Northern Europe

Chapter 14

Northern Europe

Physical Geography

• Two regions make up Northern Europe– British Isles: a

group of Islands located across the English Channel

– Scandinavia: a region of islands and peninsulas in far northern Europe, including Iceland to the west

Physical Features

• Rugged hills stretch across Iceland, northern Scotland, and Scandinavia

• The Kjolen Mountains divide Norway from Sweden

• Rocky soil and uneven terrain make farming difficult

• Fewer people live there

Physical Features

• Farmland and Plains– Stretch across

southern parts of the British Isles and Scandinavia

– Ireland’s rolling, green hills provide rich farmland

– Wide valley’s in Denmark and England also have fertile soil

Physical Features

• Effects of glaciers– Jagged coastlines– Fjords: narrow inlets of

the sea set between high rocky cliffs, formed as glaciers melted

– Thousands of lakes carved out by glaciers

Natural Resources

• Energy– Oil and natural gas under the North Sea– Hydroelectric energy produced by lakes and rivers– Geothermal energy, or energy from the Earth’s

interior, from Iceland’s hot springs

Natural Resources

• Forests and soils• Timber producing

forests stretch across Finland and the Scandinavian Peninsula

• Fertile soils provide rich farmland for crops

• Livestock like sheep and dairy cattle are common

Natural Resources

• Seas and Oceans provide rich stocks of fish– North Sea– Norwegian Sea– Atlantic Ocean

Fishing is a key industry in Norway, Denmark, and Iceland

http://youtu.be/oBhK0_HjVe0

Herring

Climate

• Much of Northern Europe lies near the Arctic Circle

• North Atlantic Drift: an ocean current that brings warm, moist air across the Atlantic Ocean, results in Northern Europe’s mild climates

• Much of Northern Europe has a marine west coast climate– Denmark, the British Isles, and western Norway

Climate• Other parts have a

humid continental climate– Central Norway,

Sweden, and southern Finland

• Far north are colder climates– Northern

Scandinavia has subarctic climate

– Iceland has tundra and ice cap climates

Review

Northern Europe• Physical Features

• Natural Resources

• Climate

United States• Physical Features

• Natural Resources

• Climate

The British Isles• Two independent countries

make up the British Isles– Ireland– United Kingdom

• England • Scotland• Wales• Northern Ireland

• Throughout history the people of the British Isles have been linked together

Early History

• Early settlers built Stonehenge, an ancient monument, some 5,000 years ago

• In 450 BC – the Celts arrived in the British Isles and settled in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland

Early History

• Britain became part of the Roman Empire

• AD 1066 – the Normans from northern France conquered England and established a strong kingdom

• England grew in strength and soon overshadowed its neighbors in the British Isles

• By the 1500s strong rulers like Queen Elizabeth I had turned England into a world power

Rise and Decline of the British Empire

• Rise– England joined with Wales and Scotland to create

the United Kingdom of Great Britain– Launched overseas empire and had colonies in

Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Australia by the late 1800s

– Economy soared with the industrial revolution in the 1700s and 1800s

– At its height the British Empire was the largest in history

British Empire

Rise and Decline of the British Empire

• Decline– 1900s, British Empire began to crumble– World War I and the Great Depression hurt the British

economy– Rebellions in Ireland forced Britain to grant self rule to all

but the northern part of Ireland– Other overseas colonies began movements for

independence– After World War II Great Britain gave up most of its

colonies– http://youtu.be/DiEQ4ZAB5NA

Government of the United Kingdom

• Constitutional monarchy: a type of democracy in which a king or queen serves as head of state but a legislature makes the laws

• Led by a prime minister• Most members of

parliament, Britain’s legislative body, are elected

British Government

Magna Carta

• A document drawn up in the Middle Ages limited the power of kings

• http://youtu.be/wUVnpe8uffs

Republic of Ireland• President as head of state• Prime minister, appointed by the president, runs

the government with the Irish parliament

Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny Irish President Michael Higgins

People and Culture

• Common heritage – many people of the British Isles can trace their heritage to the regions’ early settlers

• Sports such as soccer and rugby are popular• Regions, particularly Ireland and Scotland,

maintain their unique identities• Immigrants from all corners of the world have

settled in Britain, adding to the rich culture of the region

Popular Culture

• Influences people around the world• English is the language of business, education,

and the internet in many places• British music and literature are popular

Conflicts in Ireland

• Catholics believe they have not been treated fairly by Protestants, who are in the majority

• Bitter and violent struggle lasted for many years

• Cease-fire in the 1990s, but some groups refused to disarm, or give up all weapons

• Still working toward a long lasting peace• http://youtu.be/1kR11vn41XU

Economy• Economies are strong• London, the capital of the UK, is a center for world trade

and history• In Dublin,

Irelands capital,computer equipment and software have become major industries

Review

• What two countries make up the British Isles?

• Why did the economy of the United Kingdom grow so quickly in the 1700s and 1800s?

• Why did tensions between the United Kingdom and Ireland increase during and after the 1840s?

Scandinavia

• The history of Scandinavia dates back to the Vikings

• Vikings were Scandinavian warriors who raided Europe and the Mediterranean in the early Middle Ages– Excellent sailors– Conquered British Isles,

Finland, and parts of France, Germany, and Russia

Vikings

• The Vikings were great explorers

• Established settlements in Iceland and Greenland

• First Europeans to reach North America

After the Vikings

• Viking raids ended in 1100s• 1300s: Denmark ruled a union of all

Scandinavian kingdoms• Sweden challenged Denmark’s power and left

the union, taking Finland with it• 1900s: Norway, Finland, Iceland became

independent• Greenland remains a self-ruling territory of

Denmark

Scandinavia Today

Scandinavia Today

Scandinavia Today

• Scandinavian countries have much in common– Similar political views,

language, and religion– Large, wealthy cities,

strong economies, well educated workers

– High standards of living Stockholm, Sweden

Scandinavia Today

• Sweden, Denmark, Greenland, Finland, Norway, and Iceland are among the world’s most peaceful, stable, and prosperous nations

Finland

Sweden

• Largest and most populous Scandinavian country

• More than 80% live in urban areas• Stockholm, the capital and largest city, is built

on 14 islands and part of the mainland• Sweden has been a neutral country for more

than 200 years, meaning it has chosen not to take sides in international conflicts.

• http://youtu.be/mllg-avzB2Q

Denmark

• Smallest Scandinavian country and most densely populated

• About 50% of land is used for farming• Farm goods are important exports• Modern

industries, such as iron and electronics, are important as well

Greenland

• Geographically part of North America but a territory of Denmark

• Think ice sheets cover 80% of the land• Much of the island is uninhabitable, or not able

to support human settlement• Most live on the southwest coast where the

climate is the warmest• Heavily dependent on imports and economic

aid from Denmark

Norway

• One of the longest coastlines in the world• Fjord’s shelter Norway’s many harbors• Oslo, the capital city, is the country’s leading

seaport and industrial center• Highest per capita GDP in Scandinavia• North Sea provides valuable natural gas and oil

resources• Not part of the European Union• http://youtu.be/EyZW_0nGNLU

Finland• Easternmost Scandinavian country,

between Sweden and Russia• Helsinki is the capital and largest

city• Trade is important• Paper and forest products are

important exports• Shipbuilding and electronics are

important industries

Iceland• Fertile farmland along the islands coast produces crops and

supports cattle and sheep• Fish account for 70% of Iceland’s exports• Steam from hot springs and geysers produce geothermal

energy• Tourists come to see the geysers, volcano’s and glaciers

Visual Summary

ReviewHistory Similarities among

CountriesUnique Features

Sweden

Denmark

Iceland

Norway

Finland