Transcript Mediterranean Europe

Chapter 13: Human Geography of Europe
I. A History of Ancient Glory
A. Geographic Advantages
1. mild climate = more people come to live here; easier to survive
2. a lot of trade because of the sea = spread of ideas and advanced
knowledge
B. Greece: Birthplace of Democracy
1. City-state—a political unit made up of a city, surrounding lands
2. Athenian democracy—a government in which the people rule
- democracy (people have the right to assemble to make laws),
art, science, and philosophy spread from Greek culture
3. 400s BC – wars made Greece weak
-338-336 BC the Macedonian Alexander the Great beat Persia
and India = spread of Greek culture
C. The Roman Empire
1. Greece loses power, Rome rises
- Rome rules Italian Peninsula by 275 B.C.; Iberia and Balkans later
- Rome is a republic—elected representatives rule in citizens’ name
2. Christianity spreads from Palestine; is official religion by A.D. 400
- In A.D. 395 empire splits into eastern, western halves
- Western Roman Empire weakens, falls A.D. 476
- Eastern Roman Empire lasts another 1,000 years
II. Moving Toward Modern Times
A. Italian City-States
1. Without strong central government, Italy divides into small states
2. Christians start Crusades in 1096 to regain Palestine from Muslims
- Italy makes money by supplying Crusaders (Florence and
Venice = banking and foreign trade)
3. Renaissance—renewed interest in learning, arts from 1300s to
1500s
4. In 1347, Asian bubonic plague reaches Italy, kills millions in
Europe “Black Death”
B. Spain’s Empire
1. North African Muslims (called Moors) conquer Iberian Peninsula
in 700s
- Islam and Arabic influences in Spain
2. retaken by Catholic rulers, Ferdinand and Isabella, by 1492
3. Spain, Portugal launch Age of Exploration, colonize Americas
-Spread Spanish/Portuguese and Catholicism in new regions
III. A Rich Cultural Legacy
A. Rome’s Cultural Legacy
1. Language
- Greek remained; Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian
(“Romance” language) came from Latin
2. Religion
- Two different expressions of Christianity due to split
in the Roman Empire
*Greece – Eastern Orthodox Christianity
*Spain, Portugal, Italy – Roman Catholic
B. Centuries of Art
1. Roman aqueducts – carried water for long distances
2. Muslim mosques – due to Moor occupation of Spain from
700-1492
3. Renaissance art and statues; modern art from artists like
Pablo Picasso
IV. Economic Change
A. Agriculture to Industry
1. Mediterranean nations less industrialized
2. Economy once based on fish, crops (olives, grapes, citrus, wheat)
3. Changed in 20th century: manufacturing, service industries
growing
4. European Union – partnership for economic growth (economic
aid); every European country is a member except Iceland,
Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo,
Serbia, and Turkey
B. Economic Problems
1. Italy’s northern region is more developed than southern half
2. poor transportation systems in the southern region
3. bad choices by the government – did not start industries that
helped the people
4. Mediterranean region poor in energy resources, relies on oil
imports
V. Modern Mediterranean Life
A. Political Turmoil
1. After dictator Francisco Franco, Spain sets up constitutional
government
2. After WWII, Italy became republic, but had many
governments
3. Greece has also had political instability
B. The Basques
1. Spain’s minority group
- live in the foothills of the Pyrenees
- Spain allowed them a “self-ruling” region, but they are
fighting for complete independence
C. City Growth
1. More people are moving to the city due to industrialization
- housing shortages, pollution, and traffic jams
2. Cities try to preserve artwork and historical sites