Transcript Human Geography of Europe

Mediterranean Europe
SSWG6 d. Describe the various ethnic and
religious groups in the region and the effect
of geography on those groups and their
major customs and traditions
SSWG6c. Analyze the importance of
Europe’s coastal location, climatic
characteristics, and river systems regarding
population, economic development, and
world influence.
• Two geographic advantages helped the
Mediterranean become the region
where European civilization was born
1. Mild climate made survival there easier
than in other areas
2. The Mediterranean Sea encouraged
overseas trade
Ancient Greece
• Since the region is mountainous, the
villages were isolated and developed into
separate city-states
• The city-state of Athens developed the
first democracy
• Government in which the people rule
• All free adult males were citizens and had
the right to serve in the law-making
assembly
• Direct Democracy
Ancient Greece cont.
• Lasting Legacy
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Art-sculpture
Architecture-columns, pediment, friezes
Sports-Olympics
Literature-tragedies and dramas
Philosophy-Plato and Aristotle
• emphasized such qualities as wisdom, truth,
courage, justice, and reason as ideal virtues. He
thought these were rare in any person
Ancient Rome
• Located on the Italian Peninsula, Rome united its
people under one government
• Rome’s government was a republic-a government in
which citizens elect representatives to rule in their
name
• indirect democracy
• Rome’s empire stretched from Great Britain to the
Middle East
• Christianity spread across the empire and became
Rome’s official religion in the late 300s
• The Western Roman empire collapsed in part because
of German invaders
Ancient Rome cont.
• Lasting Legacy
• Architecture: perfected the dome and arch
• Engineering: extensive roads and bridges,
aqueducts to carry water
• Religion: the spread of Christianity
• Language: Latin is the basis of all Romance
languages
Spain’s Empire
• In the 700s, Muslims from North Africa
conquered the Iberian Peninsula, they
ruled for more than 1000 years
• Ferdinand and Isabella regained control
of Spain in 1492 (kicked out the
Muslims)
• Paid for Columbus’ first voyage to the
Americas
• Helped spread Catholicism and the Spanish
and Portuguese languages