The Roman aqueduct in Nimes, France

Western Europe’s peninsulas and waters shape its cultural history as the Greek and Roman civilizations flourish and spread along the Mediterranean Sea.

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Unit 2

Western Europe: Its Land and Early History

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Western Europe: Its Land and Early History

A Land of Varied RichesSECTION 1

Ancient GreeceSECTION 2

Ancient RomeSECTION 3

Time of Change: The Middle AgesSECTION 4

Section 1

A Land of Varied Riches Europe is a continent with varied geographic features, abundant natural resources, and a climate that can support agriculture.

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The Geography of Europe

Waterways• Water surrounds Europe to north, south, west

- southern coast borders warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea

• Rhine, Danube are important; just two of Europe’s many rivers- longest river is Russia’s 2,200-mile Volga

• Boats, barges carry people, goods inland

A Land of Varied Riches1SECTION

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Continued . . .

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Landforms• Several peninsulas—land surrounded by water

on three sides• Scandinavian Peninsula contains Norway,

Sweden- shores are lined with fjords—long, narrow, deep inlets of the sea

• Iberian Peninsula in Western Europe includes Spain, Portugal- separated from continent by Pyrenees mountain range

• Mountain ranges: Alps; Ural Mountains—divide Europe from Asia

continued The Geography of Europe

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1SECTION

Continued . . .

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The Great European Plain• Extends from the French coast to the Urals; rich

farmland• Plain—large, flat area, usually with few trees• Ancient trading centers attracted many people• Today, area has large cities like Paris, Berlin,

Warsaw, Moscow

continued The Geography of Europe

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1SECTION

Varied Temperatures• Gulf Stream brings warm air, water to region• In mountains, far north, cold winds blow from

Arctic Circle- average temperatures are below zero in January

• Alps, Pyrenees protect Mediterranean countries from cold winds- in southern Europe, January is mild, summers are hot, dry

• In most of Europe, average July temperature is 50–70 degrees F

Climate

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Coal, Iron Ore, and Rich Soil• Variety of resources

- coal in Germany’s Ruhr Valley makes it a major industrial center- large iron ore deposits in Russia, Ukraine

• Europe has rich soil, plentiful rainfall• Few parts of continent too cold or hot, dry to

support agriculture• Europe is a world leader in crop production

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Natural Resources

Interactive

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Section 2

Ancient Greece The ancient Greeks develop a complex society, with remarkable achievements in the arts, sciences, and government.

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2SECTION

The Land and Early History of Greece

Surrounded by Water• Travel is hard for early settlers on mountainous

Greek Peninsula- rocky land has poor soil, but settlers grow olives, grapes

• Ancient Greeks depend on surrounding seas for fishing, trade

Ancient Greece

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The Formation of City-States• As population grows, people create city-states

- include polis—central city—and surrounding villages

• Each has own laws, government, but share language, religion

Continued . . .

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2SECTION

The Growth of Colonies• In 700s B.C., Greeks sail out, settle Aegean Sea

islands, coastline• Some settle as far away as Spain, North Africa• Settlers trade wheat, timber, iron ore with each

other, city-states

continued The Land and Early History of Greece

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Individual Forms of Government• Some city-states are oligarchies—a few

powerful, rich people rule• Some ruled by tyrant—controls government

against people’s wishes• Some develop early democracies—citizens

take part in government

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Rival City-States• Athens is one of largest, most important ancient

city-states• By late 500s B.C., Athens develops democratic

government- free, adult male citizens debate, vote on laws- women, slaves, foreigners cannot participate

• Sparta was oligarchy, ruled by two kings• Both city-states have powerful armies

Athens and Sparta

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Post-Victory Achievements• In 480 B.C., Persia tries to conquer Greek Peninsula

- several city-states—including Athens, Sparta—stop the invasion

• After victory, Greeks make leaps in arts, learning

Learning and the Arts

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Continued . . .

Literature• Greeks create myths, write plays, poems to honor

gods, goddesses• Aeschylus, Euripides write tragedies—serious

plays, end unhappily• Aristophanes’ plays poke fun at citizens, generals,

politicians

2SECTION

Philosophy• Ancient Greece is birthplace of important

ancient thinkers• Socrates is important fifth-century B.C.

philosopher- a philosopher studies, thinks about why the world is the way it is- Socrates examines friendship, knowledge, justice

• Socrates’ student Plato studies behavior, politics, math, astronomy

continued Learning and the Arts

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Continued . . .

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The Spread of Greek Culture• Constant war between city-states weakens

them by 300s B.C.- in 338 B.C., King Philip II of Macedonia conquers area- after Philip’s death, his son, Alexander, takes control

• Alexander the Great, taught by Aristotle, is great military leader

• His empire spreads Greek culture through Mediterranean to India- after Alexander’s death, generals divide the empire

continued Learning and the Arts

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Section 3

Ancient RomeThe ancient Romans make important contributions to government, law, and engineering.

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3SECTION

The Beginnings of Ancient Rome

The Formation of the Roman Republic• Tiber River villages in Italy unite to form Rome

around 750 B.C.• Kings rule Rome for 200 years• In 509 B.C., Rome becomes a republic—power

belongs to citizens- citizens govern themselves through elected representatives

Ancient Rome

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The Senate• Powerful Roman Senate is assembly of elected

representatives- each year selects two leaders—consuls—to head government, military

Continued . . .

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Patricians• Early Senate is made up mainly of patricians—

members of rich, landowning families- as the only citizens allowed to be judges, they control the law

continued The Beginnings of Ancient Rome

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Plebeians• Plebeian—ordinary, working male citizen: farmer,

craftsperson- can vote, but cannot hold public office until 287 B.C.- in 287 B.C., plebeians gain equality with patricians

3SECTION

Controlling the Mediterranean• By 200s B.C., Rome rules Italian Peninsula,

central Mediterranean• Carthage city-state rules North Africa, southern

Spain- controls western Mediterranean, but defeated by Rome

• As population grows, Rome’s army, territories expand

• Roman culture, language spreads into Spain, Greece

• By 100 B.C., Rome rules most of Mediterranean area

The Expansion of the Roman World

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Map

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The End of the Roman Republic• Julius Caesar—Roman general, governor of Gaul

- Senate fears he is too powerful, orders him to resign• In 45 B.C, Caesar wins the battle to control Republic

- returns to Rome, becomes dictator, ends the Republic

From Republic to Empire

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Continued . . .

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The Beginning of the Roman Empire• Senators kill Caesar in 44 B.C.; civil war erupts• In 27 B.C., Octavian (Caesar’s adopted son)

begins Roman Empire- an empire is ruled by a single, powerful leader

• As emperor, Octavian took the name Augustus

continued From Republic to Empire

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Continued . . .

3SECTION

The Augustan Age• Augustus rules Empire for over 40 years,

continues its expansion- borders extend north to Rhine, Danube rivers

• Architects, engineers build new buildings, lighthouses

• Trade of olive oil, wine, pottery, marble, grain increases

• Literature includes Virgil’s long poem the Aeneid• “Pax Romana” (Roman Peace)—200 years of

peace, cultural growth

continued From Republic to Empire

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Map

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A New Religion• Christianity spreads from Middle East after

Augustus dies, A.D. 14• At first, mostly popular in eastern half of the Empire

- spreads along transportation network through Empire by 200 A.D.

• Most leaders tolerate Empire’s different religions- but Christians are persecuted, punished, killed for their beliefs

The Rise of Christianity

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Constantine’s Vision• Constantine becomes emperor in A.D. 306• Before a battle in 312, he has a vision of a cross

in the sky- promises if he wins the battle, he will become a Christian- wins battle, keeps promise

• Christianity becomes the official religion of the Roman Empire

The First Christian Emperor

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Section 4

Time of Change: The Middle AgesThe Middle Ages are a time of great change in Western Europe.

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Western Europe in Collapse

The Beginning of the Medieval Era• Roman Empire collapses in 400s • People flee to countryside to escape invaders

from north, east• No central government to maintain roads,

buildings, water systems• Towns, cities shrink, are abandoned; travel is

unsafe, less common• Medieval era (Middle Ages)—between fall of

Rome, modern world- people turn to military, Roman Catholic Church for leadership

Time of Change: The Middle Ages

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A New Roman Emperor• Charlemagne (Charles the Great)—Germanic

king, military leader- in late 700s, brings order to former Empire’s northwest

• Pope in Rome allies with Charlemagne to strengthen Catholic Church

• In 800, Pope crowns Charlemagne new Holy Roman Emperor- education improves, government strengthens, Catholicism spreads

• After Charlemagne’s death, Western Europe again lacks strong leader

Charlemagne and the Christian Church

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The Center of the Community• Churches are center of Western European

medieval communities- hold services, build orphanages, host feasts and festivals

The Role of the Church

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Monks and Nuns• Some people choose to dedicate their lives to

God, the Church• Monks—men who pray, study, copy holy books

- their communities—monasteries—become centers of learning

• Nuns—women who serve Church, pray, sew, teach girls, care for poor

4SECTION

The Feudal System• Most land belongs to powerful nobles—lords,

kings, church officials• Feudalism—nobles’ system of political ties

through land- powerful noble gives land to less-powerful noble- lesser noble—vassal—vows to serve; provides knights, soldiers, arms

• The land granted is called a fief- at center is manor—castle, farmland, villages, church

Two Medieval Systems

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Continued . . .

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Manorialism• Peasants live, farm manor land, but don’t own

their own land• Manorialism—peasants give labor, some of

their food to lord- in exchange, lord protects them

• Serfs are peasants who belong to the fief they live on- not slaves, but not free to leave without permission

continued Two Medieval Systems

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4SECTION

Castle Life• Large manor houses (castles) built for protection

not comfort- cold, damp, dark, with thick stone walls, few windows- Smoky from fires; no indoor plumbing; infested with lice, pests

Medieval Ways of Life

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Peasant Life• Small homes outside castle walls have dirt floors,

straw roofs- peasant families often keep farm animals in the home

• Work for lord two to three days a week; farm own plots rest of week

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4SECTION

Shift from Farms to Towns• By mid-1000s, farming methods increase supplies,

shorten harvest• Fewer farmers are needed, so people move back

to towns- towns become trade centers; more people own property, businesses

The Growth of Medieval Towns

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Guilds• Tradespeople, craftspeople form guilds—business

associations- protect workers’ rights, set wages and prices, settle disputes

• Guild membership often required in order to seek elected office

4SECTION

Governments Challenge the Church• As towns grow, citizens start local governments,

elect leaders• Pope claims authority over all Christian lands

- kings, other leaders disagree

The Late Middle Ages

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The Magna Carta• English nobles rebel against King John

- force him to sign Magna Carta (Great Charter) in 1215- limits king’s power, gives nobles larger role in government

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