Mts. cover Slovakia. Bratislava is the capital and located on the Danube R. H.Hungary’s landscape is a lowland area w. fertile farmland. I.Its capital is Budapest located on the Danube River. They are descendents of the Magyars.

11. III.Countries of Southeastern Europe A.There are 12 countries on southeastern Europe located along the Black Sea or Balkan Peninsula. B.Ukraine is the largest country in Europe divided by the Dnieper R. C.Ukraine w/its rich soil for farming has the nickname “breadbasket of Europe”. D.Russians living in the Ukraine want closer ties which have led to ethnic divisions. E.Romania was once ruled by the Romans and its language is based on Latin spoken in ancient Rome. Bucharest is the capital. F.Moldova is a landlocked country and is Europe’s poorest. G.Bulgaria is a mountainous country w/ fertile river valleys.

12. H.Most countries on the Balkan Peninsula were once part of the Communist country called Yugoslavia. I.In the 1990’s, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia declared their independence. J.Serbia wanted to keep Yugoslavia under Serbian rule and as a result carried out ethnic cleansing. K.Albania is unique that it’s the only European country w/a Muslim majority population.