Northern Europe

1. A history of Seafaring Conquering
i. Nordic Countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceand, Norway, and Sweden
b. Early Conquering
i. Each settler of this area pushed the previous out of power
ii. Britain was invaded by many peoples: the Celts, Germanic tribes, and the Romans
iii. The Vikings began to conquering in 795
iv. In 1066, William the Conqueror of Normandy conquered England and ruled.
c. Dreams of Empire
i. Denmark, Sweden, and Norway became kingdoms in the 900s
ii. Britain became known as the United Kingdom in 1801
iii. By the 1800s, Britain had colonies in the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania
iv. “the sun Never sets on the British Empire” because they had colonies all over the world
2. Moving into the modern age
a. Representative Government
i. Parliament: a representive lawmaking body whose memebers are elected
ii. The magna Carta: Made nobles below the law
b. Industrial Revolution
i. Britain was the first nion to industrialize
ii. It imported a large amount of raw materials from its colonies
iii. In the 1800s the industrial revolution spread from Britain to Belgium, France, Germany, and the U.S.
3. Economics: Diversity and Change
a. Industry and resources
i. Both Sweden and the UK have strong vehicular and Aerospace industries
ii. Northern Europe has many natural resources
iii. Iceland relies heavily on fishing
iv. Norway is a big oil provider
b. Union or independence
i. Norway did not want to accept the EU
ii. Denmark will not accept the euro
4. Cultural similarities and Modern Art
a. Similar languages and religion
i. Most people in northern Europe speak Germanic languages
ii. The reformation swept through Northern Europe
iii. Most turned to protestant
b. Modern Culture and literature
i. The Norwegian playwright Henrik Isben is called the father of modern drama
ii. Many consider the British William Shakespeare the best playwright of all time
5. Life in Northern Europe
a. Social welfare
i. Finland, Norway, and Sweden give families allowances
ii. Northern Europe has universal Healthcare
b. Distinctive Customs
i. Brits are known for afternoon tea
ii. Swedes made the smorgasbord
iii. Finns are famous for the sauna
c. Leisure
i. Outdoor sports are popular in Northern Europe
ii. Brits enjoy horse back riding and fox hunting
iii. Brits also made rugby and cricket
6. Summary
a. This section went over Northern Europe. IT talked about the spread of the British Empire, and the loss of its colonies. It spoke of the languages, religions, and leisure activities.