Transcript •Western Europe Introduction – Center of Land Hemisphere

•Western Europe
 Introduction
– Center of Land Hemisphere
 centrality
of location, easy contact with rest of world
 maritime technology and formation of colonial empires
 railroads open up continental interiors
 aviation and high-speed ocean commerce
– Maritime Orientation
 Europe
forms ragged Atlantic fringe on vast Eurasian land
mass
 shelters coats and harbors
 most countries have direct access to sea
Europe: Center of the Land Hemisphere
Europe: Physical Map
Landforms
– Northwest Highlands
 includes
Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, British isles,
and Breton peninsula in NW France
 influence of volcanism and glaciation
 isolation, rugged landforms, gale-force winds
 almost no soil, non-productive agricultural land
 seafaring traditions
 marshlands and lakes
 hydroelectricity in Norway and Sweden
 fjords
 cloudy, cold, wet weather
 grazing sheep and cattle
 coniferous
forests inland
 mining centers for iron ore in Kiruna and Gullivare
– European Plain
 Stretches
from Pyrenees to Ural Mts.
 broad, rolling lowland plain
 varied and complex soils
 influence of seas and rivers
 most river systems flow north, facilitate trade and travel
 efficient and integrated transportation systems with
canals,rivers, railroads, and highways
 location of greatest European cities- Paris, Berlin
 high agricultural potential
– Central Uplands
 zones
of hilly, rugged plateaus
 old geologic formations, rounded Mts., moderately high
 not as productive as European plain
 not well suited to agriculture, too rugged, too steep
 grazing and fodder crops
– Alpine Mt.. System
 high
Mts., rugged plateaus, steep slopes
 southern flank of Europe, parts of Iberian, Italian, and
Balkan peninsulas
 Alps relatively young like with peaks from 10-15K high
 passes focal point of routes from Europe to Mediterranean
 Brenner, St. Bernard, Gotthard passes
 earthquakes and volcanic activity
 Climate
– Introduction
 Alps
are climatic divide in Europe
 north has moderate temperatures, moist marine climate with
lush green landscapes (Ireland the Emerald Isle)
 south has dry summers, subtropical climate with brown,
parched fields
– Marine Climate
 moderate
temperature, abundant moisture from the Atlantic
 Atlantic Ocean warmer than latitude would suggest
 North Atlantic Drift
– Dry Summer Subtropical Climate
 Mediterranean
climate
 clear, hot, dry summers
 moderate, moist winters
 found in California, Chile, South Africa, South Australia
 subtropical high pressure shifts north in summer producing
clear, sunny, dry skies
 farmers plant crops in winter and spring for harvest in early
summer
 use of cloches to grow vegetables in winter
 fruit trees and olive trees well adapted
 tourism flourishes in summer
– Humid Continental Climates
 Inland
from coastal areas
 Mostly found in Central Europe
 Influence of continental air masses from inner Asia
 Winters are colder and summers hotter
 Short summer climates in the north (Poland,
Slovakia, Czech Republic)
 Warmer and longer summers in Hungary, Romania,
north Bulgaria
 Vegetation mostly forests with good soils particularly
in the Danube Valley
 Environmental
Issues
– population increases and utilization of resources
 impact
of industrial revolution, concentration of factories
– pollution of rivers from industrial, mining, and
domestic wastes
 loss
of fish stocks
 efforts recently to clean up rivers
– air pollution problems
 winter
smoke, fogs, road traffic, sulfur and nitrogen oxides
produce acid rain
 impact of air pollution on coniferous forests from Alps to
Scandinavia
– pollution of Mediterranean Sea
 population
along coasts rising
 impact of tourism in summer on pollution
 shipping lanes and oil pollution
 urban industrial areas- Barcelona, Marseilles, Genoa, Naples,
and Athens
 recognition of problem and some progress
– waste management, a growth industry in Europe
 landfill
sites limited
 incineration of waste
 recycling increasingly popular
European Union
 European
unity
– Virtually all European states members of EU
today
– Movement toward unity arose from WWII to
interlock economies so further war would be
difficult
– ECSC (European Coal and Steel Community) in
1952 joined German and French heavy industry
together
– EEC (European Economic Community) signed
in Rome 1958.
– EFTC (European Free Trade Community) led
by UK and non-EEC countries
– European Parliament and European
Commission in Strasbourg, FR
– Maastricht Treaty in 1990
– From 6 to over 15 European countries members
today
– European currency introduced this year (Euro)
 Achievements
– Expanding market and stimulation of economic
growth in Europe
– CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) problems
of abolishing tariffs on agricultural products
– Sovereignty eroding; concern about loss of
autonomous decision-making power in UK,
Denmark, Greece, Portugal
– Future of East European states, Turkey, and EU
– European outlook developing
– Future of NATO and relations with Russia
United Kingdom

Background
– Composed of England, Scotland, Wales, and
Northern Ireland
– International dominance from 1815-1914
– Overseas empire, spread of language and culture
– World’s most foremost manufacturing nation until
WW I
– After WW I, economic growth declined; political
stature declined after WW II
– Role in EU and Commonwealth of Nations
Scottish Highlands
Scottish Lowlands
UK Physical Map
Pennines
Mts. Of Wales
Cornwall peninsula
British Lowlands

Physical Regions of UK
– Highland Britain
Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and northern and southwestern
England
 treeless hills, uplands, low mountains, older rocks
 Scottish highlands, Southern Uplands of Scotland, Pennines,
Lake District of north England, mountains of Wales, Cornwall
peninsula
 Highland Britain contains two lowlands (1) central plain of
Ireland and (2) Scottish lowlands
 Scottish lowlands only 1/5 of Scotland’s area but has
4/5’s of the population. Glasgow and Edinburgh

– Lowland Britain
 all of this area lies in England
 better soils
 pastures, meadows, crop fields, villages and market towns
 industrial revolution in this area, expanding population,
urbanization
 five industries part of industrial rise- coal mining, iron and
steel, cotton textiles, woolen textiles, and shipbuilding
– Coal Industry
 fuel for blast furnace and steam engines
 coal production rose until WW I, then declined in 20th C
 reasons for decline: competition from foreign sources,
depletion of easily mined coal, and substitution of other fuels
– Iron and Steel
 steel scarce and expensive before industrial revolution
 improvements in process of making steel
 superior strength and versatility of steel made cheaply
 reliance on domestic ores initially, later imported
 US and Germany surpass British output by 1900
 located in scattered areas (1) eastern England; (2) south
Wales; (3) lower Tees River area
– Cotton Milling in Lancashire
 cotton textiles leading export
 cotton industry centered in Lancashire and Manchester
 raw cotton imported; manufactured textiles exported
 importance of inventions in cotton milling and weaving
 foreign competition after WW II
– Woolen Textile Industry of Yorkshire
 largest woolen textile industry in world
 concentrated in Yorkshire in Leeds Bradford
– Shipbuilding on Tyne and Clyde
 wooden ships constructed by Britain
 deforestation and timber imports from US
 competition from US shipbuilding in New England
 Britain building 80% of iron and steel ships by 1900
 center of shipbuilding was NE England along Tyne River
and Scottish lowlands along River Clyde
 built for UK merchant marine and foreign owners
 Britain’s share of world shipbuilding declined after WW I,
now only 2-3% of world’s total
 competition from Japan and Korea
 Urbanization
– industrial revolution fueled growth of cities
– most large cities near coal fields
– uniqueness of London, not an industrial city but center
of government, commerce, insurance, media, arts, and
tourism
– reasons for predominance of London
 near
major trading partners
 location in productive area
 transportation and communications facilitated
 location on a river permitting ocean-going ships to dock
– much development downstream today, containerization

Food and Agriculture
– large dependence on imported food
– poor soils, steep slopes, cool summers, cloudiness not good for
agriculture
– Lowland Britain better suited to agriculture
– high concentration on grass farming for milk and meat
– barley and other crops for feed
– British agricultural yields good

English Channel Tunnel
– Underground tunnel between Southern UK and Calais, Fr
– Travel time 3 hours between London and Paris
– Psychological importance of the Chunnel- UK no longer as
isolated.
– Stimulating of trade and tourism between UK and Europe
 Problem
of Old Industrial Areas
– constant succession of economic difficulties since
WWII
– trade and competition are problems for British
industry
– unemployment in coals fields
– newer industrials like autos also in difficulty
– reasons for economic decline?
 loss
of resource advantages
 cheaper labor abroad
 technological advantages of new states
 technological unemployment
 conservative management
 Service
sector
– expanding employment in this area
– government, insurance, health, sales, education,
research, tourism, communications, and media
Ireland
 Background
– Ireland is land of hills, lakes, marshes, peat bogs,
verdant grasslands (Emerald Isle)
– Republic of Ireland occupied 4/5’s of land;
Northern Ireland occupied 1/5 of land in Northeast
 Economic
factors
– Ireland in midst of transition from predominantly
agricultural country to industrial economy
– low level of income
– lack of mineral resources
– dependent status of Ireland; harsh rule of Britain
– Northern Ireland part of United Kingdom, religious
and political discrimination against Catholics
– Protestant majority (Scottish Presbyterians) in
Northern Ireland
– shipbuilding and linen textiles industries in Belfast
– foreign investment recently in Republic of Ireland due
to cheap labor, governmental incentives, tax breaks
– manufacturing now larger than agriculture
– most industrialization in Dublin and Cork
– agriculture still important, especially dairying, fodder
crops
– farms are small and undermechanized
– problems with terrorism from 60’s through 90’s
– Good Friday Agreements in 1998 has
ameliorated some conflict
– UK yielded direct political rule to Northern
Ireland in 1999
– prospects for peace enhanced since 2001
Ireland
Physical Map
France
 Background
–
–
–
–
one of world’s most important countries
major industrial and trading nation; atomic power
lost significance as major colonial power
Paris, center art and culture
 Physical
and Cultural Unity of France
– hexagon framed by several seas and mountains:
(1) Mediterranean Sea and Pyrenees; (2) Bay of
Biscay and English Channel; (3) Alps and Jura Mts.;
(4) Vosges Mts. and Rhine river; (5) Ardennes Upland
France: Physical Map
English Channel
Paris Basin
Brittany
Ardennes Uplands
Jura Mts
The Alps
Carcassone Gap
– recognizable political unit since Roman times
– natural fortress with Pyrenees, Alps, Jura Mts.
protecting France
– northeast frontier less defensible against Germany
– Franco-Prussian war 1870; World War I; and World
War II
 French Agriculture
– French Agriculture
– agriculture more important in France than most
developed countries; 60% of French land in
agriculture
– major producer of wheat, wine, barley, cereal
products, corn, dairy products, fruits, vegetables
–
–
–
–
EU membership important advantage
physical advantages in topography, climate and soil
vineyards concentrated in south and southwest
northeast France has loess soil that produce wheat and
sugar beets
 French
Cities
– Paris, primate city and largest urban, industrial city
 strategic
location of Paris
 capital of French kings, seat of government, bureaucracy,
cultural life
 hub of national road and rail system
 center of quality luxury items- fashions, haut couture,
perfumes, cosmetics, jewelry, (Christian Dior; Lancôme)
 center
of engineering industries, metal manufacturing, light
industry, automobiles (Renault, Peugeot, and Citroen)
 importance of Rouen and Le Havre as port cities
– importance of Urban and Industrial Districts adjourning
Belgium
 second-ranking
urban and industrial area along Belgian
border
 Lille, largest metropolitan area of region
 coal fields, textile plants, chemicals, heavy industry
 unemployment problems of the Nord region
– urban and industrial districts in Southern France
 Lyon,
third largest urban industrial area
 valleys of Rhone and Saone rivers
 transportation artery- superhighways, rapid rail, and barges
 Massif
Central and energy production
 Cities of Marseilles, Toulon, and Nice
– mining and heavy industry in Lorraine
 important
area with heavy industry
 iron-ore producing area near Nancy and Metz
 low quality deposits, losing market share to others
 new iron and steel plants at Dunkirk and Bay of Fos using
overseas resources
 attempts to relocate new industry in Lorraine difficult
because of environment, quality of life and unions
– industries of Western France and Massif Central
 less
populous and urban
 Bordeaux, Toulouse and Nantes are main cities

Toulouse, old and historic city, now produces machinery, chemical,
aircraft plants
– dynamism of recent urban and industrial development
major changes since WW II in structure of economy
 importance of EU
 new technologies and new industries
 national and regional planning, cooperation between government and
business
 reduction of historic regional imbalances
 diversion of development from Paris to outlying areas
 ethnic diversity, poverty, and disaffection in Brittany and Corsica
 Bordeaux, seaport on Garonne River, center of wine industry

Germany
 Background
– Federal Republic of Germany and Democratic
Republic of Germany united in 1990
– most important and dynamic country in Europe
– population of 80 million
– time and money required to integrate East Germany
into West Germany
 German
Environment
– central location in Europe
– lowlands of Northern Germany part of North European
plain
Germany: Physical Map
German Plain
The Ruhr
Black forest
German Alps
– uplands and highlands between Danube and northern
plain
– maritime climate becoming more continental to east
and south
– 20-30 inches of rain per year
– soils relatively poor except on southern portion of
north German plain and upper Rhine plain
 Location
of German Cities
– most cities located in economically advantaged areas
or strategic transportation areas
– Four of eight largest cities on the Rhine riverDusseldorf, Cologne, Wiesbaden-Mainz, and
Mannheim-Ludwigshfen-Heidelberg
– Other four largest cities on tributaries of the RhineEssen, Wuppertal, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart
– North/South cities- Dortmund, Duisburg and Aachen
– Ruhr industrial area crucial in development of several
cities
– strategic location of Hanover, Leipzig and Dresden in
loess belt
– Hamburg on Elbe estuary; Bremen on Wesser estuary
– southern uplands - Munich on pass route across Alps
and Nuremberg
– Berlin, unlikely location but historic seat of
government
 Evolution
of Germany
– German tribes occupied expanse from Rhine to
Vistula
– as Germans moved westward, Slavs occupied area in
east up to Vistula river in Poland
– German control to Poland in late 1700’s, some
German influence as far as Volga river in Russia
– new German empire in 1871 under Prussian
leadership
– rapid population growth stimulates growth
– coal, chemical, metallurgical and engineering
industries boomed.
– development of railway system, canals, transportation
–
–
–
–
German ports centers of world trade
impact of WW I on German development
Third Reich under Hitler
impact of WWII on Germany’s eastern border and
division of Germany
– 13 million Germany migrated to West Germany by
1961, necessitating creation of Berlin Wall
– collapse of Soviet empire in 1989/90
 German
Industrial Economy
– roots of development in medieval times in Rhine
Uplands (Weisbaden), Saxony(Czech border), and
Silesia (Poland)
– importance of metallic ores, smelted with charcoal and
use of water power
– Ruhr coal field and development of heavy industry on
Rhine River
– Saxony, coal resources poorer, development of
machinery, precision instruments, textiles, chemicals
– railways and canals bring resources for industrial
development
– rapid recovery of German economic after WW II
– abundant skilled workers, hungry markets, high prices
on foreign goods
– production of agricultural products suited to German
climate and poor soil
– Common market deprived farmers of protection,
movement of people from rural areas to urban
industrial cities
– farm labor declined from 5.2 million to 1.7 million
between 1950-1976
– petroleum replaced coal as fuel in 70’s; atomic energy
developed to produce electricity, protests by antinuclear groups
– Soviet natural gas deal strains US relations
– increasing competition with Japan for world markets
– costs of integrating East Germany into the new
German Federal Republic
– productivity and living standards lower;
environmental problems of East Germany
Benelux Countries
 Background
– Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg closely
associated throughout history
– “Low Countries” descriptive of Belgium and the
Netherlands but not Luxembourg
– parts of Netherlands along coast below sea level,
protected by sand dunes and man-made dikes
– Ardennes includes half of Luxembourg, rolling
terrain similar to that in French Lorraine
– high population densities, high productivity, and high
incomes
Benelux Physical Map
 Role
of Trade
– economic life of Benelux has intensive development
of industry, agriculture, and trade
– limited resources necessitate trade in manufactured
products, livestock products, vegetables, and flowers
– position of Benelux favorable for trade near UK,
France, Germany
– Benelux handles significant portion of trade from
Switzerland, eastern France, and Germany (Rhine
river traffic)
– importance of former colonial empires-East Indies
(Indonesia) and Belgian Congo (Zaire/Congo)
 Dutch
and Belgian Ports
– three of largest world ports in Low Countries, i.e..
Rotterdam and Amsterdam in Netherlands and
Antwerp in Belgium
– Amsterdam (1.9 million) was main port of Holland
in 17th/18th C
 entrepot
for tropical products from East Indies
 manufacturing center
 distinctive ethnic and cultural flavor from Indonesian
community
 North Sea Canal replaced approach from Zider Zee which
was too shallow to accommodate large ships
– Rotterdam (1.1 million) largest world port in terms
of tonnage handled
 ideally
situated to handle Rhine traffic
 impact of New Waterway channel in 1872 and
industrialization of Ruhr responsible for growth
 Europort along New Waterway handles supertankers
and containerize ships
– Antwerp (1.1 million) up Scheldt River in Belgium
 primarily
a port for Belgium but also gets Rhine traffic
 deep estuary of Scheldt gives Antwerp best harbor in
country
 closer to the Ruhr
 Manufacturing
in Benelux
– highly industrialized
– discoveries of natural gas in Netherlands in 50’s
supported industrialization
 Heavy
Industry in Sambre Meuse District
– major coal field in valley of Sambre and Meuse
rivers
– iron and steel industry developed here before
Industrial Revolution in Liege
– problems of old, coal-based industries, a declining
industry
– newer industrial plants in northern Belgium where
unions weaker and wages lower
– Luxembourg large has exports of iron and steel but
wants to diversify economy
 Industries
in Netherlands
– less heavy industry but more light industries like
textiles, electronics, electrical equipment, etc.
(Philips, Unilever)
– refineries in Rotterdam largest in Europe (Shell Oil)
– petrochemicals and chemicals
– good size merchant marine fleet
– food processing, flower and bulb industry
 Intensive Agriculture
of Low Countries
– Netherlands and Belgium have important
agricultural resources
– high productivity of land due to fertile soils,
intensive use of labor, use of agricultural machinery,
fertilizers
– types of land
 poder
lands surrounded by dikes and artificially drained
 loess lands in Belgium exceptionally fertile
 sandy soils less productive, grow feed crops, livestock
production, milk and dairy products
 Problems
of Benelux Countries
– Belgium problem of national unity- Flemish vs.
Walloons
 French-speaking
Belgians known as Walloons south of
Brussels used to be politically and economically
dominant
 Flemish minority now an increasing majority
 Flemish areas growing at faster rate due to cheap labor
and better location
 periodic problems of violence
– Population and Planning Problems
 how
to provide pleasant living conditions in very
crowded country
 limitations on urban sprawl and promotion of outdoor
recreational areas
 greenbelts, bicycle transport, leisure industries
– Reclamation of New Land
 new
poders from Zuider See
 18 mile dike across entrance to Zuider Zee with
reclaimed land and freshwater lake
 Delta Plan for flood control to avoid repetition of 1953
devastating floods
 construction of dikes connecting major islands in delta
of Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt rivers
Switzerland and Austria
 Background
– Two small countries have much in common, similar
physical environment with high rugged mountains
and strips of morainal land formed by retreating
glaciers
– Swiss plateau from Lake Geneva to Lake Constance
– Austrian plateau between Salzburg to Vienna
 Disparity
of Resources and Economic
Success
– Austria has more arable land, more forests, some
minerals
– Switzerland enjoys greater economic success
– Switzerland has highest per capital income in world
– long period of peace in Switzerland
 no
internal war since 1815
 position as buffer between larger powers
 defensibility of terrain
 small value of Swiss economic production not worth
price of war
 value as intermediary between combatants
 policy of armed neutrality
– exploitation of banking, tourist, manufacturing, and
agricultural potential
– massive inflow of capital to Swiss banks
– Zurich is major center of international finance
– major tourist destination for winter sports (Zermatt,
Davos, and St.. Moritz)
– manufacturing with power supplied from
hydroelectricity
– value added from skilled design and workmanship
– Swiss agriculture highly specialized in dairy
farming along Swiss plateau
– Transhumance, the ancient practice of seasonal
migration of farm people and livestock for summer
grazing in high mountain passes
Switzerland and Austria
Switzerland
 National
Unity of Switzerland
– stable, democratic, competent government with
religious and linguistic differences
– creation of transportation network through high
Alps
– large measure of local autonomy for cantons
– widespread use of initiative and referendum
– government support of infrastructures projects like
railroads, hydroelectric power generating systems,
roads
 Austria:
Problems and Readjustments
– Austria victim of 20th C wars and military disasters
– remnant of Austro-Hungarian empire
– population German in language and culture but
forbidden by victors to unite with Germany
– after WW II Austria reconstituted as independent
state but divided into occupational zones until 1955
– diversified industrial economy utilizing Austrian
iron ore and coal from Bohemia and Moravia in
Czechoslovakia
– difficulty of penetrating European markets
– exports inadequate to pay for imports
– importance of tourism to Austria
– forest industries, tourism, iron ore production,
clothing, textiles and major products
– dairy and livestock farming
– fairly high percentage of population (7-8%)
in agriculture
– dominance of Vienna lessening as population moves
to medium size cities
– strategic location of Vienna on Danube river and
route to Adriatic sea.
Southern Europe
 Background
– southern Europe separated from Africa by
Mediterranean Sea and three large peninsulas
– Iberian peninsula with Spain and Portugal
– Italian peninsula with Italy and Sicily
– Balkan peninsula
– includes several islands like Sicily, Sardinia, Crete,
and the Balearic islands
– African lands on Mediterranean are Islamic while
countries of southern Europe are Roman Catholic or
– Greek Orthodox
 Mediterranean Agriculture
– dry-summer subtropical climate with mild, rainy
winters and hot, dry summers
– Spanish Meseta in the interior cut off from rainbearing winds, colder in winter
– winter wheat, barley, olives, grapes
– olive oil source of fat in Mediterranean diet
– beans and peas also source of protein
– sheep and goats preferred over cattle because they can
survive on sparser pasture
– transhumance practiced
– fruits and vegetables for local market and export
– few irrigated areas strand out including northern
Portugal, Mediterranean coast of Spain, north coast
of Sicily, Italian coast near Naples, and Po River
valley
– extensive irrigated orchards in Spain and Sicily
(oranges from Valencia; lemons in Sicily)
– Campania around Naples extensively farmed
– corn and rye more important in northern Spain
– Po River Valley produces irrigated rice, sugar beets,
hemp, peaches, fruits with high yields
 Terrain
and Population Distribution
– Rugged terrain predominates in Spain, Italy, Portugal,
and Greece
– Population distribution influenced by topography
with lowland plains heavily populated, mountainous
areas less populated
– Spanish Meseta 2,000-3,000 feet in elevation, deep
river valleys cut through it
– Pyrenees and Cantabrian Mts. north of Meseta; Betic
Mts. and Sierra Nevada south of Meseta; most
population on periphery or coastal lowlands
– Alps and Apennines major mountains of Italy
– Apennines are backbone of Italian peninsula down to
Sicily where Mt.. Etna reaches 10,900 ft
– Italian lowlands more heavily populated than
highlands
– Po River Valley has 40% of Italian population
– Ligurian coast near Genoa, Arno River inland near
Florence, and Campania around Naples also heavily
populated
– Pindus Range of Mts. in Greece north of Gulf of
Corinth extend to islands off shore
– Attic Plan with Athens and seaport of Piraeus
 Historic
Contrasts of Wealth and Power
– each of four major countries in southern played
major role in world history
– 600-300 BC Greek city states
– Roman empire rules whole of Mediterranean until
its collapse in 5th C AD
– Italian city states of Middle Ages, Venice, Genoa,
Milan, Bologna, and Florence
– Spanish power after 1492 (Defeat of Moors)
– Portugal’s role in exploration around Africa to Far
East
 Retarded
–
–
–
–
–
Development of Southern Europe
relatively poor part of Europe today
lagging industrial development
unfavorable resource conditions
role of Catholic church
lack of abundant capital, poor education, control by
wealthy landowners, unstable and undemocratic
governments
– lack of good coal and iron-ore deposits
– only three sizable industrial areas of Southern
Europe: (1) Po River Plain in north Italy; (2) area
around Barcelona; and (3) Bilbao, north coast of
Spain
 Economic
–
–
–
–
Progress since WW II
new dynamism at end of 20th C
improved transportation systems
importation of oil and discovery of gas
good market conditions for subtropical vegetables,
fruits, and some manufactured products like
automobiles
– infusions of foreign capital
– boom in tourism around ancient cities, resort coasts
like Costa Brava and Costa del Sol,
Balearic Islands, and Italian Rivera
 Po
River Basin
– economic heartland of modern Italy
– diversification of industry previously dominated by
textiles
– growth of engineering and chemical industrials, ironsteel industries, reliance on domestic natural gas and
imported oil
– Leading cities of Milan (3.8 mil); Turin (1.6 mil)
and Genoa (800 k)
– Milan: industrial capital, center of finance, business
administration, railway transportation, Italian fashion
industry, shoes, textiles, publishing ( Pirelli Tires)
– Turin: center of automobile industry (Fiat)
– Genoa: overseas trade, seaport
 Other
Urban Centers
– non industrial character of other cities
– Athens, Greece (3 mil) : capital, main port, and
leading industrial city with port of Piraeus
– Rome (3.2 mil) central location, governmental,
religious, and tourist center
– Naples (2.9 mil) port of Campanian agricultural
region, Vesuvius, Pompeii and island of Capri
– Madrid (4.7 mil) central location, no economic
reason for existence, hub of rail and road network,
some industry
– Barcelona (major port and center of industry due to
good financing, hydroelectric power, cheap and
skilled labor, and imported raw materials
– Valencia, business center, irrigated lands, oranges
for export
– Lisbon (2.3 mil) magnificent harbor at mouth of
Tagus River, capital and leading seaport
– Oporto (1.3 mil) mouth of Douro River, famous
port wine industry
 Shift
from Agriculture to Industry
– movement from agriculture to industrial
development since WW II
– tourist industries, scenery, historic sites, beaches
– countryside progressively poor in environment and
economy as one moves south
– Mezzoriorno (land of the midday sun) in southern
Italy very rocky, poor agriculture, floods in winter,
problem of Mafia in Sicily
– unemployment in southern Italy approaching 20% in
70’s and 80’s; northern Italy chronically short of
labor until recently.
 Economic
Progress in late 20th C
– New dynamic economic growth in southern
Europe
– Improvements in transportation and
communication
– Expansion of agriculture overseas, i.e. tropical
fruits and vegetables, processed foods
– Capital flows from other parts of Europe due to
good supply of cheap labor and a favorable
location