terEurope.pptVIP

Chapter 1 – Europe A – European Revolutions B – Contemporary Europe C – European Integration D – Regions of Europe Europe Why begin with Europe? Western extremity of Eurasia 3% of the world’s land surface. Maximum efficiency for contact with the rest of the world. Every part of Europe is close to the sea; moderate distances. Significant global influence Economic transformations (industrial revolution). Social transformations (working class). Political transformations (modern nation-state). Technological transformations (modern warfare). High standards of living The outcome of more than 200 years of modernization. Social sophistication linked with a long cultural history. The Centrality of Europe Europe Continental and maritime limits Continental limits: The Urals and the Caucasus. Maritime limits: The Black Sea and Bosporus. The Mediterranean and Mediterranean islands (Malta, Cyprus?). The Strait of Gibraltar. Iceland, Greenland (belongs to Denmark), and the Faeroes. Numerous nation-states East / West division: Communist countries of the East and capitalist/socialist countries of the West. Country size: Small city-states such as Liechtenstein, Monaco, the Vatican and Andorra, to the continent-sized country of Russia. Physical Landscape of Europe European Revolutions Agrarian revolution Began in Europe in the 1750s. Based on new agricultural innovations: Mechanization and fertilizers. Scientific and commercial agriculture. Crop rotation and complementarity. Declining food prices. New crops (e.g. Potato, Tomato). Enabled increased food production. Enabled sustained population increase. European Revolutions Industrial revolution Developed in the UK between 1750-1850. Technical innovations that occurred in British industry: Use of new materials (steel, iron, chemicals). Usage of thermal energy to produce mechanical energy. Substitution of machines to human and animal labor. Production (factory). Transportation (rail). Health (medicine). Proved to be a major catalyst tow