Chapter

12

SOUTHER

N

EUROPE

Aristotle

Julius Caesar

Ch. 12:1 - Physical Geography of Southern Europe

Landforms• Southern Europe is made up of three

peninsulas: Spain and Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula, Italy on the Italian Peninsula, and Greece on the southernmost part of the Balkan Peninsula.

• Andorra, San Marino, and Vatican City are smaller countries in the interior, while the island nations of Malta and Cyprus serve important functions in the Mediterranean Sea.

• Mountain ranges like the Pyrenees and the Alps form a natural border with Northwestern Europe.

Andorra

Monaco

San Marino

Vatican City

Liechtenstein

Malta

Swiss Alps

Water Systems• Although important to the ecology of the region,

Southern Europe’s shallow rivers are not viable transportation or trade routes.

• The Ebro River in Spain provides hydroelectric power and water for agriculture.

• The drainage from the Po River in Italy feeds the country’s most fertile plain.

• Italy’s Tiber River is the primary water source for the capital city of Rome.

Ch. 12:1 - Physical Geography of Southern Europe

Climate, Biomes, & Resources• The Alps block Atlantic winds from the north,

causing the warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters of this Mediterranean climate.

• The subregion is well suited for growing grapes, olives, shrub herbs, and raising livestock.

• Tungsten, one of Spain’s many natural resources, is essential to the high-tech industry.

• Italy has few mineral resources, while Portugal has large deposits of copper.

Ch. 12:1 - Physical Geography of Southern Europe

Italian Farm near the Mediterranean Sea

Ch. 12:2 - Human Geography of Southern Europe

History and Government • The civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome

laid the foundation for Western civilization.

• The Renaissance marked a period of cultural revival and enlightenment.

• Spain and Portugal became leaders in the Age of Exploration, establishing new empires.

• Nationalism and unification in the 1800s and 1900s brought political stability to the area.

• Recent economic challenges include high unemployment rates and credit problems.

GREEK EMPIRE

Ancient Athens

The Acropolis, Athens, Greece

ROMAN EMPIRE

Ancient Rome

Roman Forum

Italian Renaissance Painting

1400’s – 1700’s A.D.

Population Patterns• Southern Europe is one of the most populated

regions of the world.

• As the populations of Greece, Italy, and Spain age and the birthrates fall, care for the elderly is straining the social welfare systems.

• Demand for labor is being met by migrants within the European Union.

• Economic migration throughout the EU has resulted in a growing diversity of cultures.

Ch. 12:2 - Human Geography of Southern Europe

Society & Culture Today• Education in Southern Europe is mandatory for

all children.

• The cultures of Greece, Spain, and Italy are centered on the family and are influenced by the Roman Catholic religion.

• Women have achieved a high level of gender equality in higher education and business, though their success in politics has been slower to develop.

• The Greeks and Romans developed many important elements of art and architecture.

Ch. 12:2 - Human Geography of Southern Europe

Italian Family

Economic Activities• The global recession of 2008 hit Southern

Europe hard.

• Spain and Italy continue to face challenges.

• As one of the least developed in the area, Greece’s economy remains weak as it grapples with high public spending, low productivity, and tax evasion.

• The EU is facing its first test of economic stability with Southern Europe suffering from record national debt and high unemployment.

Ch. 12:2 - Human Geography of Southern Europe

Managing Resources• Large algae blooms are damaging the delicate

marine biomes of the Adriatic Sea.

• Changes in the global climate has made weather more unpredictable.

• Effects of climate change include increased erosion, higher risk of fires, increased deforestation, and the loss of glaciers at high altitudes.

Ch. 12:3 - People and Their Environment: Southern Europe

Typical Algae Bloom

Human Impact• The decline of fish stocks has adversely

affected the overall health of the marine biome.

• Manufacturing and tourism cause pollution that is a major threat to surrounding seas and agricultural resources.

• Pollutants and other human impacts have led to pollution hot spots, the extreme damage or even death of the local ecosystem.

Ch. 12:3 - People and Their Environment: Southern Europe

Air Pollution in Athens, Greece

Addressing the Issues• The EU created the European Environmental

Agency to effectively deal with environmental issues.

• Many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), such as Earthwatch, are working on solutions to environmental problems.

• Certification is a way to combat deforestation and to ensure that forest resources are being used responsibly.

Ch. 12:3 - People and Their Environment: Southern Europe