Europe and the Mediterranean

Austria History

Occupied by Celtic tribes in pre-Roman times

Bavarians, Slavs and Avars invaded after the Roman Empire fell

First record showing the name Austria was in 996

Habsburgs dynasty ruled until World War I

Geography Mountainous

In the Alps Only a quarter of the land

is considered low lying Divided into five areas

Eastern Alps-62% Foothills at base of Alps-

12% Foothills to east-12% Austrian granite plateau-

10% Vienna basin-4%

Austria cont. Culture

Broad contribution to various forms of art Mostly in music

Rose in 16th century European power Contributions to

cinema and theater

Places to visit Vienna Salzburg Innsbruck Graz Danube Valley Klagenfurt Eisenstadt

Belarus History

Derives from the term “White Ruthenia”

Mostly populated by early Christian Slavs

Often been referred to as “White Russia”

Named Belorussia in the time of the Russian Empire Only used until 1991

Geography Landlocked country The Neman, the

Pripyat, and the Dnieper are the three major rivers that run through the country

Cold winters and moist summers

Belarus cont. Culture

Product of a millennium of development under the impact of many diverse factors

Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Judaism, and Islam

Places to visit Belarusian State

Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War

Brest Fortress Brest Railway Museum Cathedral of Holy

Wisdom Island of Tears

memorial

Belgium History

Derived from Gallia Belgica, which was a Roman province

Inhabited by a mix of Celtic and Germanic peoples before the Roman invasion in 100 BC

Gradual immigration of Germanic Frankish tribes during 5th century

Geography Shares borders with France,

Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands

Coastal plain in north-west and central plateau in Anglo-Belgian Basin; Ardennes uplands in the south-east are part of the Hercynian orogenic belt; Paris Basin reaches a small fourth area at Belgium's southernmost tip, Belgian Lorraine

Belgium cont. Culture

Political and linguistic divisions

Flourishing of major art movements

Cultural life concentrated within each language community

Places to visit Bruges Brussels Antwerp Ghent

Bulgaria History

Thracians were one of the three primary ancestral groups of modern day Bulgarians

Taken over by Roman Empire

Tervel strengthened the borders of Bulgaria as a major military power by defeating a 26,000-strong Arab army

Geography Apline snow-capped

peaks, Balkan mountains, mild and sunny Black Sea coast

30% of land is plains, 41% plateaus and hills

Southwest is mountainous

Overall temperate climate

Bulgaria cont. Culture

Mostly Thracian, Slavic and Bulgar heritage, but with Greek, Roman, Ottoman and Celtic influences

Archaeological discoveries from Roman times

Hub of Slavic culture during Middle Ages

Places to visit Sunny Beach Sofia Varna Bansko Plovdiv Burgas Veliko Turnovo

Crete History

Hominids settled there at least 130,000 years ago

During Neolithic and Bronze Age periods Crete was ruled by Minoans

Ruled by: Roman Empire Byzantine Empire Emirate of Crete Republic of Venice Ottoman Empire

Geography Elongated shape Extremely

mountainous Mountains create

valleys, fertile plateaus, caves, and gorges

Two climactic zones, but primarily temperate

Crete cont. Culture

Has it’s own heritage, as well as some Greek heritage

Distinct Cretan dialect of Greek with an extended vocabulary that is Crete-specific

Known for its Mantinades-based music

Places to visit Chania Heraklion Agia Gallini Agios Nikolaos Hersonisos Ierapetra Kissamos

Croatia History

Inhabited throughout the prehistoric period Neolithic

Starčevo, Vučedol and Hvar cultures

Iron Age Hallstatt culture and

La Tène culture Became part of the

Roman Empire in 9 AD

Geography Shape resembles a

crescent or horseshoe

Slovenia and Hungary in the north

Plains Densely wooded

mountains Rocky coastlines

Croatia cont. Culture

Result of a fourteen century-long history

Adoptions from ancient Greek, Roman and Illyrian cultures

Culture divided into two cultural circles: Central European Mediterranean

Places to visit Dubrovnik Split Opatija Zagreb Hvar Rabac Korcula

Cyprus, Turkish Fed. State History

Aetokremnos was the first site where human activity was located Hunter-gatherer

societies starting around 10,000 BC

Part of Hittite Empire from late Bronze Age to when Greek settlement arrived

Geography Syria and Lebanon to

east, Israel to southeast, Egypt to south, Greece to northwest

Dominated by two mountain ranges: Troodos Mountains Kyrenia Range

Highest point is Mount Olympus

Cyprus, Turkish Fed. State cont. Culture

Divided into two distinct cultures: Greek Turkish Cypriots

No unified culture Greeks and Turkish

cultures do not mix/interact much

Traditional folk music has common elements with Greek, Turkish, and Arabic music

Places to visit Paphos Harbour & Castle Courion/Kolossi Castle Larnaca Salt Lake & Hala

Sultan Tekke Ayia Napa and Protaras Nicosia 'within the walls' and

the House of Hadigeorgakis Kornesios

Cedar Valley Panayia tou Araka Choirokitia Lefkara The Paphos mosaic

Czech Republic History

Evidence of prehistoric settlements back to the Neolithic era

Slavic people from the Black Sea and Carpathian regions settled in the area

Bohemian or Czech state emerged in the late 9th century, when it was unified by the Přemyslid dynasty

Geography Landscape is varied:

Bohemia, consists of a basin drained

Vltava rivers surrounded by low mountains

East is hilly Landlocked state Temperate

continental climate

Czech Republic cont. Culture

Music has roots of over 1000 years old

Influenced by general folk music

Czech language is used most in literature Old Church Slavonic,

Latin or German have also been used

Places to visit The Prague Castle Charles Bridge The Old Town Josefov New Town of Prague The Lesser Town City Center of Brno Spilberk Castle Vankovka Gallery

Denmark History

Earliest archaeological findings date back to Eem interglacial period (130,000–110,000 BC)

Inhabited since around 12, 500 BC and farming since 3900 BC

Nordic Bronze Age in Denmark was marked by burial mounds, which left an abundance of findings including lurs and the Sun Chariot

Geography Bordered by Germany

in the south Rest is surrounded by

water; peninsula of Jutland

443 named islands, only 72 are inhabited

Flat with little elevation Temperate climate

Denmark cont. Culture

Known as one of the most socially progressive cultures in the world

Hans Christian Andersen and his fairy tales The Little Mermaid, The

Emperor’s New Clothes, The Ugly Duckling

Most popular sport is football

Places to visit Copenhagen Odense Århus Herning Silkeborg Esbjerg Aalborg

England History

Earliest known human presence in the area is from approximately 780,000 years ago

Permanent settlements established within the last 6,000 years even though humans were thought to have been there during the Upper Paleolithic period

Geography Pennines Mountains

are known as the “backbone of England”

Lowlands to the south of mountains Green, rolling hills

Temperate maritime climate

England cont. Culture

Stonehenge, Devil's Arrows, Rudston Monolith and Castlerigg built in prehistoric times

Folklore has developed over many centuries pixies, giants, elfs,

bogeymen, trolls, goblins and dwarves

Places to visit Stonehenge Hadrian’s Wall London

Westminster Abbey Big Ben Tower Of London

Bath York Canterbury Oxford

Estonia History

Settlement became possible 11,000 to 13,000 years ago when the glaciers melted

Pulli settlement is the oldest known settlement

Fishing and hunting communities existed around 6500 BC

Geography situated in the

northern part of the temperate climate zone and in the transition zone between maritime and continental climate

Coastline marked by numerous bays, straits, and inlets

Estonia cont. Culture

Culture incorporates indigenous heritage with mainstream Nordic and European cultural aspects

Been influenced by influenced by the traditions of the adjacent area's various Finnic, Baltic, Slavic and Germanic peoples

Places to visit The Jagala Falls The Art Museum of Estonia The Tannenberg Line The Baltic Clint Narva Castle Tallinn Tartu Haapsalu

Finland History

Settled, at the latest, around 8500 BCE during the Stone Age

Artifacts from the first settlers found are similar to those found in Estonia, Russia and Norway

Earliest people were hunter-gatherers who used stone tools

Geography Country of thousands of

lakes and islands Landscape is mostly flat Forests covers 86% of

the area Largest forested area in

Europe Surface area is still

expanding, because of the post-glacial rebound

Finland cont. Culture

Combines indigenous heritage with common Nordic and European culture

Finnish culture may be seen to build upon the relatively ascetic environmental realities

Cultural differences between Finland's regions and minor differences in accents and vocabulary

Places to visit Helsinki Oulu Espoo Rovaniemi Rauma Kuopio Tampere

France History

Originates from the Latin word Francia, which means “country of the Franks”

Oldest traces of human life date from approximately 1,800,000 years ago

Strong demographic and agricultural development between the 4th and 3rd millennia, metallurgy appeared at the end of the 3rd millennium, work of gold, copper and bronze, and later with iron

Geography There are a number of

territories in North America, the Caribbean, South America, the southern Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and Antarctica

Coastal plains in north and west

Mountain ranges Alps in south-east Massif Central in south-

central Pyrenees in south-west

France cont. Culture

Center of cultural creation for centuries

Creation of the Ministry of Culture in 1959 helped preserve the cultural heritage of the country and make it available to the public

Places to visit Paris Alsace Aquitaine Auvergne Brittany Burgundy Champagne-

Ardenne Corsica

Germany History

Germanic tribes are thought to date from the Nordic Bronze Age or the Pre-Roman Iron Age

Roman Empire resulted from the eastern portion of the Carolingian Empire that was divided in 843

Geography Alps in south Shores in north-

west and north-east

Temperate seasonal climate

Germany cont. Culture

Culture in Germany has been shaped by major intellectual and popular currents in Europe

Been called Das Land der Dichter und Denker (the land of poets and thinker)

Places to visit Neuschwanstein Heidelberg Castle Checkpoint

Charlie Church of Our

Lady, Dresden Marienplatz,

Munich Bremerhaven

Gibraltar History

Evidence of Neanderthal habitation between 128,000 and 24,000 BCE Last known

holdout of the Neanderthals

First inhabitants were the Phoenicians, around 950 BCE

Geography Two coasts

East side Sandy Bay Catalan Bay Westside

Subtropical-Mediterranean climate

Gibraltar cont. Culture

Culture reflects the diverse origins

British influence remains strong English is the

language of government, commerce, education, and the media

Places to visit St. Michael's Cave A City Under

Siege Apes' Den

Greece History

First area in Europe where advanced civilization emerged

Mix of Roman and Hellenistic cultures formed the Byzantine Empire in 330 AD around Constantinople

Recognized under the London protocol in 1830

Geography Mountainous Peninsular Between 1200 and

6000 islands Only 227 are

inhabited 8% of Greece is

mountains or hills Mediterranean climate

Greece cont. Culture

Culture evolved over thousands of years ago

Ottoman Empire had an influence on the culture

Birth place of the Olympic Games

Places to visit Mount Olympus Athens Meteora Delphi Corinth Monemvasia

Hungary History

From 9 BC to 4th century it was part of the Roman Empire

Officially established in 895

Transformed into a Christian realm in 10th century

Saint Stephen was the first king of Hungary

Geography Flat to rolling plains Mostly hilly, but with

a few low mountains Divided into two by

its main waterway: the Danube River

Continental climate

Hungary cont. Culture Has a rich folk tradition:

embroideries, decorated potteries, buildings, and cravings

Hungarian Music: Rhapsodies, folk music, composed folk music influenced songs, and Roma music

Rich and colorful literature

Places to visit: Budapest Debrecen Kiskunsag

National Park Lake Balaton Danube Bend Visegrad

Ionian Islands History: Settled by Greeks by

an early date The early Eretrian

settlement at Kerkyra was displaced by colonists at Corinth

Backwater during ancient Greek times

Geography: Extend from the coast

of southern Albania and to the northwest coast of the Peloponneseus.

Comprise of 1.8% of Greece’s land area

Comprised of seven principal islands and several smaller ones

Ionian Islands cont. Culture: Various depredations:

occupation, piracy, earthquakes and time

Weaving, embroidery and ceramic tableware have been significant industries

Popular cultural expressions include: dances performed on saint days and weddings.

Food is strongly linked to each island’s history.

Places to visit: Holistic heaven day

retreat Trail riders horse trekking Fantasy mini golf Splash fun water park Mirtiotissa Beach Kassiopi Gerakas Bay St. George's castle

Ireland History: First known settlement was

around 8000 BC Covered with ice until the end

of the last ice age 9th century Viking raiders

plundered Irish monasteries and towns

Often called the Irish Republic

Ireland’s economy began to grow rapidly in the 1990s, fuelled by foreign investment

Geography Northerly point-Inishtrahull

island Easterly point- Big Bow Meel

Island Southerly point- Fastnet Rock Westerly Point- Tearaught Island Most populated county- Dublin Longest River- Shannon Tallest waterfall- Powerscourt

Falls Wettest Place- Maumturk and

Partry mountains Driest Place- Dublin city

Ireland cont. Culture Warm hospitality Traditional dishes Vibrant music and breath-taking

scenic landscapes Take care of their elders Hurling and Camogie are popular

sports Fishing and Golfing are favorite

pastimes Equestrian team is very popular Pub is the social venue Holidays replete with customs and

traditions Produced famous literary works

Places to visit: Giant’s Causeway Newgrange Glendalough Bunratty castle Marble Arch caves Craggaunowen Hill of Tara Cliffs of Moher Kilmainham Gaol

Italy History Migrations of Indo-European

people began around 2000 B.C. till 1000B.C

The Estruscan civilization was dominant

Overthrown by Romans in the 3rd century B.C\

By 264 B.C the south of Italy was led by Cisalpine Gaul

Cultural center of the Western World from 13th-16th century

Geography Slightly larger than Arizona,

long peninsula shaped like a boot

Surrounded on the West by the Tyrrhenian Sea and east by the Atlantic

Bounded by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia to the North

Largest lake is Garda Several islands form part of

Italy, two largest are Sicily and Sardinia

Italy cont. Culture Family is the center of the social

structure and provides stabilizing influence

In the north, nuclear family lives together while in the south the extended family lives together.

Both families provide emotional and financial support

Appearance calculates social status

First impressions last a life time Primary Religion is Roman

Catholic

Places to visit Rome Florence Venice Cinque Terra Sicily Turin Capri Sorrento Abruzzo San Gimignano Milan Verona and the lakes Bologna Sardinia Puglia

Kosovo History First inhabitants of the Balkan

Peninsula were the ancient people known as Illiyrians

Ruled by Bulgaria from the 9th century until the Serbs took over in the 12th century

Under Ottoman rule, the region grew increasingly more populated by Albanian speakers

In 1918, Kosovo became part of the Yugoslav Federation

Geography Land locked and mostly

mountainous Borders Serbia to the

North and East Montenegro to the

northwest, Albania to the west, and Macedonia to the south

Roughly the size of Connecticut

Kosovo cont. Culture Most widespread religion

is Islam Spoken dialect is Gheg Folk music is very popular Modern music has its

origin from western music Closely related to

Albanians in Albania Traditions and customs

differ from town to town in Kosovo itself

Places to visit Pristina Mother Teresa

Boulevard Decani Frontline crossing Gracania Peja Prizren Gjeravica Mountain

Latvia History Poland conquered the territory in 1562

and occupied it until Sweden took over in 1629-1721, and then was passed to Russia in 1721-1918.

Latvians remained Russian subjects and preserved their folklore, language and customs

Russian Revolution gave Latvia freedom, Latvian republic lasted more than 20 years

Latvia eventually became a dictatorship and was occupied with Russian troops and incorporated with the Soviet Union in 1940.

German troops occupied the nation from 1941-1944, 1944 Russia took control.

Geography

Borders Estonia in the North, Lithuania in the South, Baltic Sea with the Gulf of Riga in the West, Russia in the East, and Belarus in the South.

Largely a fertile low land with numerous hills, lakes to the east

Latvia cont. Culture Tradition lives on in folk songs, legends,

and festivals. Large populations of Lutheran, Catholic,

and Orthodox religions Daina the oval art and is a symbol that

has shaped and epitomized Lativa’s national identity in the last 2 centuries.

Moving from area to area is uncommon, families are huge

Children are expected to take care of parents, parents are expected to provide financial and emotional support to children

Reserved and formal when dealing with outsiders

Personal life is kept separate from business

Places to visit

Pedvale Open Air Art Museum, Sabile

The Dome Cathedral, Riga

Jurmala Beach Aglona Basilica Tervete Nature Park

Malta History Recognized by the

Phoenicians who occupied it and so did the Greeks, Romans, and Carthaginians

Dominated by Constantinople

Napoleon seized Malta in 1798

Geography Five Maltese Islands:

Malta, Gozo, Comino, Comminoto, and Filflawith have a combined land area smaller than Philadelphia

Located in the Mediterranean Sea

South of the Southeast tip of Sicily

Malta cont. Culture 91% Roman Catholic Maltese and English are the

common languages Music is largely western but

consists of background folk guitar music

Food is important historically in the development of national identity

Maltese folktales Most generous people in the

world

Places to visit Comino Tower Kenuna Tower Folklore Museum The old prison Gozo 360 Calypso’s cave The Inland Sea The Citadel Aurora Opera House Astra Theatre

Moldova History Used to occupy Bessarabia 16th century Ottoman’s

ruled In 1791 Russia acquired

most of their territory 1924, USSR established

Maldova as an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic

Sept. 1991 Maldova claimed its Independence

Geography Landlocked Republic of

hilly planes lying east of the Carpathian Mountains between the Prut and Dniester rivers

In between Romania and Ukraine

Fertile region with rich black soil covering three quarters of the territory

Moldova cont. Culture Highly influenced by Byzantine

culture, Slavic, Magyar, and the Ottoman Turks

Present culture has significant impact of Russia, and the urban lifestyle is influenced from the way of living

Beginning of the 19th century, a strong west European influence was evident in the Romanian literature and arts

Ancient folk ballad “Miorita” plays a main role

Places to visit Chisinau town Orheiul Vechi Ivancea Village Soroca town Transnistria Saharna monestary Monastic structure

of Tipova

Monaco History Originated from the Greek

Surname “Monoikos” meaning mythological hero

Independent country for 800 years

1793- annexed to France, and was placed under Sardinia’s protection by 1815

1861, went under French guardship, but continued to be independent

Geography Tiny, hilly wedge

driven into the French Mediterranean coast

9 miles east of Nice, France

Monaco cont. Culture French is the official

language Mediterranean and Roman

Catholic culture emphasizing the family

Women work in a variety of fields and politically active

Based on century old traditions

Marriage is an important family event, divorce is low

Places to visit Monte-Carlo Grand Prix The Old town The prince’s palace

and palace square Oceanographic

museum and aquarium

Netherlands History: Inhabited by

Germanic tribes 4-8th century the

Franks ruled, became part of Charlemagne’s empire in the 8-9th centuries

16th century came under Spanish rule

Geography Coast of the North

Sea, twice the size of New Jersey

Part of the great plain North and West Europe

Low and flat except in Limburg

Below sea level

Netherlands cont. Culture Main language: Dutch No distinct culinary culture Do not invite people who are not

closely aquainted Class differences Women make up 38% of labor force

and work part-time Gender roles still occupy distinct

functions Common basis for marriage is love Free to choose spouses, usually class

based Marriage ceremony consists of two

formal events Nuclear family is the most common

household unit

Places to visit Anne Frank Huis Van Gogh Museum Rijksmuseum Heineken Experience Delft Rotterdam Arnhem Hoge de Veluwe National Park Haarlem Utrecht Leiden Maastricht The Hague

Norway History Teutonic region 1015 first effective

king of Norway Olaf II Haraldsson

1905 the parliament arranged a peaceful separation

Geography Western part of the

Scandinavian penninsula Extends from the North Sea

along the Norwegian Sea to above the Artic Circle

Slightly larger than Mexico 70% is inhabitable and

covered by mountains, glaciers, moors, and rivers

ocean front more than 12,000 mi, Galdho peak at 8100 ft.

Norway cont. Culture Different ethnic backgrounds and

cultures Modern day it is considered an

egalitarian country focused on fairness, open minded-ness, and equal rights

Many couples live together without being officially married

In business, women are highly respected and obtain equal pay

Educated, democratic Norwegian people who are willing to pay high taxes

Traditional costume, folklore, and folk music and cultural foods and celebrations

Places to visit Oslo Bergen Trondheim Stavanger Kristiansand Tromso Lilliehammer

Poland History Founded in 1996 by Mieszko I 1047, both great and little Poland

united under the rule of Casimir I the Restorer

1386-Poland merged with Lithuania Between the 14th and 16th centuries

they scored military successes Century after 1795 there was no

Polish state On Sept 1, 1939 Hitler attacked Occupied by Germany after the

Nazi attack on the USSR in June 1941

Geography Size of new Mexico Plain, with no

natural boundaries, except the Carpathian mountains in the south, and Oder and Neisse rivers in the West

Poland cont. Culture Ethnically homogeneous Ukrainian, Belorussian,

Slovakian, and Lithuanian minorities reside along the borders

German minority in the south of Opole

Inward migration from foreigners

Places to visit Tatra Mountains Bieszczady Mountains Pieniny Mountains and

Dunajec Gorge Mazury lakes Kaszuby Baltic coast Bialowieza Forest Spa towns Biebrza wetlands

Portugal History First inhabitants were the

Lusitanians 140 B.C conquered by Roman

Empire In the end, the Visigoths had

invaded the entire Iberian peninsula

In 1143, won independence from Moorish Spain

1581, Phillip II of Spain Invaded Portugal for 60 years

1640- Portuguese monarchy was restored

Geography Occupies the western

part of the Iberian peninsula and is about the size of Indiana

Crossed by 3 large rivers Divided into 3

geographic areas: The Minho River, Douro River, and Tejo River, remaining is Alentejo

Portugal cont. Culture Foundation of social structure

and basis for stability, extended family is close

Loyalty comes before other social relationships, business

Traditional and conservative Retain a sense of formality

and portrayed in extreme politeness

Appearance is very important Respects hierarchy

Places to visit The Gulbenkian Museum Praca de Comerico St. Jorge’s castle Belem Aveiro city Chiado Evora Ponte 25 de Abril Coimbra city Portugal’s Cristo Rei

Romania History From A.D 100-271 most of

Romania was the Roman province of Dacia

After in the congress of Berlin, became a kingdom in 1881

Signed the Axis pact on Nov. 23, 1940 and the following June joined in Germany’s attack on the Soviet union

In 1955, joined the Warsaw treaty organization, and united nations

Geography Southeast Europe, and slightly

smaller than Oregon Carpathian mts. divide

Romania’s upper half from north to south and connect near the center of the country with the Transylvanian Alps running east and west

North and west of these ranges cause the Transylvanian plateau, to the south and east are the plains of Moldavia and Walachia

At 190mi, the Danube river flows through

Romania cont. Culture Age and position are respected,

older people are viewed as wise and expect senior person to make decisions that benefits the whole group

Titles are very important Father is the head of the family Formal, reserved, and do not

trust strangers Usually shy and quiet and will

open up slowly

Places to visit Dabrogea Transylvania Walachia Sibiu Bucharest Brasov Tulcea Oradea

Russia History Viking Rurik came to Russia in

862 and found the first Russia dynasty

In 1240, Kiev was destroyed by Mongols and Russia was split into numerous smaller dukedoms

Ivan IV the terrible was known to find the Russia, Charles XII extended Russia’s boundaries to the West

In 1762, Catherine the Great acquired Crimea, Ukraine and part of Poland

Geography Occupies most of eastern Europe

and North Asia stretches from the Baltic Sea from the West to the Pacific Ocean in the east, also from the Artic Ocean in the north to the Black Sea in the South

Borders Finland and Norway in the northwest;

Estonia,Latvia,Belarus,Ukraine,Poland and Lithuania in the West

Georgia and Azerbaijan in the southwest; and Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China, and North Korea along the southern border

Russia cont. Culture Family is dependent upon all its

members, Live in small apartments often with 2 or 3 generations

Most families are small Proud, patriotic songs and poems

extol the virtues of their homeland Accept their lives are difficult,

appreciate their cultural heritage and expect the rest of the world to admire it

Being nosy is common, Russians are extroverts

Life once settled on the agricultural village commune

Places to visit St. Petersburg Moscow Novgorod Golden Ring Cities Siberia Volga River Smolensk Samara

Scotland History Picts were the first inhabitants Kenneth McAlpin, King of the

Scots ascended the thorne in 843, uniting the Scots and Pictish tribes under the Dal Riada

By the 11th century, monarchy has extended to include much of Scotland today

1296, Edward I of England successfully invaded Scotland

1328, English finally recognized Scottish independence

Geography Occupies the northern third of

the island of Great Britain Bounded by English in the South

and on the other three sides by water

Divided into three physical regions: The Highlands, The Central Lowlands, and Southern Uplands

Includes outer and inner Hebrides and other islands off the West Coast and the Orkney and Shetland islands off the north coast

Scotland cont. Culture National anthem is

widely accepted English, Scots, and

Gaelic are common languages

The kilt worn with pipers, and a plaid long piece of tartan wrapped around the upper body is the common uniform

Places to visit Stirling Dunblane Perth Glasgow Edinburgh Kilchurn castle Dunollie castle Oban seal Mull

Serbia History Settled the Balkan peninsula in

the 6th and 7th century 1166, Stefan Nemanja a

Siberian warrior and chef found the 1st Siberian state

1389, Siberia was defeated in the Battle of Kosovo

1389, absorbed into the Ottoman empire

1878, Serbia gained independence

1918 became part of the kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes

Geography Largely mountainious Northeast section is part

of Danubian Plain Borders Croatia on the

northwest, Hungary on the north, Romania on the northeast, Bulgaria on the east, Macedonia on the south and Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Harzegovina on the west

Serbia cont. Culture Slava is an exclusive custom Highly family oriented Kolo is the traditional dance Important Christmas meal is

Cesnica which is a special type of bread

Christmas is not associated with the parents

On Easter, they have Slavic egg decorating

Known as misers

Places to visit Belgrade Novi Sad Subotica Sokobanja

Slovakia History Fell under Hungarian

control from the 10th century till 1918

In 1918, the Slovaks joined the Czech lands to form Czechoslovakia

In March 1939, Germany occupied Czechoslovakia

In 1948, Slovakia was subjected to a centralized Czech dominated government

Geography Located in central

Europe Rugged mountains, rich

in mineral resources with vast forests and pastures

Lowland regions in the south

Twice the size of Maryland

Slovakia cont. Culture Includes both folk traditions

and modern society Family is center of social

structure, together with close friends from the basis of financial and emotional support

Value privacy, takes awhile for them to open up to new people

Polite and well-respected nature

Places to visit Bratislava High Tatra Kosice Kransnohorske Podhradie Dargov Betliar Slovak Karst national

park Poprad

Spain History Originally inhabited

by Celts, Iberians, and Basques, in 206 B.C. became a part of the Roman Empire

In 1923, Gen. Miguel Primo de Rivera became dictator

Geography Occupies 85% of the

Iberian peninsula, shares it with Portugal

A broad central plateau slopes to the south and east, crossed by a series of mountain ranges and river valleys

Off of Spain’s east coast lies the Balearic islands

Spain cont. Culture Family is the basis of

social structure which includes both nuclear and extended

Majority are Roman Catholic

Structure and size of the family vary

Familial networks have become less tight

Places to visit Cadiz Salamanca Valencia Madrid Barcelona Andalucia, Costa del Sol

Granada Seville Malaga San sabastian Bilbao

Sweden History In the 11th century, Olaf

Skottkonung became the 1st Swedish king

In 1520, Christian II conquered Sweden but lead Swedish personages to death

Played a leading role in the second phase of the thirty years war

Geography Occupies the eastern part

of the Scandinavian peninsula

Fourth largest country in Europe

1/10th larger than California In the north are mountains

and lakes To the south and east are

lowlands, and fertile areas of forest, valley, and plain

Sweden cont. Culture Egalitarian in nature,

humble, and find boasting unacceptable

Prefer listening to others than having their own voice heard, speak softly and calmly

Rarely take hospitality, often give thanks

Family is extremely important

Places to visit Stockholm Uppsala Gothenburg Crystal country Kalmar Gota canal Swedish Lapland Operan

Switzerland History 1921, league of cantons

in the Holy Roman Empire

Treaty of Westphalia gave Switzerland its independence

1815, the congress of Vienna granted the neutrality and recognized its independence

Geography Tallest peak:

Dufourspitze Composed of

mountainous plateau, bordered by the great bulk of Alps in the south, and the Jura mountains on the northwest

Switzerland cont. Culture Marriage is not arranged,

late marriage and divorce is common

Extended families Privacy and discretion are

key values in social interaction

Do not speak to strangers Kind and politeness are

common characteristics

Places to visit The Jungfrau Region Chateau de Chillon Fasnacht Spring

carnival Swiss national park Geneva The Matterhorn St. Moritz The Rhine Falls

Turkey History 1900 BC the Hittite Empire 1250 BC the Trojan war 547 BC Cyrus of Persia invades

and conquers 129 BC becomes the Roman

Province of Asia 1000s-1200s Crusader armies

cross 1682- Peter the Great initiates

Russo-Turkish rivalry 1914- Allies with Germany in

WWI 1939- Remains neutral with

Germany in WWII

Geography Northeast end of the

Mediterranean sea in Southwest Europe and Asia

Black sea in the north and in the west is the Aegean sea

Borders: Greece and Bulgaria to the west, Russia, Ukraine and Romania to the north, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran to the east and Syria and Iraq in the south

Turkey cont. Culture Common religion is Islam Depends on the region and

ethnic background of its inhabitants

Clothing is similar to western culture

Family plays a big part, although it has changed to modern day demands

Usually eat all 3 meals together, but because of hectic schedules it is happening less

Places to visit Nemrut Dagi Pamukkle Bodrum Kusadasi Ankara Lycian coast Cappadocia Ephesus Antalya Istanbul