Southern Europe: A Geographic and Cultural Overview

Southern Europe

Geographic Features

Mountains and Peninsulas

• Pyrenees Mountains: Form a natural border between Spain and France.
• Undersea Mountains: Contribute to the formation of many islands in Southern Europe.
• Alps: Europe's highest mountain range.
• Apennines: Run along the Italian Peninsula.
• Balkan Peninsula: Home to Greece.
• Iberian Peninsula: Location of Spain and Portugal.

Water Bodies and Climate

• Mediterranean Sea: Influences the climate and culture of Southern European countries.
• Mediterranean Climate: Characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, ideal for growing crops.
• Tagus River: The longest river in Southern Europe.
• Po River: Flows through a fertile and densely populated area in Italy.

Culture and History

Ancient Greece

• Democracy: A form of government pioneered by the ancient Greeks.
• Philosophy: A significant aspect of Greek culture.
• Orthodox Church: A branch of Christianity with roots in the Byzantine Empire.
• The Family: Considered the cornerstone of Greek society.

Italy

• Rome: Italy's capital city.
• The Renaissance: A period of remarkable artistic and intellectual creativity that originated in Italy.
• Milan: A global fashion capital.
• Sicily: An island located at Italy's southern tip.
• Naples: The largest city in Southern Europe and a bustling port.
• Vatican City: An independent state situated within Rome, serving as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.

Spain and Portugal

are almost entirely the Po River that runs through one of the most fertile and densely populated áreas in Italy warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters  the Mediterranean Climate About three-fifths of the people in Greece live Cities Benito Mussolini In the 1920s, Italy became a dictatorship under Pindus mountain range covering most of Greece