The Western World Daily Readings on Geography Chapter 48 Europe Cultural Geography I

CHAPTER 48 Europe Cultural Geography I Religion in Europe CHRISTIANITY by from Noun Propel is the world oldest Christian nation , but it was the of the Roman Empire that would be the decisive moment for the religion . In the century , the Roman Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity , and later converted to it . In Europe outside the Roman Empire , Christianity diffused down the hierarchy . Even after the fall of Rome , emperors , kings , and tsars recognized the political advantages of embracing what had become the region largest faith . So , the monarch would convert to Christianity . After that , all of his subjects were expected to do the same . For several centuries , Rome remained the center of European Christianity , and most of the region Christians were followers of the Roman Catholic Church . Today , the Roman Church is still the largest Christian group in Europe , and the largest in the world . Countries where Catholics have traditionally formed the majority include Poland , the Czech Republic , Germany , the Netherlands , Belgium , Austria , Switzerland , Ireland , France , Italy , Spain , Portugal , Hungary , and . A second major branch of Christianity emerged in the century . Although Eastern Orthodox Christianity traces its theological roots to early Catholicism , it emerged as a separate denomination in 1054 CE when a number of Christian nations in Eastern Europe broke from Roman authority . Its structure is somewhat different from 236

EUROPE CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY 237 the Roman Catholic Church . The Catholic Church throughout the world is still governed from Rome , and headed by the pope . While Eastern Orthodox Christians recognize the Archbishop of Constantinople ( Istanbul ) as the symbolic head of their Church , the various national Eastern Orthodox Churches are largely governed separately . Most Eastern Orthodox nations possess their own branch ofthe Orthodox Church , including the Greek , Bulgarian , Romanian , Serbian , and Russian Orthodox Churches . The third major branch of Christianity in Europe is Protestantism . The Protestant Reformation began in 1521 CE , when a German theologian named Martin Luther leveled numerous criticisms at the Roman Catholic Church . Luther himself was a devout Catholic , but he believed that the Roman Church had corrupted the true nature of Christianity , having strayed too far from scripture . His protests ( hence the term Protestant ) led to his excommunication , and he and his followers founded a new movement that came to be known as . Lutherans are now the largest religious group in northern Germany and ( Norway , Sweden , Iceland , and Denmark ) Another major Protestant reformer was John Calvin , and churches ( such as the Dutch Reformed Church and Presbyterian Church ) found significant numbers of followers in the Netherlands and Scotland . An unusual hybrid between Catholicism and Protestantism can be found in England . The Church ( also called the Anglican , or Church ) had a rather unusual beginning . England had been a predominantly Roman Catholic country until 1534 , when King Henry VIII rejected Roman papal authority , largely because the pope refused to annul his marriage . Henry still considered himself Catholic , just not a Roman Catholic , and initially there was little change in English Christianity ( to this day , an Anglican mass would look very familiar to Roman Catholics ) Still , are generally regarded as Protestants , particular after Henry son , Edward VI , began to embrace numerous theological elements of the Protestant Reformation . That is why the Church of England officially regards itself as both Catholic and Reformed . Organized religion has been declining in Europe in recent decades . In most countries , the majority of the population still have at least a nominal association with one religious denomination or another , although rates of regular participation in religious services are relatively low in Europe when compared to much of the rest of the world . Still , populations are the majority injust three European countries The Netherlands , and the Czech Republic . In Europe as a whole , about one in four people identify as , although that varies widely from country to country . For example , the Czech Republic and Poland are two traditionally Catholic countries that neighbor one another . Today , 89 of are , while 86 of Poles remain Catholic .

238 JOEL QUAM AND SCOTT CAMPBELL Created by Olena from Noun Propel Islam arrived in Europe via Ottoman rule in the . At its height , the Ottoman Empire ( based in Turkey ) controlled much of the Balkan and Greek . While under Ottoman rule , many Europeans converted to Islam . As a result , Muslims are today the largest religious group in ( 50 Muslim ) 59 ) and ( 90 ) Islam is also the fastest growing religion in Europe , largely as a result of immigration from Muslim countries in Africa and Asia . Today , there are sizable Muslim populations in Germany ( million Muslims ) France ( million ) Britain ( million ) and Italy ( million ) by Made from Noun In the first century CE , the Jewish homeland in Southwest Asia was under Roman rule . When the Jews unsuccessfully rebelled against them , the Romans exiled the Jews from their homeland an event known as the . The Jews were scattered to all parts of the Roman Empire , but the densest concentration would eventually be in Europe . In 1880 , about 90 ofthe population was in Europe , with particularly dense concentrations in countries like Poland and Russia . Around this time , Jewish migration to the Americas began to accelerate , primarily to large American cities like New York and Chicago . Even with significant emigration , about 60 of the population remained in Europe at the dawn of World War II in 1939 . During the war , Jews who fell under the occupation of fascist governments , such as that of

EUROPE CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY I 239 Nazi Germany , suffered horrific consequences . More than six million Jews died during the ensuing Holocaust as a result of starvation , deprivation , slavery , or systematic murder in fascist concentration camps . By the end of the war in 1945 , 36 of the world Jewish population had been killed , including nearly of European Jews . After the war , most of Europe migrated elsewhere , primarily to the United States or Israel . Today , only about of the population lives in Europe . Did You Know ?

Christianity diffused through the Roman Empire in an fashion . It was first embraced in major Roman cities , then smaller cities , then villages , and then eventually in rural areas . The Latin word for a rural area is pagus , and one who lived in a rural area was a pagan an antiquated term for a .