Unit+14+Intro+to+West+Europe

INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN EUROPE

Migration and the process of cultural diffusion, in which peoples adopt the practices of their neighbors, have affected the history of Western Europe.Western Europe contains a variety of physical features. Oceans and seas sur- round much of Western Europe, while the summits, or highest points, of the Alps contrast with the flat North European Plain.Temperate climates are caused by this region’s proximity to the sea. The North Atlantic Drift, along with winds known as the prevailing westerlies, creates milder climates than those of other regions located at the same latitudes. The varying altitudes throughout Europe affect the vegetation and animal life of a region. Western Europe occupies only 3 per- cent of the world’s landmass, but it is one of the most densely populated regions in the world. Economic growth has encouraged people to migrate to Western Europe from all over the world in search of employment.The growing use of machines during the 1800s became known as the Indus- trial Revolution. Industrialization and many natural resources helped transform this region from an agricultural society to an industrial society. In the 1950s, six Western Euro- pean nations formed a “common market” for their mutual eco- nomic benefit. As it expanded, it became the European Union (EU). In 1999, this union intro- duced the euro, a single currency to be used by member nations.The idea of free nationwide edu- cation originated in Europe. In all Western European nations, educa- tion is compulsory, or required, for a certain number of years.

1 - Why is Western Europe one of the most densely populated regions in the world? 2 - Map Skills According to the map, to which Western European country have Turkish citizens migrated?