EUROPE Geography 102 World Regional Geography Chapter 1

EUROPE

Geography 102

World Regional Geography

Chapter 1

Basics

Lingering world influence Numerous nation-states plagued by internal separatist

movements Physiography

Western extremity of Eurasian landmass Wide range of topographic, climatic, and soil conditions

Economic Geography High degree of differentiation and specialization International economic integration Manufacturing dominant with high levels of productivity

Population Geography Well-off, well-educated, highly urbanized, but aging, population Declining population in many countries International immigration

PhysicalLandscapes

Central Landscapes Hills and plateaus

loaded with raw materials

Alpine Mountains Western Uplands North European

Lowland Avenue for human

migration Most of Europe’s

leading cities are located here

Many major rivers and connecting waterways

Climate Categories

Relative Location Relative Location – the location of a place in relation to

other locations/places Is the relative location of Europe favorable? YES

It is at the heart of the land hemisphere It has maximum efficiency for contact with the rest of the

world Every part of Europe is close to the sea – a peninsula of

peninsulas It has hundreds of miles of navigable waterways and system

of canals There are moderate distances between European countries

Other geographical benefits… Wide range of climates Varied store of raw materials Home to numerous cultural-linguistic peoples

Relative Location

Historical Geography Peopled during the retreat of the last glaciers Ancient Greece

Achievements in political science, philosophy, and the arts that have endured for 25 centuries

Rome First-metropolitan-scale urban center in Europe Unparalleled infrastructure – the foundations of society;

urban centers, transport networks, communications, energy distribution systems, farms, factories, mines, schools, hospitals, postal services, and policed/armed forces

Local Functional Specialization – particular people in particular places concentrate on the production of particular goods and services

Elba - iron ore Parts of North Africa - granaries Southern Spain - silver and lead

Historical GeographyThe Paving of Modern Europe Europe’s Three Revolutions

Agrarian Revolution Began in Europe in the 1750s The thriving of the port cities and capital

cities created economic opportunities for farmers which spurred new agricultural innovations:

Improved farm practices Better equipment Better storage facilities More efficient transport to urban areas

Enabled increased food production Enabled sustained population increase

Historical GeographyVon Thunen’s Isolated State Model

Von Thunen’s Isolated State Model An idealized model of agriculture based on

four concentric land use rings surrounding a market place

Start with market center… 1st ring (closest to market center) - intensive farming

and dairying of the most perishable products and highest-priced products

2nd ring – forest used for timber and firewood 3rd ring – extensive field crops: grains, potatoes 4th ring – pastures and livestock Beyond 4th ring – wilderness

VON THUNEN’S ISOLATED STATE


Industrial Revolution Initiated in Britain and quickly spread to the continent

between 1750-1850 due to Britain’s: control over the flow of raw materials monopoly over products in global demand possessed the skills to make the machines that manufacture

the products What were some of the innovations?

Power loom Steam-driven engine Coal used to smelt iron instead of charcoal

Proved to be a major catalyst towards increased urbanization, rapid population growth, and colonial domination

Europe’s Spatial Industrial Patterns after the Industrial

Revolution


Political Revolution State formation a long evolutionary process in Europe The French Revolution, 1789-1795

Laid the foundation for modern nation-states Democracy and nationalism were the major themes

The rise of the Nation-State (1860-1870’s) Nation – a people with a single language, a common history,

and a similar ethnic background State – a politically organized territory, administered by a

sovereign government and recognized by the international community. A state must also have:

a permanent resident population an organized economy a functioning internal regulation system

THE PAVING OF MODERN EUROPE Europe’s Three Revolutions

Political Revolution cont. In European nation-states…

People consider themselves to be a nation Emotional and legal ties are expressed in the state’s legal

institutions, political system, and ideological strength However, there are few TRUE nation-states (i.e. homogenous

nations bound together in a state): exceptions are Poland, Hungary and Sweden

Europe’s dichotomy – what is it? Centrifugal Forces – forces that tear countries apart…like

what? Centripetal Forces – forces that unify and bind countries

together…like what?

Centripetal Forces in EuropeSupranationalism

Supranationalism – the voluntary association in economic, political, or cultural spheres of three or more independent states willing to yield some measure of sovereignty for mutual benefit

New “Euro”Currency

Centripetal Forces in EuropeHistory of European Unification

Benelux Agreement 1944 Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg Goal: total economic integration

Ease flow of goods over borders Lower restrictive tariffs Political cooperation

OEEC – Organization for European Economic Cooperation Established to coordinate the

investment of America’s air (under the Marshall Plan after WWII)

European Economic Community (“Common Market”), 1957

European Community, 1973 European Union, 1995

Centripetal Forces The European Union - EU

European organization aimed at coordinating policies among its members in three areas:

Economics Defense Justice and home affairs

Why would a country want to sacrifice autonomy? Benefits of Supranationalism? Adverse effects of supranationalism?

EU’s newest members as of May 2004? (know these) Problems with the new members? Cyprus’s duality

The European

Union (EU)

Centrifugal Forces in Europe Devolution – the process by which regions or

peoples within a state, through negotiation or active rebellion, demand and gain political strength (and sometimes autonomy) at the expense of the center UK – Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Spain – Basques France – Corsica Belgium – Flemish Former Yugoslavia Former Czechoslovakia The Four Motors

Rhone-Alps region in France, Lombardy in Italy, Catalonia in Spain, and Baden-Wurttemberg in Germany

Regions bypass their national governments in dealing with one another and their influence spans the world

DEVOLUTIONIN

EUROPE

DEVOLUTIONARYAREAS

Europe is especially endowed with outstanding opportunities for productive contact and profitable interaction

The links between regions, countries, and places in Europe are guided by three main principles: Complementarity

Transferability

Intervening Opportunity

Economic GeographyContemporary Europe

Complementarity- two places, through an exchange of goods, can specifically satisfy each other’s demands.

Occurs when one area has a surplus of an item demanded by a second area.

Example: Italy Italy lacks coal Italy imports coal from Western

Europe and in return exports its citrus fruits, olives and grapes to Western Europe

Germany

Italy

Economic GeographyComplementarity

Economic GeographyComplementarity

Transferability - the ease with which a commodity may be transported or the capacity to move a good at a bearable cost

Do you remember friction of distance? Factors that increase the friction of distance:

rivers, mountain passes, road networks Factors that decrease the friction of distance:

advances in transportation technology, closely spaced cities/countries

Does Europe have a high or low friction of distance? Why or why not?

Economic GeographyTransferability

Intervening Opportunity - the presence of a nearer source of supply or opportunity that acts to diminish the attractiveness of more distant sources and sites

Example: Italy A major coalfield is found in Switzerland Italy would reduce or eliminate its imports of

coal from Western Europe and instead import coal from Switzerland

Economic GeographyIntervening Opportunity

Population GeographyAn Urban Realm

A highly urbanized realm: 1800 – 9% population urbanized Now – 73% population urbanized

Metropolis – the central city and its suburban ring Primate City – a country’s leading

city, disproportionately large and exceptionally expressive of national capacity and feeling

POPULATION DENSITY

Population Density: 265.2 persons per square mileUrbanization: 73%

EUROPE

Population GeographyEuropean vs. American Cities

Similarities: CBD – Central

Business District (but CBD more dominant than in U.S.)

Suburban ring Differences

High suburban density – why? Greenbelts –

recreational spaces set aside

Apartments, not single family homes

Reliance on public transportation

Centralized urban planning

Population GeographyEurope is Vanishing…

The Population Implosion The declining of population (as opposed to the

population explosion) In Europe…population is declining in many countries:

Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine

Total (Replacement) Fertility Rate – the average number of children a woman needs to bear in order to replace herself and her partner = 2.1 children Europe’s TFR = 1.4

Natural Increase Percent What is it for European countries?

Population GeographyEurope is Vanishing…

Why is population declining? The greater the urbanization, the less children couples have –

why? Other reasons? What is the problem with a population implosion?

Less young people = more elderly people Number of workers whose taxes pay for social services of the aged

goes down – reduced pensions and dwindling funds for health care Tax increases to offset losses in tax-base endanger business climate

Other problems? Decline in population is being offset by immigration: Turks,

Algerians, Moroccans, West Africans, Indonesians Vast majority intensely devout, politically aware, and culturally insular Problems this causes?

European Regions

Western Europe

The British Isles

Nordic Europe

Mediterranean Europe

Eastern Europe

Regions of the RealmWestern Europe

Includes Germany, France, Benelux, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein

The heart of the European realm Hub of Europe’s economic power and

unifying drive World’s richest economies


Germany A young country – not created until 1871 Europe’s most populous country, most powerful

economy and most ardent supporter of the EU Separation after WWII into:

East Germany – controlled by the U.S.S.R. and modeled on the Russian-communist model

West Germany – Ally control and formed into a federal state along democratic lines (thrived economically)

Reunification after the collapse of the Soviet Union Disparity between eastern and western states (see Figure

1-15) West Germany has yet to come up with the economic key

to success for East Germany

States of Germany (Fig. 1-15)


France Primate City = Paris – why Paris?

Advantageous Site – the physical attributes of the place it occupies Original settlement on an island in the Seine River - Île de la

Cité The security the island gave ensured its continuity

Advantageous Situation – a place’s location relative to surrounding areas of productive capacity, other cities/towns, barriers to access and movement etc. Fertile agricultural hinterland Numerous waterways and canals connected Paris to other

important agricultural/industrial areas Radial system of roads ensured easy access and movement

Paris’s Site and Situation


France Economic Geography

One of the world’s most productive and most diversified economies

Post-industrial economy dominated by high-tech industries: high-speed trains, aircraft, fiber-optic communication systems, and space-related technologies

World leader in nuclear power Supplies 75% of the country’s electricity Reduces dependence on foreign oil

Rhone-Alps region – self-standing economic powerhouse and one of Four Motors

Political Geography 22 provinces, and various regions designed to appease

devolutionary forces threatening to tear country apart


Benelux Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg

Regional complementarity between agriculturally productive Netherlands and industrially developed Belgium

Most densely populated countries on earth Dutch have expanded living space by wresting land from the

sea – Zuider Zee project (drained almost entire southern sea) Belgium

Devolutionary force between Flemish and Walloons Flemish: live in the northwest, speak Dutch, constitute 58% of

the population, but held little power in the 19th and 20th centuries – granted regional autonomy

Walloons: live in the southeast, speak French, constitute 31% of the population, and held almost all the government posts


The Alpine States Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein

Switzerland Landlocked state – a country located in the interior of a

continent without access to the sea Advantageous or disadvantageous? Why is Switzerland a ‘lesson in human geography’? (see book for

answer)

Austria Remnant of the Austro-Hungarian empire Historical geography similar to Eastern European countries

Liechtenstein

Western Europe

Regions of the Realm

The British Isles

Two main islands: Britain Ireland

Four main cultural sections: England Scotland Wales Ireland

Two main political units: United Kingdom of Great

Britain and Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland

Regions of the RealmThe British Isles

Historical Geography Insularity allowed security and protection from turbulent

continental Europe Able to develop parliamentary system Became world’s largest colonial empire Site of the Industrial Revolution

The mismatch of physical and political geography British occupied Ireland and many protestants from northern Britain

settled in the northeastern portion of Ireland Ireland set free and made independent, 1921

British kept control of Northern Ireland due to settlers, hence, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Left Irish Catholics in British controlled north – caused tension Intermittent fighting characterizes this situation

Regions of the RealmThe British Isles

United Kingdom Region of major devolutionary forces:

The case of Northern Ireland Welsh nationalism established Welsh Assembly to administer

public services in Wales, 1997 Scottish nationalism formed a Scottish parliament, 1997, and

hopes for an independent Scotland persist

Republic of Ireland “Celtic Tiger” An EU success story

Growing, booming, service-based economy reflected by burgeoning cities/towns, mushrooming industrial parks, bustling traffic, and construction everywhere

Regions of the RealmNorthern (Nordic)

Europe

Peripheral situation Remote, isolated, and

environmentally severe No major shipping

lanes Limited interaction Removed from wars

Democratic governments, individual rights and social welfare, strong participation of women



Includes Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, and Malta

A discontinuous region of peninsulas On the periphery of the European core

Core-periphery contrasts sharp in some places Only northern Italy and northern Spain part of the core

Urbanization lower than rest of Europe Living standards lag behind rest of Europe

Mediterranean climate Hot-dry summers Distinct agricultural plants/produce – like what?

Regions of the Realm Mediterranean Europe

Italy Best connected to the European core Most economically advanced Displays a sharp north/south contrast

Ancona line - zone of transition between north and south In the north:

Prominent cities: Milan, Turin, Florence, and Venice Contains one of Europe’s Four Motors Contains leading manufacturing complex, skilled labor force,

hydroelectric power, and creates wide range of export products In the south:

Stagnant, rural, poor, immigration problems

ItalyEconomic Disparity

between the North and the

South

The Ancona Line


Spain Devolution a major force:

Basque Country A group of people in Northern Spain and Southern France Separate and very distinct culture and language (Basque is related to

NO other language in the world) ETA - Euskadi Ta Azkatasuna (Basque Homeland and Freedom)

Waged bloody campaign for independence against Spain, 1960’s-today

Catalonia (Barcelona) Leading industrial area, fierce nationalism, own language and culture,

one of Four Motors High-tech regional economy Produces 25% of Spain’s exports and 40% of Spain’s industrial

exports Issue: Catalonian separatism

DEVOLUTIONIN

EUROPE

DEVOLUTIONARYAREAS


Spain cont. Sharp north/south contrasts

In the north….think Catalonia In the south…

Drought-prone, inadequate land reform, scare resources, and remoteness from growth areas in Spain

Dispute over Gibraltar (‘The Rock’) with Britain Gibraltar ceded to Britain (in perpetuity), 1713 British colony with 30,000 residents and British institutions,

legal rules, and schools Spain demands Gibraltar back, but British colonists refuse

Gibraltar – “The Rock”


The Question of Cyprus Historical Geography

Turks conquered and controlled island, 1571-1878

British took over, 1878 Independence with majority

rule (80% Greeks) but minority rights (Turks), 1960

Civil war, 1974 Partition into southern Greek

portion and northern Turkish portion

The Green Line separates the two sides

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus declared, 1983, recognized only by Turkey

The Greek side joined the European Union, 2004

Regions of the Realm

Eastern Europe

Regions of the RealmEastern Europe

Contains the most countries Includes Europe’s largest state but also incorporates

Europe’s poorest state Reaches into the Russian zone of influence Key Concepts:

Balkanization Irredentism Ethnic Cleansing Devolution Shatter belt


Balkanization – the fragmentation of a region in smaller, often hostile political units

Stems from the verb balkanize, which means fragment

Applied to the Southern half of Eastern Europe, i.e., the Balkan countries of the Balkan Peninsula

Shatter Belt – a zone of persistent splintering and fracturing

WHY HERE?


Why do the terms shatter belt and balkanization describe this area so aptly? Area of tumultuous migrations, epic battles, foreign

invasions, and imperial episodes Different cultures have come and stayed in this region

leaving their imprint on the cultural landscape and conflict in their wake: Romans and the Soviet Empire Religious

Christian Orthodox from the east Roman Catholicism from the southeast Muslims (Ottomans) from the south


Irredentism - A policy of cultural extension and political expansion aimed at a national group living in a neighboring country Example: Hungary

BA

A

RIVER & BORDER

COUNTRIES

MINORITYPOPULATION

BORDERADJUSTMENT

ETHNIC ETHNIC GROUPS IN GROUPS IN

EASTERN EASTERN EUROPEEUROPE


Ethnic Cleansing - refers to the forcible ouster of entire populations from their homelands by stronger powers bent on taking their territories

Example: cleansing of Bosnians by Serbs in former Yugoslavia

AB

A

COUNTRIES

BORDER

MINORITYPOPULATION

ETHNIC MOSIAC OF EASTERN EUROPE


Countries Facing the Baltic Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Belarus

Soviet domination affected and continues to affect these countries

Which of these countries joined the EU in 2004? The Landlocked Center

The Velvet Divorce Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia

after the Slovaks disagreed with the direction of economic reforms after the Soviet era

Called velvet because of the ease and peacefulness with which it was achieved

Hungary Irredentism in the form of the Status Law in which Hungary

grants work, health and travel benefits to ethnic Hungarians living in neighboring countries


Countries Facing the Black Sea Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria

Ukraine Divide between Russian east and European west

Each side had a presidential candidate Pro-Russian candidate ‘won’ in narrow and fraudulent

contest Parliament and supreme court voided results

Conflict exemplifies conflict between future and past, democracy and authoritarianism, Russia and Europe


Countries Facing the Adriatic Sea Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Serbia-

Montenegro In 1990, only two countries existed: Yugoslavia

and Albania After WWI, 7 major and 17 minor cultural groups thrown

together Slovenes and Croats (Roman Catholics), Serbs (Serbian

Orthodox Church), Muslims Serbs dominated political life, after WWII communism took

root


The disintegration of Yugoslavia Collapse of communism led to declaration of independence

by Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, and Serbia Slovenia and Macedonia – relatively peaceful Brutal wars in Croatia and Bosnia

Fighting over the rights of minorities in each of the newly declared states

Croatia - 88% Croat, 12% Serb minority Bosnia - conflict between Serbs, Croats, and Muslims

Serbia-Montenegro What has happened with Montenegro?

Kosovo – (Muslims vs. repressive Serbs) now NATO controlled

Former Yugoslavia

Serbs

Muslims

Croats

No majority

BosniaThe ‘Cauldron of Calamity’

Documents

EUROPE Geography 102 World Regional Geography Chapter 1