The Western World Daily Readings on Geography Chapter 46 Europe

CHAPTER 46 Europe How do we define this region ?

Geography is an earthly subject , but a heavenly science . Edmund Burke , Irish statesman and philosopher la , Regional geography studies the people and places of a cohesive region . A region is defined to be an area with multiple shared elements over a range of categories , including both physical and human geographic characteristics . The secret of creating a region , which is a human construct not a naturally begotten unit , is to cluster together as many similarities as possible , while excluding geographic differences . In some cases , the determination ofa geographic region is simple . For Europe , quite a bit ofthe is accomplished simply by noting where the land ends and meets large bodies ofwater . As we understood with our definition of the Western World , nearly all of Europe countries meet the three noted criteria contiguity , Christianity , and language . Much is Europe landscape is distinctive by the frequent pattern of islands , and mountains . In fact , how many European countries lack all three 229

230 JOEL QUAM AND SCOTT CAMPBELL of these physical ?

I count these ( excluding micro states ) Belgium , Historians will recount certain patterns of shared experiences among European countries . Some elements of this history will explain how Europe has the world predominant share of . Fundamentally though , there are some clear limitations of physical geography on what can be called Europe . To the west , there is the clear boundary of the Atlantic only worthwhile questions for westward inclusion in Europe are the islands of Iceland and . Iceland has obvious cultural links with much of Northern Europe in fact , we count Iceland in . is an autonomous territory of Denmark and thus arguably belongs in Europe . landmass is physically part of the North American continent , but generally has been considered part of Europe . Or , frankly , sometimes simply is ignored . To the north , there is the Arctic Ocean . In this direction , the European landmass terminates with the northern reach of Norway . Additionally , Norway owns the islands of , farther north . To the south , there is the Mediterranean Sea . Clearly , there is Europe on one side and Africa on the other . What about the islands of the Mediterranean ?

European countries have long owned most of these islands ( Spain ) France ) and Sicily ( Italy ) and many ( Greece ) Cyprus is effectively partitioned with a Turkish north , but is a member ofthe European Union . is an independent country with a mix of ethnicities , but also is a member ofthe European Union . The eastern edge of Europe is the controversial side . As you will learn in the reading on the Russian Domain , this textbook argues that Russia belongs either as its own region or as a slightly larger region adding Ukraine , Georgia , and possibly . Thus , Europe ends in the east with the wall of Slavic countries Russia , and Ukraine . Some may ask if Turkey could be a southern or eastern member of Europe . Indeed , Turkey has expressed interest in joining the European Union , though that inclusion is nowhere near imminent . Perhaps reluctantly , would understand that Turkey belonging to the European Union would qualify Turkey as in Europe . In the meantime , however , Turkey belongs in the Middle East ( or Southwest Asia ) Although Turkey practices a very secular approach to Islam , its religious affiliation matches the dominant religion of the Middle East and not that of Europe . The Turkish language is not an language , but falls in the language family , like several languages in Central Asia . A small portion of Turkey landmass lies across the Bosporus Strait and thus shares land borders with Greece and . Even so , the vast majority of Turkey land is to the east and historically has been considered part of Asia . Given these of Turkey and of the Russian Domain from Europe , this means that the Black Sea serves as a major water border for part of Southern Europe and part of Eastern Europe . Did You Know ?

Spain does have two urban and that are on the African coastline , otherwise within the country Morocco . Canary Islands are 62 miles west of the southern shores of Morocco . With Spanish colonial history and control , these islands are counted as part of Europe . The Islands are roughly triangulated east of Iceland , north of Scotland , and west of Norway . Like , these islands are an autonomous territory of Denmark . They are always considered as within Europe , though oddly they are not counted in the European Union . The nine islands of the Azores rest in the Atlantic Ocean , 850 miles west of Portugal . As an autonomous region of Portugal , the Azores also are in Europe . is a French island in the Indian Ocean . As such it has status as an outermost region ( of the European Union , but is not part of Europe . There are several other similar cases . France New in the Pacific Ocean counts in the category overseas countries and territories ( OCT ) similarly giving it rights in the European Union , but not making it part of Europe . Here too there are several other cases , including the former Netherlands .