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Chapter 8 |
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With a land area roughly two-thirds that of the United States, and almost twice as many people, European countries have been able to retain their individual cultural identities while at the same time pioneering regional cooperation. As the 21st century matures, European economic integration is becoming a reality but a "United States of Europe" is not. The new European currency, the Euro, is now being circulated by most (but not all) the countries of the expanding European Union. And across the region, Europeans are celebrating their democratic rights (some still quite new) to choose their own paths and to decide whether as well as when they should walk together.
Roman Empire - Though many volumes have been written on the history of Europe, a number of historical events directly affected the cultural mosaic of Europe as we see it today. One of the best examples is the legacy left by the Roman Empire, whose cultural influences remain to this day. French, Spanish, Romanian, and modern Italian were all derived from the Latin of the Romans. Their fondness for wine brought vineyards to France where few had been before. The Romans can take credit for laying the cornerstones of many of today's modern cities, such as Paris, and investing in the infrastructure that was vital for the longevity of these urban spaces.
Christianity and Islam - The rise of Christianity and influx of Islam also determined how land was to be used, where people would be allowed to live and who could work and trade with whom. The early Christians in Europe soon divided themselves into two geographic and theologic camps, later to be known as the Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox. In 711, Spain became the European center of Islamic art, medicine, science and culture. Muslim traders and migrants further spread Islam within Europe by the year 1000. The Ottoman Turks also brought Islam into southeastern Europe by 1500, moving as far west as Vienna (Austria). Religious wars between Christians and Muslims, and among Christians themselves, redefined the map of Europe again and again as late as the 1990's. Today, foreign-born populations are also changing demography and settlement patterns in Europe as they seek both economic and spiritual fulfillment in their new homes. Currently, religious devotion is Europe is simultaneously falling and rising as evangelical Protestant Christianity and politicized Islam are making inroads upon increasing secularism and religious apathy among Europeans.
Castles - Medieval Europe produced a number of impressive castles, some of which have survived centuries of conflict and can be visited today, including The Tower of London, Dolwyddelan Castle in Wales, and Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. Castles can be found in Spain (where over 2,000 can be found), Germany, France, and many other European countries.
Mediterranean Europe - The role of the Greeks and Romans in shaping Europe today, as suggested earlier, cannot be underestimated. To this day, many of the buildings and structures of ancient Mediterranean society remain intact for visitors to see. New landscapes were constructed for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, a city that remains a vibrant center of modern European culture.
Museums - For visitors and natives alike, Europe has an outstanding selection of museums, from art museums such as the Louvre in Paris and the Prado in Madrid, to elaborate displays of technological progress found in London's National Museum of Science and Industry. The "City of Arts and Sciences" in Valencia, Spain, is made mostly from glass, with innovative energy-saving features to showcase Europe's commitment to a cleaner global environment.
Images - Photographic tours of European countries.
Reclaiming Land from the Sea - The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg (collectively known as "the Benelux"), form one of the most densely populated areas on Earth. Occupying a land area roughly the size of the state of Maine, there are more people living here than the total populations of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland put together.
To accommodate this growing population, the Netherlands has devised an ingenious plan to actually create more land for its people. The plan is not a new one either. Initiated in 1932, the Zuiderzee (Zuider Sea) Project was initiated by the Dutch to expand their land territory by reclaiming land from the sea. The Zuiderzee (a large saltwater inlet of the North Sea) was separated from the Atlantic using a large dike. Water was then pumped from the inlet, creating new lands called polders.
Travel to France and experience French culture and everyday life. Note the differences between your lifestyle and that which is lived here.
Explore Montenegro - and learn more about this small, ambitious country in southeastern Europe. Currently allied with Serbia, Montenegro plans for independence in 2006 and hopes for a thriving tourism industry.
Radio:
Radio Exterior de España - Madrid, Spain - News/Talk
BBC Radio 1 - London, U.K.~ News/Talk/Variety
BBC Radio 4 - London, U.K.~ News/Talk/Variety
N R K Radio Norway - Oslo, Norway
You'll need to Download the FREE G2 player to listen in.
Newspapers:
Weather Forecasts:
Berliner Morgenpost - Berlin, Germany
De Standaard - Brussels, Belgium
The Prague Post - Prague, Czech Republic ~ English
The Baltic Times - Estonia ~ English
Le Monde - Paris, France
The Irish Times - Dublin, Ireland ~ English
La Nuova - Venice, Italy
The Norway Post - Oslo, Norway ~ English
El Pais - Madrid, Spain
Embassies in Washington D.C.:
For access to embassy Web sites worldwide, try the Embassy & Consulate Search Engine.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Moldova
the Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Additional Links:
Internet
Resources for Medieval Studies
Maps
of Europe
Europe Online
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