Central%20Europe

1
Central Europe
CHAPTER 15

• Section 1 Germany
• Section 2 The Alpine Countries
• Section 3 Poland and the Baltics
• Section 4 The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and
  Hungary

2
Objectives
Section 1 Germany

• What are some key events in the history of
  Germany?
• What are some features of German culture?
• What is Germanys economy like?
• What issues and challenges does Germany face
  today?

3
Key events in German history
Section 1 Germany

• Charlemagne united German kingdoms in the 700s.
• Kingdoms became part of Holy Roman Empire.
• Hanseatic League united northern German towns in
  1300s.
• Prussia and Hapsburg Empire influenced German
  states by 1700s.
• Germany lost two world wars.
• Germany divided into Communist East, democratic
  West.
• West Germany became an economic power.
• Germany united in 1990, after fall of communism.

4
Cultural features
Section 1 Germany

• noted literature and music
• Protestant majority, large Catholic minority
• foodspork, sausage, veal, cheese, pastries

5
Economic features
Section 1 Germany

• powerful economyfourth-largest in the world
• major investors in Central Europe
• manufacturingmachinery, automobiles,
  electronics, medical equipment
• miningcoal, iron ore Ruhr Valley a key
  industrial center
• agricultureefficient grains, potatoes, sugar
  beets

6
Issues and challenges
Section 1 Germany

• populationaging and immigration are changing
  society, causing tension
• former East Germanyeconomy and pollution are
  problems easterners resentful

7
Objectives
Section 2 The Alpine Countries

• What are some important features of Austrias
  history, culture, and economy?
• What are the political, cultural, and economic
  features of Switzerland?

8
Austria
Section 2 The Alpine Countries

• History
• part of Holy Roman Empire, then Austrian Empire,
  then Austro-Hungarian Empire
• united with Germany in World War II
• independent since 1955
• Culture
• German language, Catholic religion
• Viennakey city in Central Europe famous for
  architecture and music

9
Austria (continued)
Section 2 The Alpine Countries

• Economy
• various industriesmachinery, chemicals
• forestry, hydropower, tourism, foreign trade

10
Switzerland
Section 2 The Alpine Countries

• confederation of 26 cantons
• neutralnot part of UN or EU, but site of various
  international organizations
• four major languagesGerman, French, Italian,
  Romansch
• Roman Catholic and Protestant
• high standard of living
• international banking and insurance
• chemicals, pharmaceuticals, watches, farm goods,
  tourism

11
Objectives
Section 3 Poland and the Baltics

• What is the history of Poland and the Baltic
  countries?
• What are the urban environments and economy of
  Poland like today?
• What influences have shaped culture in the Baltic
  countries?

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History of Poland
Section 3 Poland and the Baltics

• under Russian, Austrian, and German control in
  1700s and 1800s
• gained independence after World War I
• Communist control after World War II, for more
  than 40 years

13
History of the Baltics
Section 3 Poland and the Baltics

• independence from Russia after World War I
• occupied by Soviet Union during World War II
• regained independence in 1991

14
Polish cities and economy
Section 3 Poland and the Baltics

• Warsawcapital and transport hub
• Krakówbeautiful medieval city
• Gdanskmain seaport and shipbuilding city
• economic progress since end of communism
• auto and glass factories weak coal and steel
  industries
• farming in loess soilscereals, potatoes, sugar
  beets
• unemployment a problem

15
Baltic influences
Section 3 Poland and the Baltics

• Middle AgesBalts in Latvia and Lithuania Finns
  in Estonia
• Viking and German invaders influenced Baltic
  culture.
• Trade brought other foreign influences.
• EstoniaFinnish impact on language, Lutheran
  religion
• Latviaties to Sweden
• Lithuaniaclose to Polish culture and Catholic
  religion
• Russian minorities maintain customs.

16
Objectives
Section 4The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and
Hungary

• What are some similarities and differences in the
  histories of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and
  Hungary?
• What are the Czech Republic and Slovakia like
  today?
• How has the fall of communism affected Hungary?

17
Comparing histories
Section 4The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and
Hungary

• Slavic peoples inhabited Czech Republic and
  Slovakia non-Slavic Magyars occupied Hungary.
• All three were part of Austro-Hungarian Empire.
• After World War I, Czech Republic and Slovakia
  combined as Czechoslovakia.
• Czech lands had minerals and industry Slovakia
  was agricultural.
• Soviets set up Communist control over both
  Czechoslovakia and Hungary.

18
Czech Republic
Section 4The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and
Hungary

• 40 percent Roman Catholic similar percentage
  non-religious
• Praguelargest city rich heritage modern
  American influence
• minerals and industrycoal, iron ore, uranium
  steel and glass products
• farming of cereals and sugar beets
• economic progress slowed in late 1990s

19
Slovakia
Section 4The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and
Hungary

• poorer country
• difficult shift to capitalism high unemployment
• Bratislavacapital and largest city, on Danube
  River

20
Hungary and the end of communism
Section 4The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and
Hungary

• difficult change to market economy
• most business privately owned
• growing economy todaynew industry, foreign
  investment, tourism
• NATO member seeking EU membership