Geography 5.03 Physical Systems and Processes Lesson – Flashcards

Although Western Europe is very industrially developed, agriculture is the main form of land use. Different types of agriculture can be found in different parts of Western Europe depending on the type of climate and terrain found in each region. The majority of the Western European agriculture takes place on the Great European Plain. The three types of agriculture that are most common in Western Europe are Mediterranean polyculture, dairy farming, and mixed livestock and crop farming.

Do you think the Mediterranean polyculture takes place along the Mediterranean? Did you say that dairy farming must involve cows? Although you might not have heard about mixed livestock and crop farming, chances are it means just what it says—animals and crops on the same land!

The very first staple of Mediterranean agriculture was wheat. The subsistence based farmers (farmers that grew just what they needed to feed their families) around the Aegean Sea diversified their crops by the addition of the olive and the vine to the earlier staple of wheat. This resulted in the development of Mediterranean polyculture—subsistence agriculture based on the three-legged stool of wheat, the olive, and the grape. Mediterranean polyculture is grown in a region most similar to California.

Dairy farming takes up a considerable area to the north of the Mediterranean. Dairy farming requires a cooler climate. One prominent belt is located in the Alps of France, Switzerland, and Austria and a second dairy belt exists in the north, starting in the United Kingdom and the Breton Peninsula along the shores of the North and Baltic seas.

The best known type of integrated mixed farming around the world is probably mixed crop-livestock systems. In Western Europe, mixed crop livestock farming is predominantly found between the northern dairy belt and Mediterranean polyculture. Mixed crop livestock systems are very independent. For example, most livestock are fed from local farm resources such as the existing pastures and crop residues.

The climate of Western Europe is a predominantly marine climate. Its abundant moisture comes from the Atlantic Ocean. The ocean moderates the temperature during the seasons, making the winter moist and mild, and the summer moist and cool. The Alps are considered a climatic divide due to the fact that the marine climate stays primarily to the north of the Alps. The mild climate felt across most of Europe is most significantly influenced by the Gulf Stream winds from the Atlantic because there are no high mountain ranges to get in the way of the path of the wind until it reaches the Alps. Study the map of present potential vegetation in Europe, and you will notice that the predominant flora in Western Europe is forests. Notice that the region identified as cool temperate forests stretches from Portugal well into Central Europe. The intensive use of the land by a dense population has greatly changed the original natural patterns of Europe, especially the vegetation. Some people are surprised to learn that much of Europe has undergone substantial deforestation due to ever-growing civilizations present on the continent for over 2000 years. When we explore Eastern Europe, we will take a closer look at European deforestation and what is currently being done by Eastern European countries.

"Not without reason did gods and men choose this spot for the site of our city - the salubrious hills, the river to bring us produce from the inland regions and sea-borne commerce from abroad, the sea itself, near enough for convenience yet not so near as to bring danger from foreign fleets, our situation in the very heart of Italy - all these advantages make it of all places in the world the best for a city destined to grow great."

As we have seen, there are many rivers and waterways that crisscross the continent of Europe. Rivers are important for many reasons—some provide fresh water, others provide a route for transportation and the shipping of goods, others are simply enjoyed by local residents for their natural beauty.

The Po River Valley is just one of the many reasons that Ancient Rome and its surrounding cities came to be great and prosperous cities. The Po River, Italy's longest river, runs approximately 400 miles from the southwestern Alps to the Adriatic Sea, passing indirectly through Milan, and through Turin.

The Rhine River, whose name comes from the Celtic word renos, meaning raging flow, begins slowly at the Rheinwaldhorn Glacier in the Swiss Alps and builds up speed as it flows north and east for approximately 820 miles through the countries of Switzerland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The Rhine River is one of the most important waterways in Germany and is linked by canals to other major rivers in Western Europe. Many German manufacturing and industrial cities are located along the Rhine, and the river is important for shipping and transportation.

The Danube River has been one of the most significant cultural and historic boundaries in Europe. This river flows through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldavia, and Ukraine. The Danube has been harnessed to produce hydroelectricity, especially on its upper course. The Danube also serves as a channel for local trade among the nations along its banks.

The Mediterranean Sea is the world's largest inland sea, surrounded by Europe, Asia, and Africa. There are many smaller bodies of water that make up the Mediterranean Sea. The Ionian Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, and Aegean Sea are all arms of the Mediterranean. The Ionian Sea is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea between western Greece and southern Italy, while the Aegean Sea is between Greece and Turkey. During the time of the Roman Empire the Mediterranean Sea was essentially a Roman Lake—the Romans even referred to it as Mare Nostrum—meaning Our Lake.

Although Europe is technically its own continent, if you look closely at a map of Europe, you will notice there is no clear delineation between the continent of Europe and Asia. In fact, Europe is, essentially, the western peninsula of the Eurasian landmass. As we have learned, a peninsula is a landmass surrounded on three sides by water. There are many peninsulas that are part of Europe.

How many peninsulas do you see? The countries of Portugal and Spain make up what is known as the Iberian Peninsula; Norway and Sweden are part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Even the country of Spain itself has its own peninsula —Cape Finisterre—believed to be the westernmost point of Spain, is also a peninsula.

As in many parts of the world, glaciations have had a marked impact on the region. In the Netherlands, for example, glaciations created numerous small lakes which gradually filled with humus to make marshes. Some of these were later drained to make mucklands, which are primarily used for high value crops such as vegetables due to the richness of the soil. The potential loss of glaciations in the Alps is a considerable concern for all of Europe due to the fact that glaciers provide fresh drinking water, they are a source of hydro power, and are also visited annually by tourists looking for adventures in skiing and snowboarding.

Thick loess deposits generally formed over time in areas bordering large, continental glaciers. Loess is a geologic term that refers to deposits of silt left behind by receding glaciers. Loess sediments are some of the most fertile soils there are. Although loess soils and sediments cover about 1/10 of the Earth, approximately 1/5 of Europe contains loess.

The "lost city" of Pompeii was an incredible discovery in 1738. Since then, millions of tourists have traveled to Italy to view this incredible discovery of a city completed buried in ash almost 2000 years ago. Explore this "lost city" and why the primary concern facing historians and archaeologists today is conserving this site and protecting it from tourists and the elements for future generations.

"You could hear women lamenting, children crying, men shouting. There were some so afraid of death that they prayed for death. Many raised their hands to the gods, and even more believed that there were no gods any longer and that this was one unending night for the world."

In August, 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted for 19 hours, completely burying thousands of people living in beautiful towns on the Italian coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The destruction was so widespread and devastating, that these communities would lay hidden beneath dust and ash for almost seventeen hundred years. It was not until 1738 that a team of workmen building a summer palace for the King of Naples discovered the city of Pompeii buried beneath 60 feet of ash.

Vesuvius is a composite volcano, also known as a stratovolcano, made up of alternate layers of ash and lava. Composite volcanoes normally have two different kinds of eruptions. One kind produces mostly ash and cinders. The other kind produces lava. Some of the most powerful and destructive volcanoes in human history have been stratovolcanoes.

During the eruption in 79 CE, the first stage of the eruption, (or plinian stage) dust, ashes, cinders, and rocks erupted high into the air. The cloud of ash probably extended almost 20 miles into the air. This stage lasted for approximately 6-12 hours, but it could last for hours or even days. No lava flows occur during the plinian stage. The dust, rocks, and debris was so heavy that it caused many roofs to collapse.

After the plinian stage, an incredibly hot burst of steam and mud shot from the mountain. It is estimated that it took about 4 minutes for hot ashes and cinders to flow 4 miles from the mountain to the coast - burying everything in its path. This stage is called the pyroclastic flow. Pyroclastic flows are rapidly moving masses of hot gas, ash, and rock.

"The citizens of Pompeii and Herculaneum enjoyed "modern" amenities such as central heating, hot and cold running water-and a standard of living and life expectancy that would not be achieved again until the 1950s."

Ancient Pompeii was a bustling industrial center, market town, and harbor. The character of Pompeii was displayed in the shops, taverns, and homes. The citizens of Pompeii tended to their well-cultivated gardens, visited temples, bath houses, a gymnasium, two theaters, and an amphitheater. The sister city of Herculaneum met the same fate as Pompeii. Herculaneum was a beautiful resort town where its rich, educated inhabitants would pass their time in scholarly pursuits. The villas were adorned with marble and bronze statues.

What happened to the thousands of citizens residing in Pompeii and Herculaneum on that fateful day in 79 CE? Recently, teams of historians and archaeologists have been trying to solve many unanswered questions about this historical day.

It has long been assumed that the victims died from asphyxiation. However, a few years ago, a team of archaeologists uncovered 300 bodies packed together in storerooms along the coast.

After studying the bone fractures and the position of the remains, the scientists were able to determine that the citizens died instantly from extreme thermal, or heat, shock when the volcanic surge hurled down on the beach area, covering the seven miles to the coast in about four minutes! It is estimated that the cloud of smoke reached 19 miles into the sky while rushing rivers of lava poured down the sides of the mountain. The death of these frightened people came almost instantaneously.

Due to the fact that the destruction of Pompeii and other nearby cities was so instantaneous, the cities were effectively mummified. The people, the animals, and the buildings were essentially cast in stone - hidden for centuries. At this point, about three-fifths of the city has been liberated

from the solidified volcanic ash and pumice that engulfed it. Scientists and archaeologists have learned a lot about the people and the development of civilization based on the exploration of Pompeii. With high-powered microscopes, scientists have been able to analyze pollens, animal bones, and fragments

of wood, glass, plants, and daily objects to figure out the natural history of the region as well as cultural and agricultural practices. At the time Mount Vesuvius erupted, Pompeii was a wealthy international and cosmopolitan Roman trading town, famous for its fish sauce and grand villas. The entire city had an excellent

system for the control and distribution of water. From a great reservoir, water flowed invisibly through underground pipelines into drainage systems and into aqueducts supported by arches. It reappeared in the city's houses, public buildings, and fountains. It is apparent that the Romans had a solid knowledge of science and technology and how to apply that knowledge to nature to benefit the people. Even some of the Roman contraptions discovered buried beneath the ash show a striking similarity to modern machines. Pompeii has truly helped modern historians piece together a detailed history of this quite complex and modern society.

Today, Pompeii brings thousands of students, scholars, and tourists to explore the ruins of this incredible lost city. Pompeii is Italy's most famous archaeological site and with good reason: With an excavated area of almost 109 acres, Pompeii is unique in the world. No other ancient town has been exhumed so thoroughly. It was in the mid-18th century that large-scale excavations were first launched, in approximately 1748. Many people have since remarked that Pompeii's second tragedy was its rediscovery. It really should have been left to slumber for another century or two, when it might have been better excavated and maintained. Today, Italy as well as many international organizations, including the United Nations, have joined together in an effort to preserve this ancient city. The national debate over capping the number of tourists allowed per day in the area has sparked some anger in the local tourism industry and is pitting hotel owners and tour operators squarely against the Italian government. In order to bring the story of Pompeii to the world, in 2008-2009, museums across the United States hosted a traveling exhibit asking visitors to imagine Pompeii as if it were a modern-day Malibu - home to the super wealthy. Over 150 artifacts from Pompeii were part of the exhibit and gave many people the opportunity to get a closer glimpse of a place most would otherwise only read about.

The needs of Pompeii are so great that some have wondered if it can be truly preserved for future generations. Masonry is crumbling, frescoes are fading in the sun, and even protective roofs built in the 20th century are deteriorating themselves. To preserve this great and historic site will take the combined efforts of scientists, archaeologists, government officials, and even local citizens. Everyone must come to realize that the demands of conservation, communication, and research are intimately intertwined. In recent years, a clear international effort has been beginning to build with the aim of protecting this special site. There has been an international realization that it is incumbent on this generation to do their part to protect this place for future generations to come.

No one could have predicted the total devastation and destruction that occurred in 79 CE in the beautiful resort towns on the Bay of Naples. Mount Vesuvius, a powerful stratovolcano, unleashed a wave of devastation that wiped out nearly 20,000 people in less than 24 hours. The ancient city of Pompeii and its sister city of Herculaneum were buried for almost 1700 years. The excavation that has occurred since then has given us a true glimpse into the life of an Ancient Roman city and the people who lived there. However, it is up to us today to work to protect and preserve this historical treasure for future generations. Many questions remain unanswered and there is more work and exploration still to be done.

Are you intrigued by the story of Pompeii? The discovery of Pompeii has riveted modern society since its discovery in 1738. In the 1980s, a band by the name of Siouxsie and the Banshees even recorded a song and a music video about Pompeii.

Water was running; children were running You were running out of time Under the mountain, a golden fountain Were you praying at the Lares shrine? But ohh oh your city lies in dust, my friend Ohh oh your city lies in dust, my friend ...