1. Bell Ringer # 2 Wednesday 1-8-14 Look at Poland’s location In Europe. How could it’s location be a benefit and a risk?

2. Ch. 15 s. 3 Poland and the Baltics # 4

3. Locate: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia

4. POLAND has a long history ( Poland was over taken many times because of it’s location and abundance of resources) Poland is very desirable land because it is mainly plains and not as mountainous as other countries. Many rivers and flat land make it prime arable land.

5. Warsaw, Poland Jewish Ghetto During WWII, Nazis had many ghettos and concentration death camps in Poland.

6. Auschwitz

7. Poland is a middle ground between Russia and Germany and suffered greatly during WWII.

8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUhaBKiD ZtE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUhaBKiD ZtE

9. After WWII, Poland was controlled by the USSR and the economy suffered. Since the end of communism Poland has become a free market economy.

10. Since then, the economy has improved dramatically.

11. *The BALTIC COUNTRIES are in the EU

12. The EU (European Union) has led to an increased cooperation between member nations because it established a single free market economy and a common currency (the Euro).

13. Almost all of the Baltics were controlled by the USSR Soviet bloc (Russia under communism). They regained their independence in 1991.

14. Historically the Baltic Sea is one of the busiest trade routes in N. Europe.

15. The religions, language, and culture of the area are mixed. Folk music and festivals are often tied to religious holidays. Traditional clothes

16. The cymbaly is a type of percussion instrument common to the area. Polka http://www.youtube.co m/watch?v=J2bF86_sT Ww http://www.youtube.co m/watch?v=J2bF86_sT Ww

17. The Soviet Union (Russia) damaged the economy and the environment of the Baltic countries. They are trying to improve their economies and join the EU. http://www.youtube.co m/watch?v=7Pj9xtqSOd A http://www.youtube.co m/watch?v=7Pj9xtqSOd A Latvia adopts the Euro