EUROPE STUDY GUIDE STATEMENTS

2009-2010

WEEK THREE REVIEW

SS6G10b Most of Germany has a climate with cool winters, mild summer, with good precipitation for crops. Natural resources of Germany include iron ore and coal. Germany is about the same size as Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina combined.

SS6G10b The Alps Mountains are in the northern part of Italy. Rome, Milan, and Naples are the largest urban areas. The island of Sicily is located off the “boot” of Italy. The Mediterranean Sea is south of Italy. Italy’s location on the Mediterranean Sea, with access to Africa, Asia, and Europe, has helped Italian merchants become successful traders.

SS6G10b Characteristics of a Mediterranean climate include dry summers, winters cloudy and rainy, not too hot in summer, not too cold in winter, mild temperatures all year. Italy has a Mediterranean climate.

SS6G10b Italy has arable land, grapes and olives are important crops, Italy is top wine-maker because of excellent grape crops.

WEEK FOUR

SS6G11a In Europe, schoolchildren are required to learn one or two other languages besides their native language. Europe has many different languages. The European Union records all it’s business in 23 languages. Laws have been written to protect languages spoken by only a few people.

SS6G11a Latin was the language of the Roman Empire. Romance languages come from Latin. French, Italian and Spanish.

SS6G11a Germanic languages include English and German. The Germanic group of language has the most native speakers in Europe.

SS6G11a Slavic languages include Russia and are found in central and eastern Europe. They do not always use the Roman alphabet. They use a Cyrillic alphabet. The European language that has the most native speakers is Russian.

SS6G11a Many European countries have more than one official language. When many languages are spoken in the same country, it sometimes creates a problem because it is difficult to read and understand official forms. Older citizens are less likely to learn the language of a new country.

SS6G11b Three major religions in Europe are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Judaism is the oldest of the three major religions in Europe. Jews believe in Judaism. Christians believe in Christianity. Muslims believe in Islam. Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe. (Muslim is sometimes spelled Moslem… they are the same thing.) The two largest groups of Muslims are Shiites and Sunnis. Christianity includes Roman Catholic and Protestant.

SS6G11b The three major religions in Europe are alike in that they each worship one god.

SS6G11b The holy book of Judaism is the Torah (and Old Testament of the Holy Bible); the holy book of Christianity is the Holy Bible (Old and New Testament); the holy book of Islam is the Koran (sometimes spelled Qu’ran).