Chapter 18Introduction and Overview

Central Europe and Northern Eurasia

SkillbuilderThe map of Central Europe and Northern Eurasia has been redrawn many times. What factors have changed the area’s political boundaries. (for example, the fall of communism, ethnic strife, civil wars, etc…)

I. Historical OverviewA. Migrations

and Religious Diversity1. Huns and Avars

invade, Slavs move East

2. Roman Catholic missionaries convert Russians

3. Islam brought to the Caucasus

B. The Growth of Empires

1. Large empires emergea. Poland & Lithuaniab. Ottomanc. Austrian Hapsburg

2. Russian empire extended from Baltic and Black seas to the Pacific Ocean

Historical Overview cont.C. Political Change

1. World War Ia. Ottoman Empire collapsedb. Formation of nation states increasedc. Formation of Soviet Empire=communism

2. World War IIa. Hitler invades European countriesb. Soviet control of Eastern Europec. Holocaust

3. Soviet Union dissolveda. Countries of Soviet Union revoltedb. 1991 Russia broke into 13 smaller countries

II. Physical CharacteristicsA. Land is flat in west, higher in the

south and eastB. Eurasia=referred to as one continent C. The Danube River

1. Second longest in Europe2. Flows eastward from Germany to the Black

SeaD. Lake Baikal

1. Siberia2. World’s largest and deepest freshwater lake3. 20% of all freshwater in the world

III. ClimatesA. Variety of climates

1. tundra=2. subarctic=3. humid Continental Climate =

B. Winter on the Neva1. River runs through St.Petersburg2. Ice fishing

C. Black Sea Resort1. inland sea= a sea almost completely surrounded

by land2. warm summers3. strong winter storms

D. Comparing Climate Zones1. mild Mediterranean to frigid tundra2. coldest winters except for antarctica

IV. EcosystemsA. Variety of ecosystems

1. tundra=2. taiga=3. steppe=

B. Forest Ecosystem1. Bialowieza Park

a. Poland b. Covered much of Europe in 8000 B.C.

2. mixed forest=predominant ecosystem in PolandC. Grassland Ecosystem

1. Ukraine and Southern Russia2. fertile soil

D. Tundra1. Northern Eurasia2. polar conditions

V. People and CultureA. Movement

1. easy2. multiethnic=

B. Orthodox Christianity1. Central Europe2. democracy has given freedom of religion

C. Estonian Culture1. dozens of ethnic groups2. ethnic group=

D. Urban Life1. traditional architecture2. modern business

VI. Economics, Technology, and Environment

A. communism to capitalism1. communist economy=2. capitalist economy=

B. Women in the Work Force1. many men died in WW II2. women 50% of workforce

C. Baltic Port1. Vyborg2. important to have ports open during

winterD. Acid Rain=

Comparing Health Care