Exam 2: Europe Flashcards
What are the 4 general landform regions in Europe?
- North European Plain
- Alpine Mountain System
- Central Uplands
- Western Uplands
What 5 major bodies of water surround Europe?
Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea,
North Sea, Baltic Sea) + the Atlantic Ocean
How does the region have such good access to water transportation?
Rivers are connected by a system of canals & locks that allow barges to travel from the Baltic & North Seas to the Mediterranean; also between western Europe & the Black Sea
What are the 3 major climate types?
- Marine west coast climate along the Atlantic coast
- Continental climates farther inland with hotter summers & cooler winters
- Mediterranean climate in southern Europe
What are some anticipated impacts of climate change?
- Melting sea ice and glaciers, sparse snow cover in Scandinavia, more frequent droughts in the
Mediterranean - Ski resorts in the Alps will experience warmer winters
with less snow pack - Lowland areas are expected to suffer more frequent
heat waves
What area is the focus of most internal and external migration?
directed towards
relatively wealthy and highly
urbanized core of western Europe
What are some major themes of Europe’s population geography?
- Very low rates of natural growth
- Aging populations
- Widespread internal migration
- Large streams of legal and
extralegal international migrants coming from Africa and southwest Asia/Middle East
What are some possible consequences of low population growth?
labor shortages, smaller internal markets, and reduced tax revenues to support social services
What are some general policies that have been implemented to address low pop. growth rates?
generous incentives (e.g., full-pay maternity and paternity
leave, subsidized or state-sponsored childcare, cash
subsidies, etc., in Germany, France, and Scandinavia)
When was the European Economic Community founded and what was one of its main goals?
-1957
- main goal was free movement of people and
goods
What was the Schengen Agreement?
allows for easy movement across borders
What situation were existing asylum laws designed for? How does that compare to the refugee situation
that exists today?
- Existing asylum laws were designed based on
post-WWII humanitarian efforts
-
Where have most asylum-seekers arrived in Europe?
the Mediterranean
Where do immigrants tend to cluster and how does this affect assimilation?
in ethnic neighborhoods
-
What has led to criticism of some refugee policies?
Cultural differences and high-profile violent
incidents have resulted in criticism of refugee
and migration policies
What does France’s tradition of la ̈ıcit ́e refer to?
secularism?
How has immigration contributed to the rise of far-right nationalist/populist parties?
Unease about growing immigrant populations
has contributed to the rise of far-right nationalist/populist parties (e.g., AfD, National Rally, 5 Star Movement, Pegida)
-
What percentage of the population lives in cities? How have urban environments evolved over time?
75%
-more open and spacious cities w/grand boulevards and ornamental gardens
- Industrialization brought clusters of factories to cities, usually outside the central city
-less car dependence
Where are Germanic languages most predominant? How did Romance languages evolve?
-most prevalent north of the Alps
- Romance languages evolved from vulgar (everyday) Latin
spoken within the Roman Empire
What resulted from the Moorish invasion of 711?
resulted in Muslim occupation
of the Iberian Peninsula until 1492 → Portuguese and Spanish languages still have Arabic influences today!
What role does religion play in most Europeans’ daily lives?
-not a major role, still has cultural importance but not a daily one
How do labor laws in Europe compare to the US? How does this affect hiring
Where are Protestants vs. Catholics usually found?
Northern Europe is generally more Protestant whereas southern Europe is more Catholic
What was the Cold War?
What does the terminology First World/Second World/Third World refer to? Is it accurate to use those
terms today?
Eastern Bloc countries (sometimes called the
“Second World”) were under the influence of the
USSR while Western Bloc countries (“First World”)
were allied with the US
* “Third World” countries were those not aligned with
either side
-
Who signaled the end of the Cold War?
When was the EU created? when was the common currency implemented?
-1993
-1/1/1999
What were the original economic disparities in the EU?
Original economic disparities were between richer
northern/central Europe and Mediterranean countries; now
also between east and west
What were austerity programs and why were they introduced?
-Austerity programs were implemented in poorer Mediterranean
countries after the recession because they could not pay back their loans
What was the first member state to leave the EU?
Britain
