Western Europe

1
Western Europe

• France and Germany are the dominant countries
• Martin Luther published his 95 statements in 1517
  criticizing the church practices.
• Reformation-a period when many Christians broke
  from the Catholic church and became Protestants.
• France is Catholic, most others have a mix

2
Start of Nation-States

• Feudalism
• After Rome fell, powerful lords owned most of the
  land.
• They gave some land to nobles in exchange for
  military service.
• Peasants worked the land in exchange for
  protection
• Overtime Kings gained power over the lords.

• Nationalism
• Belief that people should be loyal to their
  nation
• People wanted their own countries (began with
  France)
• Results in strong leaders like Napoleon and wars
  between nation-states due to strong competition.
• Good example is Hitler who carried out the
  Holocaust to exterminate Jews.
• Germany was not united again until the Berlin
  wall fell in 1989.

3
Economy

• Western Europe rich in agriculture
• 1800s it was one of the first regions to
  industrialize because it was rich in coal and
  iron ore
• They are also strong in high-tech and service
  industries (ex. Switzerland and money)
• Area is popular with tourists
• Main problem is in Germany where the West is much
  wealthier than the East.

4
Music, Art and Modern Life

• Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven in
  Germany and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Austria
• Jan Vermeer and Rembrandt were Dutch artists and
  Monet was French.

• Living in smaller homes means they meet out in
  public.
• More vacation time than Americans
• Immigration and political tension are problems in
  Germany and Austria