Mediterranean Europe

Mr. Jeremy Rinkel

MAP

Spain

• Is very isolated and “well-guarded”

• Pyrenees Mountains block access from the rest of Europe

• Steep Cliffs are located along the coastlines of the Mediterranean and Atlantic

Spain

• High plateaus from most of Spain

• Most rivers in Spain are un-navigable due to very dangerous rapids

Spain (Climate)

• Mediterranean climate– Mild and rainy winters– Hot and dry summers

• Moist Atlantic winds provide the area with adequate rainfall for farmers to raise corn and cattle.

Spain (The Economy)

• 18% of exports are agricultural

• Has recently shifted to exporting its natural resources

• Spain’s major export in transportation equipment

Spain (Cities)

• Bilbao– Industrial center (due to iron ore for steel)

• Barcelona– The largest port city – Center for manufacture of plastics and textiles

• Madrid– Largest city and the nation’s capital– Many problem (immigration, pollution, traffic)

Spain (Regions)

• Northern- (Basque)– Fewer than 1 million– One of the richest areas– Throughout history have been persecuted

• Catalonia (region surrounding Barcelona)– Pushing for using a Spanish/French language

Portugal

• Capital: Lisbon

• Is about the size of Indiana

• Population about 10 million

• Has a history due to its world exploration in the 15th Century

Agriculture and Economy

• Receives abundant rainfall for farming– Grains (wheat)– Barley– Olive oil (in the South) is a major export

• Cork and cork products– Are made from oak trees and are also a major

export

History

• Portugal became a trading nation

• Lisbon became a very valuable port city

• Signed a treaty with Spain in 1494 dealing with the expansion of colonial regions in Latin America and Africa.

The Future

• Economy was once based on agriculture, but is changing

• Industries and the production of clothing paper, and cork have became important

• Is working to improve the literacy rate (87%)

• Faces many challenges (including industrial pollution)

Italy

• Looks like a giant boot

• Is formed around the Apennine Mountains– Mostly under 10,000 feet

• Very active seismically (volcanoes and earthquakes

• Sicily’s Mount Etna erupted in 1985

Climate and Vegetation

• Alps run east to west on the northern border of the country– Its tall peaks block the moisture from the

Atlantic

• Mediterranean climate– Hot and dry summer/cold and wet winter

Climate and Vegetation

• Trees have been taken off hillsides to overpopulation– Mostly scrub vegetation remains– Soil has eroded due to overgrazing by sheep

and goats

• 1960’s- 1/3 worked on farms

• 2008- less than 10% work in agriculture

Overpopulation

• 58 million people

• The populated areas are extremely crowded

• Unemployment in rural areas is high, especially in Southern Italy

• Since WWII, the southern populations have moved to the north to seek jobs in factories

A Growing Economy

• Automobiles, home appliances and metal goods have been the most successful

• Previous to 1950, fairly poor and was largely agricultural

• European Union helped provide a market for Italy’s products

• Italian goods could be sold at a lower price due to lower wages

Northern Italy

• Known as European Italy

• The Po River Valley– Most productive agricultural area– Raise wheat and rice

• Ski resorts in the Alps attract visitors year around (Tourism

Northern Italy

• Dairy farms are profitable and productive

• Venice – Pollution problems– Subsidence (geological phenomena in which

a ground in an area sinks– Very popular with tourists– Has a network of canals that serve as streets

Central Italy

• Rome– Chosen as capital due to central location and

it was the capital of the Roman Empire– The Colosseum and Forum are still standing

today

• Vatican City– World headquarters of the Roman Catholic

Church– St. Peter’s Basilica

Central Italy

• Florence– Main cultural city– Made famous by many painters including

Michelangelo during the Renaissance

Southern Italy

• Includes the islands of Sicily and Sardina

• Poor roads make travel very difficult

• Agriculture is not very profitable due to poor soil and outdated farming techniques

• Naples- port city (worst poverty in Europe)– Poverty due to lack of jobs for the population

Greece

• Has geographic and historical ties to the Mediterranean

• Is a member of the European Union and NATO

• The birthplace of culture that reached “full expression in Western Europe”

Land

• Includes about 1,450 islands

• Southern Greece is the product of tectonic forces (earthquakes, volcanoes)

Agriculture and Mountains

• Mount Olympus (9,570 feet)

• Narrow coastal plains allow farmers to raise wheat and other grains

• Olive and citrus groves also exist

• On the mountain sides, sheep and goats are raised

Athens

• The capital of Greece

• One of the youngest capital cities in Europe, although many monuments in the cities have stood for centuries

• 1/3 of the population live in or near the city

• Major traffic issues

Focus on the Sea

• Piraeus– Major harbor for exporting products

• Relies heavily on the export of products by sea

• Has one of the world’s largest commercial shipping fleets

• Shipbuilding is an important industry

Focus on the Sea

• The sea enables Greece to maintain contact with its many islands

• Many people make a living fishing

• Tourism has become very popular due to the sparkling clear water and gleaming beaches

Crete

• Island with a history

• Was once the center of culture

• Some believe tsunamis wiped out this area

• Tsunami- giant waves caused by tectonic activity