Class _IL'^ 61 _ Book_^---uMi A BRIEF GEOGRAPHY OF NEW EUROPE BY ' HARMON B. NIVER AUTHOR OF "A SCHOOL HISTORY OF ENGLAND" AND EDWARD D. FARRELL FORMERLY DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS IN NEW YORK CITY 1921 HINDS, HAYDEN & ELDREDGE, INC. New York Philadelphia Chicago r Copyright, 1910, 1911, by Harmon B. Niver Copyright, 1920, by Harmon B. Niver PREFACE As a companion volume to our "Brief Physical" and "Brief Com- mercial" Geographies, the publishers take pleasure in presenting the present "Brief Geography of New Europe." The new nations which have just emerged from the bloody strife of four long years are still a long way from the conditions of peaceful industry, and it is only a matter of conjecture as to what their place will be in the geography of the future. We do not know what they will do, but at any rate, when the aftermath of war has cleared away, they will have a fair start on the road to industrial and commercial progress. They will begin a new career as free nations, for the war just closed marks a radical change in the basis of political geography. The physical basis, of course, never alters except by the action of the forces of nature through infinite periods of time. The primitive boundaries of nations were mainly natural barriers, such as oceans, mountain ranges, deserts, and broad rivers. The people living within such boundaries — usually of the same race — gradually adapted themselves to their environment, and became welded together by a common language, religion, and tra- ditions. In the absence of migrations, conquests, and ready means of communication, these natural barriers became effective national bounda- ries. The Chinese and Oriental nations generally are examples of these primitive conditions, under which nations have settled down within natm-al boundaries and lived for centuries at peace with the rest of mankind. When, however, a people becomes too big for the land it occupies, migration becomes a necessity, and a large part of the history of man- kind, hitherto, has dealt with the movements of bodies of men from the more densely populated regions into those that afforded a better means of livelihood. Such migrations involved the subjection of the savage or barbarous nations who occupied the soil or of civilized nations f OCT 22 '23 ^j'?* PREFACE 3 too weak to withstand the onset of the newcomers; hence, the "rule of the strongest" was substituted for natural barriers as determining national boundaries. This process of migration and conquest has con- tinued until there are no more lands to conquer, and it has become necessary to find some permanent basis on which to divide the world among the nations. The war just closed marks, we hope, the end of the rule of power. The nations of central Europe, Hke the savage Teuton chief with whom Julius Caesar treated 2000 years ago, "thought their lands too small for people of their importance and dignity," and they set out to conquer the rest of the world. Their ignominious failure has taught the world that the "rule of right" must be substituted for the "rule of might." The strongest ties that bind men together into nations are those of race, language, and religion; and for those nations that have learned to respect the religious rights of others, race, language, and common tradi- tions should determine their national boundaries. It was a saying among the ancient Greeks that "wherever Greeks live, there is Greece." It was decided by the Peace Congress at Versailles that the people themselves should decide whether they would have an independent national existence; or if not, to what nation they should be joined. This principle of "self-determination" was acquiesced in by the repre- sentatives of the "Five Great Powers" — United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan — and by those of the 22 lesser powers, who together drew up the Peace Treaty and the "League of Nations." This principle gives also to each people the right to decide what form of government they shall have. Thus certain districts and prov- inces which had been forcibly taken and ruled by Germany, Austria, Russia, and Turkey, have been restored to the people who inhabit them and now take their places in the family of nations; such are Poland, Jugo-Slavia, Czechoslovakia, Esthonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Finland. Other districts wrested from the rightful owners have been returned, as Alsace-Lorraine, Schleswig, Transylvania, and others. Still other districts, in which the will of the people is uncertain, will be allowed to decide by a popular vote to which nation they shall be attached. In all this we see the triumph of Democracy — the triumph of the will of the people over the domination of kings, aristocracies, or classes. 4 PREFACE We see the triumph of the American form of government, which is "of the people, by the people, and for the people." There are yet lands of another character which were provided for by the Peace Treaty, and these are the colonies held by Germany in Africa and among the islands of the Pacific ocean. These lands are inhabited by people too low in the scale of civihzation either to govern themselves or to decide their futm-e. These colonies have been made "mandatory" — that is, they have been placed mider the tutelage of stronger nations until such time when their people shall have reached a stage of intelligence that will enable them to determine how or by whom they shall be governed. At this writing many questions remain unsettled. Russia, western Asia, and southeastern Europe are still engaged in civil wars, the outcome of which cannot be predicted with certainty, but the principle of self-determination will in the end prevail, and we shall see the world inhabited by one great, united family of free, self-governing nations, hving in peace with one another. WESTERN" HE^nSPHERE :yoRTir rOL-E 10 130 J^ SOUTH POLE EASTEEK HEMISPHERE LAND CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. Europe 9 II. The British Isles 30 III. France 55 IV. Germany 72 V. Belgium and the Netherlands 84 VI. The Scandinavian Countries 94 VII. Italy 107 VIII. Spain and Portugal 121 IX. Switzerland 130 X. Russia 138 XI. Austria and Hungary 152 XII. The Balkan Peninsula 155 XIII. The New Nations of Europe . 166 Comparative Study of Europe and North America . . 180 Index 183 Appendix. Statistical Tables i LIST OF MAPS Western Hemisphere and North and South Polar Regions .... 6 Eastern Hemisphere and Land and Water Hemispheres .... 7 Physical Europe 16 Political Europe 20 The British Isles 31 France, Spain, and Portugal 57 Germany, Belgium, and Netherlands 76 Italy and Switzerland 109 South Central Europe 165 Commercial Map of the World 178 Political North America . . , 181 CHAPTER T EUROPE Answer the map studies questions, pages 20-21. Before studying the text read the relief map (page 12) and the contour map (pages 16-17) in connection with the map studies (pages 13 and 16-17). Constant reference fshould be made to the other maps and illustrations in order to make the text clear and to fix in mind matters relating to surface, location, and direction. Location, Size, and Importance. — Europe is the most centrally located of all the continents. This advantage of location has greatly favored the development of European commerce. Only Australia and the countries of eastern Asia are so far distant as to make com- munication somewhat difficult. If we look at the map on page 7 we may see that Europe is not really a separate continent, but that it is part of a larger mass of land to which the name Eurasia is commonly given. Europe forms less than one fifth of this land mass and appears on the map as a very irregular peninsula jutting out from the west of Asia. From this main peninsula, five or more smaller ones extend far out into the surround- ing waters, and the coasts are so deeply cut by seas, bays, and estuaries that the interior parts are brought within a few hundred miles of the seacoast. In size Europe is, next to Australia, the smallest of all the con- tinents. Its area is less than half that of North America, and only a little larger than that of the United States. Having over 450,000,- 000 people it ranks next to Asia in population, though it has about one fifth the area. Europe surpasses all the other continents in the number of its populous nations, in its commerce, and wealth. Races of Europe. — The people of Europe belong mainly to the white race and are divided into three great branches: The Teutonic races occupy the northern and western parts embracing England, Germany, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Den- mark, Austria, and parts of Switzerland and other countries. The Latin races, so called because their languages are composed largely of words derived from the 9 10 EUROPE Latin language, occupy the southern parts and include the French, Spanish, Portu- guese, Italian, and Rumanian. The Slavonic races occupj^ eastern Europe and the Balkan peninsula; the chief nations of this race are the Russians, Poles, Bul- garians, and Serbians; others are the Letts, Czechs, Slovaks, Slovenes, Croatians, and numerous minor tribes. Besides these three leading races there are the Lapps, Finns, Esths, Turks, Tartars, and the Magyars, or Hungarians, belonging to the yellow race; and along the western edge of the continent we find people of the Celtic race, the oldest of the white races in Europe. The valley of Chamonix ami the mount Blanc range. The Greeks and Romans. — More than three thousand years ago Greek emi- grants crossed the^Egean sea and made settlements on the islands and along the coasts of southern Europe. They grew to be the rulers of most of the lands bordering the Mediterranean sea and finally, under Alexander the Great, they conquered the world. Latin tribes also made their way westward b.v land and established homes in the Italian peninsula. While the Greeks were ruling tlie rest of the civilized world, the Romans were building up a strong government at Rome. They gradually conquered all of Italy and extended their conquests into Asia and Africa. The Cireeks were subdued l)y them. In the first century before Christ, Julius Caesar added Gaul, now France, to the Roman dominions, and Britain and other parts were afterward contiuered. The Roman Empire then embraced nearly the whole civilized world. The Coming of New Races ; the Teutons. — During the early days of the Roman Empire western Europe had been occupied by Celtic tribes. But soon barbarians from the shores of the North and Baltic seas swarmed over the borders, causing the emperors no end of trouble. At first the Romans gave them lands to dwell upon, EACES OF EUROPE 11 but the invaders demanded more and more until at last they captured the city of Rome itself. Some crossed the Pyrenees and established a kingdom in Spain. In the mean time the Franks had taken possession of Gaul, and the kingdom of France was begun. Other Teutonic tribes called Angles and Saxons invaded Britain and built up a number of small kingdoms which afterwards became Angle-land, or Eng- land. The Slavonic Tribes. — These peoples had their homes on the Russian plain between Germany and the Volga river. East of them dwelt Tartar tribes belonging The Mer de Glace, or Great Glacier, and mount Blanc, the peak on the right of the glacier. to the Yellow race. In the sixth century, the Tartars attacked the Slavs, driving them westward agamst the German frontier. Being halted here they spread out north and south, forming a chain of nations extending from the Baltic sea to the Black. In this region to-day we find Bulgaria, Serbia, Jugo-Slavia, Czechoslovalda, Poland, Lithuania, Livonia, Esthonia, Ukrainia, and Russia. Between the Teu- tonic and Slavic nations are the Magyars, or Hungarians, an Asiatic race related to the Tartars, who made their way into Europe during this early period. The Middle Ages. — For many centuries the Barbarian kingdoms made little progress in the arts of civilized hfe. This long period is known as the " Middle Ages." During this time Mohammed estabUshed his rehgion at Mecca. His followers soon overran a large part of Asia; they took possession of the southern half of Spain. In 1453 the Turks, a Mohammedan tribe of Tartars, cap- tured Constantinople, and conquered southeastern Europe as far as the Danube. I Their present possessions in Europe are restricted to " Constantinople State." 12 RELIEF MAP OF EUROPE &i- ^-. J-^^f' r<;- '■- v^ i'j- %:?vi '/./■.-. *«« ■^i&.^ V? SURFACE AND OUTLINE 13 It was during the early half of the Dark Ages that the new nations were con- verted to Christianity, for the most part by missionaries sent out from Rome. The Christian religion served more than anything else to soften savage customs, to do away with slavery, and to create a respect for law and for the rights of others. Modem Nations. — The invention of gunpowder, the discovery of the use of the compass, and the invention of the printing-press mark the beginning of modern nations and of modern geography. A desire for trade led to the search for new lands. Spain, Portugal, France, and England took up the work of exploration and dis- covery. It was Italian sailors — Columbus, Cabot, and Verrazano, — in the employ of these nations who discovered and explored the New World. Portuguese sailors, Diaz and da Gama, explored the coasts of Africa, rounded the cape of Good Hope, and sailed across the Indian ocean to India. Surface and Outline. — The surface structure of Europe is not unlike that of the other continents; it is composed of two mountain systems enclosing a central plain. The older system stretches along the northwestern coast through the British Isles and the Scandi- navian peninsula; detached portions of it are found also in Russia, Finland, Germany, France, and Belgium. It is everywhere greatly worn down and much of it is covered with magnificent forests of pine and spruce. It is also the chief source of mineral wealth. The younger and loftier mountain system extends across the southern part of the continent in a general east and west direction. In height it averages about the same as the Rocky mountain system. The Caucasus, the Carpathian, the Alps, and the Pyrenees are the chief ranges; minor ranges are the Balkans, the Apennines, the Ce- RELIEF MAP STUDIES. — (1) Trace the outline of the Great Central plain of Europe from the bay of Biscay eastward to the Black sea, and from this point eastward and northward to the northern extremity of Russia, then southwestward to the southern shore of England. (For names of physical features see contour map, page 16.) What bodies of water occupy the great depression in the northern part of this plain? Find the region of elevation in the central part of the plain. Where do you find the greatest number of lakes? (2) What highland regions border the central plain on the southeast, east, northwest, and south? What is the general direction of the mountains in each of these regions? What river separates the highlands of central Europe from those of southern Europe? What are the chief ranges in each of these divisions? (3) Which sea receives the larger share of the drainage of the central plain? Which sea receives the greatest number of short rivers? Trace by means of the sources of the rivers a dividing ridge across the Central plain from the Ural mountains southwestward to the central highlands. (4) Which countries of Europe are most mountainous? Which lie chiefly in the Great plain? Which lie partly in the Great plain and partly in the mountain regions? (See map, pages 14-15.) 14 EUROPE vermes, and the Jura. The Caucasus and the Alps contain the high- est peaks, most of which are covered with perpetual snow. Mount Elbruz is over 18,000, and mount Blanc over 15,000 feet in height. The Alps are perhaps the most famous mountains in the world, erable snow-clad peaks, their wonderful glaciers and avalanches, and their deep valleys with clear streams and beau- tiful lakes, are example- of mountain scenery nof equaled elsewhere. Their innum- A view among the Apennines in central Italy, and lake Como with the Alps in the background. The Balkans and the Apennines are offshoots from the main sj'stem, extending respec- tively into the Greek and the Italian peninsulas. The Balkan peninsula contains man}'' detached peaks and ranges enclosing fertile valleys and plains. The southern half of the Apennines is a noted volcanic and earthquake region con- taining three active volcanoes: Vesuvius, Etna, and Stromboli. The eruption of mount Vesuvius in 79 a.d. was one of the most destructive known in history. The three neighboring cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Stabiae were completely buried by the lava and ashes and their very existence for- gotten. Recently parts of these cities have been excavated and the streets with their houses and temples have been exposed to ^^ew just as they were when the Romans lived there. A still greater disaster occurred December 28, 1908, when an earthquake destroyed the cities of Messina, Reggio {red'-jo),Sind a dozen neigh- boring towns and villages. More than 100,000 persons were buried in the ruins. No other earthquake so destructive of life and property has ever been known. SURFACE AND OUTLINE 15 The Carpathian mountains lie in the center of the continent on the southern border of the Great plain. They curve eastward, then southward like a great bow, crossing the Danube river and partly enclosing the rich plains of Hungary. These plains, once an ancient lake bottom, are now -the most productive wheat fields of Europe. The western Alps culminate in mount Blanc. The Jura mountains extend northward from them and approach the Vosges The city of Limoges on the river Vienne where it descends from the central plateau of France to the plain. mountains. These two ranges form the western watershed of the Rhine valley. West of these mountains and parallel with them are the Cevennes {se-ven') and the Cote-d'Or {cote-dor') moimtains, which form the western watershed of the Rhone valley. The Pyrenees rise like a great wall, forming a natural boundary between France and Spain. Some of their peaks exceed 11,000 feet in height, and are snow-clad during the entire 3^ear, On the eastern border of the continent are the long low ranges of the Urals, which do not appear to belong to either of the svstems described. ,,^11,..$. s f..A.,.x r MAP STUDIES. — (1) What elevation is indicated by each of the colors on this map? In which countries of Europe do you find lowlands? Which country lies chiefly in the region of plains? In which countries do you find elevations exceeding 6,000 feet? In which do you find the greatest extent of plateaus? (2) What mountain ranges are found in Spain? Which of these forms a boundary? What countries lie partly or wholly in the plateau region of central Europe? In what part of Russia do you find elevations exceeding a thousand feet? What is the shape of that part of the cen- tral plain lying east of the Elbe river? Trace the contour line in central Europe between the 1,500 and 6,000 foot elevations. What is the form of this line? (3) What rivers of Ein-ope have their sources in the region of plains? What rivers rise in plateau regions? In mountain regions? Name three rivers that flow entirely through plains and low- lands. What rivers have their courses almost entirely in plateau and mountain regions? Which class would be best adapted to navi- gation? What two rivers have the greatest extent of alluvial plains along their banks? (4) How is the chmate of a country affected by elevation? In what parts of Europe would you expect to find a cold climate? Compare the climate of central with that of northern Europe, remembering that tempera- ture falls about one degree Fahrenheit foif every 300 feet of elevation (see page 75). What can you teU about the effect of climate on the plant life of a country ? Name some plants that you think would flourish in each region of elevation. (5) The dotted red lines crossing this map are called isothermal (equal heat) lines. They connect points on the map which have the same average annual tem- perature. Trace the isothermal line of forty degrees across the map. Can you explain why it is further north on the Atlantic ocean than it is in Russia. Why does it run from north to south in the Scandinavian peninsula? Trace the isothermal of* 60 degrees from the Atlantic ocean to the Caspian sea. Along what parallel of latitude is its general direc- tion? Can you give any reason why it fol- lows the parallel of latitude more closely than the isothermals in the north of Europe? What influences ether than latitude deter- mine the location of isothermal lines? 18 EUROPE The Central Plain. — Between the two great mountain systems of Europe lies the Central plain. It begins with a narrow strip of coast north of the Pyrenees mountains, and bends northeastward around the central highland region, gradually widening until in Russia it attains a width of 2,000 miles. Here it joins the great plain of Asia. It is al- most uniformly level, having here and there but a few scattered ranges of hills. The most considerable of these are the Val- dai Hills in Russia. The northern edge of this plain has sunk beneath the ocean and two deep depressions in it are now occupied by the North sea and the Baltic sea. It is supposed that before the plain was depressed the British Isles and Norway and Sweden were joined to the mainland. The higher parts of the sunken mountain ranges pro- jecting above the water* form the thousands of islands which are scattered along the shores of Great Britain and Norway. The more level parts of this sunken coast are the fishing banks of northwestern Europe, which are excelled only by those of Newfoundland, and which give employment to thousands of men and ships. By the sinking of the coasts the valleys along them became inlets, or fiords, many of which extend far inland forming excellent harbors. INIany of these fiords along the coast of Norway are walled in by steep and lofty rocks over which tumble swollen streams, forming a type of mountain scenery indescribably grand. Views on the plateau in southern Germany. 1. Schwartz- burg with the Thuringian forests in the background. 2. A hilly country in Thuringia. CLIMATE 19 Changes in Surface Level ; Glaciers and Coal Beds. — The effect of a rise in the surface of the land is to make the climate colder; oppositely, a subsidence makes the climate warmer. The surface of Europe has undergone many changes of level, which have had im- portant effects in fitting it to be the home of man. In very ancient times a large part of the Central plain, as well as small areas in other regions, was depressed, forming great swamps in which vegetation grew luxuriantly. In the course of many centuries vegetable matter accunmlated in these swamps to the depth of hundreds of feet. After- ward these areas sank still lower, becoming inland lakes, and the vege- table matter was covered to a great depth by the sand and gravel brought down by the streams which poured into them. The pressure of this overlying mass and the heat of the interior of the earth con- verted the decayed vegetable matter into coal. Afterward the surface of the continent was raised and parts of it in the north became covered with a great glacier, or ice sheet. The ice moving southward filled up the North sea and the Baltic sea and overspread a large part of Russia and Germany. The glacier brought with it soil and rock broken from the mountam sides or scraped out of the valleys along which it passed. This material, called glacial drift, was spread on the land when the ice melted and helped to form the fertile soil of the northern part of the Central plain. Often the drift would obstruct the streams, forming lakes thousands of which are found in Russia, Norway, Sweden, and the British Isles. We may thus see that the glacier had much to do m fitting the surface of the continent for the home of man. Climate. — Owing to the nearness of the ocean and to the numer- ous inland seas as well as to the prevailing winds and the nature of the surface, the climate of Europe, when the same latitudes are con- sidered, is in contrast with that of any other continent. There are no mountain ranges running parallel with the ocean to cut off the moisture, and hence there are no arid areas in the interior, as m the other continents.- Northern and central Europe he within the region of the westerly winds. These winds, laden with warmth and moisture from crossing the Atlantic ocean, traverse the continent north of the primary highland system. As the winds at this lati- tude are not intercepted by high mountains, they give up their mois- °' S" 10" 15° 20" 20° 30° 35" ian acro^s^tTiY nL^n^orEumno^''''Tu,T/'^* ^T^^^ °^ ^^^*'"*",''° ^''^^^ Europe Ho? Trace tho prime merid- iLd is Europe" Wh L.h ', a K-ntV ^"""^ncs are partly in west longitude? (2) AA'hat division of Which eo„....?, >„l^e z Viii£;"^s^xj^^s-'^s'ij^^ %;t:;szr^ NORWAY AND SWEDEN; DEN- MARK. — (1) What waters partly sur- round Norway and Sweden? Which is farther north? What is length of each in degrees from north to south? In miles? (2) What mountains sepa- rate Norway and Sweden? Compare the surface of these two countries. The coast lines. W"hich has the most lakes? \vhat has caused the formation of these lakes (see page 17)? (3) Which coun- try is the larger? How does each com- pare in size with Great Britain? How does each compare in size with your state? (4) On an outline map locate and name the capitals and leading cities of these two countries. How do you account for the absence of any long rivers? (5) Describe the location of Denmark, both on the continent and in latitude. What country borders it on the south? What countries of Europe are smaller than Denmark? Compare it with your state in size and population. (6) Where are the Faroe islands? Iceland? What is the capi- -yf ^ \^^ \ i---^V/ 'V:^*" e<''"^>t^r^~' y<^ tal of Denmark? What is the capital y l)^^^^^^c^^^'V\ ^,^1^ r'0'^'^"^>c\ °^ Iceland? (7) What is the approxi- K JesfK^QT ^Vr-'-^Jh^*'''^ h^ \ ( /^ ' \ /^v. \ mate distance in miles between the capital of Denmark and the capital of Iceland? In what general direction and over what waters would a vessel sail in going from Copenhagen to Reikiavik? EASTERN EUROPE. — (1) Be- tween what parallels of latitude does Russia lie? What do you infer from tliis in regard to its climate? Compare its area with that of the rest of Europe. Compare with the United States in size (see APPENDIX, page ii). What part of the people of Europe live in Russia? (2) Name the five seas bordering on Russia. Name a river flowing into each of these seas. Trace each of these rivers to its source. Near what city do they rise? What hills near this city? What countries on the western border of Russia? What mountains in the east? In the south? What countries of Asia border Russia? (3) Name five seaports and tell on what water each is located. In what part of Poland are Warsaw and Lodz? Describe the location of Kief {ke'-yef), Kazan, Tiflis, Baku, Nijni Novgorod, Helsingfors, Wilna, Kharkof, and Eka- terinburg. On an outUne map of Russia locate these towns. On the same map locate the rivers and the bordering waters and countries. (4) Name all the bodies of water on which a vessel would sail in going from Odessa to Petrograd. From Archangel to Liverpool. From Venice to Hamburg. (5) Find the distance by rail from Paris to Berlin. ection of the following mountain ranges: Alps, Pyrenees, Kiolen (kyu'-Ien), Carpathian, Apen- les, Caucasus, and Ural. Where are the Valdai Hills? What rivers rise among them? What rivers e in the Alps? Locate mount Vesuvius; mount Etna; mount Blanc. Name four lakes in Europe. Make a list of the countries of Europe in order of size (see appendix, page ii). In a column 'josite the name of each country write the name of the capital, and in a third column the name of ; chief city of each country. 22 EUROPE tiire very gradually, so that nearly all parts of Europe receive enough ram for successful farming. The coast of western Europe is also tempered by the warm waters of the Gulf stream, which washes the shores of the British Isles and Norway, keeping the harbors open all through the year, even at the extreme northern port of Plammerfest. Western Europe has a mod- erate temperature throughout the year; but as we go eastward the country suffers extremes of temperature. Even as far south as the Black sea the rivers and harbors are frozen during sev- eral of the winter months. An i n c i - dent illustrating the severity of the Rus- sian winter is fur- nished by the retreat of the French army under Napoleon from Moscow in 1812, when thousands of the soldiers were frozen to death. I little or BO rala Ught 1 Moderately ht^yj ralat I HeaTj nuns Rainfall cliart of Europe. During the Crimean war also, which was fought in the south of Russia, so many of the English and French soldiers perished from cold that the Czar, Nicholas I, said that his best generals were General " January " and General "February." The reasons for this extreme cold are dis- tance from the ocean, and the absence of mountains high enough to cut off the icy winds which in the winter blow from the Arctic region. The average annual temperature of southern Russia is about the same as that of New York City, though the extremes are greater. As the northern part of Russia lies beyond the reach of the westerly winds, it has long, cold winters and short summers. This section consists of barren plains and tundras with little vegetation except CLIMATE 23 the mosses and lichens upon which the reindeer feed. In the north- ern part of the Scandinavian peninsula, however, grains and vege- tables may be grown far within the Arctic circle — much farther than in any other part of the world. Southern Europe has a climate peculiar to itself. It is protected from the cold north winds by lofty mountain ranges, and the deep arms of the Mediterranean which project far inland temper the A ferry across the Seine, above Rouen. climate. During the winter the winds blow from the Mediterranean and bring heavy rains. But in summer the winds are from the north and the northeast, and hence are dry, having passed over the moun- tains. This is a great disadvantage to the farmer, who must irrigate his crops during the growing season. In summer there is little water in the rocky beds of the streams which in winter are swollen torrents. The winter floods are so violent that much of the land is washed away or made worthless by being strewn with rocky waste. Along the Mediterranean coasts of France and Italy there are many delight- ful spots where the vine, the olive, and the mulberry tree flourish throughout the year. 24 EURO-PE Rivers and Lakes. — Owing to its smaller area, Europe has no rivers equal in length and volume to those of the other continents, but on account of the general rainfall and the gentleness of the slopes the European rivers are well distributed, and many of them are navi- gable nearly to their headwaters. The watersheds between the rivers are so low that canal-building is carried on to a greater extent than in any other continent; all the large rivers are connected, and it is possible to go by water from the Black sea to the Baltic, and from the North sea to the Mediterranean. The lakes of Europe are numerous, especially in the northern parts, and many of them are noted for beautiful scenery. The larger lakes are found chiefly in three regions. The first group is in Russia and Sweden , lake Ladoga, the largest in Europe, is nearly as large as the state of Massachusetts, Onega and Wener are next in size. The second lake group is in Switzerland and Italy. The third group lies in Germany, north and east of the Elbe river. Many of these lakes are remarkable for having no outlets. The groups of larger lakes form important links in the canal connections of the country. Plants and Animals. — The plant life of Europe as elsewhere corresponds closely to the conditions of soil, heat, and moisture. South of the frozen tundra region of mosses and lichens are vast belts of soft-wood forests, extending through Norway, Sweden, and Russia. In the dry regions of the central plain are found vast tracts, or steppes, covered with coarse grass and scattered shrubbery. In southern and central Europe the mountain sides and the plains near them have extensive forests of both hard and soft woods. Among the soft woods are the pine, spruce, fir, and cedar, among the hard woods are the oak, ash, elm, willow, and chestnut. The plants of the Mediterranean countries differ from those of the rest of the continent, being suited to withstand the dry summer cUmate. The trees are mostly low and have thick and leathery leaves which prevent the loss of moisture. Among them are the holly, the holm oak, the laurel, myrtle, orange, and the olive. Thick fleshy plants resembling the American cactus and aloe are common. The cork oak is characteristic of the Iberian peninsula and the mulberry tree of southern France, Italy, and Greece. Among cultivated plants the grains are first in importance. SOME ANIMALS OF EUROPE 25 "X,'""'f "5"^' /.,. '3* -icf^^ %.'*!"• borne Animals of Europe. 26 EUROPE Wheat, rye, oats, and barley are grown throughout the central plain and in the fer- tile river valleys. Flax, the vine, and the sugar-beet rank next in value to the grains. Southern Europe is famous for its oranges, lemons, and oUves. With the exception of the wolf, no dangerous wild animals are to be found in Europe. The reindeer and even the bear have been tamed, although some species of these animals as well as the lynx are found wild in Norway and Sweden. Among the Alps is found the chamois and in the island of Crete the ibex, both of which are species of wild goats. In the forests of northern Russia, the fox, ermine, marten, and sable — valuable fur-bearing animals — are trapped and hunted. In most of the countries of Europe extensive tracts of land are set aside as game preserves for the pleasures of the hunt. Industries and Products. — The occupations of the people depend upon the natural wealth and conditions of the country in which they live and upon their knowledge and skill in making use of them. The leading occupations of the people of northern Europe are manufac- turing and trading, though they are also skilful farmers and experts in stock-raising. In the nations of southern Europe, where the climate is sub-tropical, the people are more generally engaged in farming and in the cultivation of the silkworm, the vine, the olive, and fruits. In eastern Europe the conditions of soil and climate are such that thousands of the inhabitants make a living by tending herds of cattle and swine. The most valuable product is grain; yet we do not think of Europe as a grain- producing country. This is because she has none to sell; her own population requires all of it. She has not land enough to support so many people without other indus- tries than farming. Europe supplies the markets of the world with fine woolens, silks, velvets, ribbons, and laces, watches and jewelry, fine gloves, shoes, and mil- linery; so we think of Europeans as manufacturers. Wine, raw silk, olive oil, and fruits we associate with the countries of southern Europe. The manufactures and commerce of Europe exceed those of all the rest of the world combined. Europe has also a vast amount of storecl-up wealth with which to carry on her industries, and skilled workmen who are trained from youth to do a certain thing in the best possible way. The commerce of Europe consists mainly in the exchange of manufactured goods for raw materials and foods. Cities. — Europe is famous for its great cities. It contains Lon- TRANSPORTATION AND COMMERCE 27 don, the largest city in the world, Paris, the most attractive city, and Rome and Constantinople, famous for their historical associations. Transportation and Commerce. — Europe is better provided with means of transportation by water than any other continent. This is because of the extensive coast line and the great number of navi- gable rivers that intersect the continent, and because her people have improved the navigation of the rivers, and connected them by Prodnctions of EUROPE canals. Freight can thus be distributed very cheaply to all parts of the continent. There are many railroads, but they are used more for carrying passengers than freight. Trunk lines connect the great cities of Paris, Berlin, Vienna, Petrograd, and Constantinople. Through express trains are run between these points, and also from Paris to Rome and Madrid. At Petrograd the great trans-Siberian line be- gins, the eastern terminus of which is at Vladivostok on the Pacific ocean; this railroad has developed Siberia. The Alps 28 EUROPE are pierced by seven tunnels, affording quick communication between the surrounding countries. In most European countries the railroads are owned and managed by the govern- ment and not by private companies and corporations as in the United States. In the older countries of Europe there are excellent public highways. Some of these were built in the old Roman days as military roads and others have been built in modern times for military purposes. Many of these roads, especially those in mountainous districts, are of the most elaborate construction. Warwick castle, one of the most famous of English medieval strongholds. Religion and Government. — With the exception of the Moham- medan Turks, all the nations of Europe profess the Christian religion. The majority of the people of the Latin and Slavonic nations are Roman CathoHcs, while most of those in Russia and the eastern nations belong to the Greek Catholic church. The majority of the people of the Teutonic countries are Protestants. Government. — Eiu-ope now has eleven republics and thir- teen constitutional monarchies, some of which are virtually republics, although the head has the title of king. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS. — (1) Who first visited Europe? Describe its loca- tion. Name its boundaries. Why is Europe an important continent? What are the three leading races of Europe? Name some of the other races. (2) What were the Middle Ages? What inventions helped the progress of the nations of Europe? In what way did each help? (3) How does the surface of Europe resemble that of the other continents? Where is the older mountain system found? How does it differ from the younger, or loftier system? Name and locate five ranges of the principal S3'3tein. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS 29 What are the two highest peaks? What is said of the scenery of the Alps? Where ia the region of volcanoes and earthquakes? What two great disasters have happened in this region? (4) How does the central plain vary in width? What are its natural resources? Why do we think the northern edge of the plain has sunk? What are the results of a sunken and mountainous coast line? (5) How does a change in elevatior affect climate? Explain the way in which the coal beds were formed. What are glac- iers, and how have they affected the surface of Europe? (6) How do you account foi: the moist and mild climate of Europe? Which parts have the greater amount of rain, and why? Why is the winter colder at Odessa than at Hammerfest? How is the climate of southern Europe affected by the mountains? Why does it have more rain in winter than in summer? (7) What conditions of surface and climate make the rivers of the continent navigable? Why have so many canals been built in Europe? Where are the lakes? Which is the largest? (8) Locate the three distinct regions of plant life in Europe. Why do the plants of the Mediterranean region differ from the rest? Name the chief cultivated plants of the continent, and tell where each is found. (9) Name the two most noted cities of Europe. Why is Europe well adapted to commerce? What has encouraged the growth of manufactures in Europe? What religion prevails among each of the races in Europe? What is the usual form of government in European coun- tries? What republics are found? CHAPTER II THE BRITISH ISLES Answer the questions on the British isles, page 30. Position, Size, Importance. — The British Isles he off the north- west coast of Europe. They are separated from the mainland by the strait of Dover, which in its narrowest part is only twenty-two miles wide. This narrow but stormy and dangerous passage has served to protect the island empire against invasion during the many wars which have embroiled the continent, thus aiding it to develop into one of the mightiest nations of the world. The insular position of the British has made them a race of sailors and traders ; the natural resources of the country have led to the growth of farming, mining, and manufacturing, and the physical and intellectual activity of the people has made the country a center of wealth, education, and culture. The British Isles consist of two large islands and hundreds of smaller ones. These islands, as we have learned, were separated from the mainland of Europe by a sinking of the coast. The moun- tain tops became the islands, the valleys the firths, or inlets, and the BRITISH ISLES. — (1) In what direction from us are the British Isles (see page 178)? In what direction from the mainland of Europe? What countrj' of Europe is nearest to them? What waters separate them from Europe? (2) Name the waters surrounding Great Britain. What waters separate it from Ireland? On which coast of Great Britain do you find the greatest number of islands? What island in the Irish sea? Where are the Orkney islands? The Shetland? The Hebrides? Where are the Channel islands? (3) What three countries compose Great Britain? Which of these is the most mountainous? What jDart of England is mountainous? What moun- tain peak in Wales? In Scotland? (4) Name the largest two rivers in England. What is the chief river of Ireland? Where is the Tweed? The Clyde? The Humber? What firths on the coast of Scotland? Which of these are connected by a canal? (5) Locate the following cities: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, London, Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield, Cardiff, Dublin, Belfast. 30 8°Loiisitude 6° West from 4° Greeuwich 2° 0"L ii H ■ii W' B ■■ B ^^^^^^^BW ! vj 1^ ,^:;_^ 1 ^^^^^^B^^^^ ''(dii 1 1 ^m Havre, as the seaport of Paris, exports the extensive manufactures of that city as well as the textile products of the North. It has the greater part of the trade with the new world, receiving raw cotton, grain, and provisions from the United States; coffee, wool, and meat from South America; and lumber and grain from Canada. Ship-building and the manufacture of machinery are important indus- tries at Havre. Dimkirk handles the raw materials and manufactures for the great industrial center near Lille and Roubaix. Bor- deaux is the chief wine port of France. Among the marvels of this city are the enormous cellars and storage vaults for wine. An active trade is carried on with Great Britain, Africa, and South America. Brest, Cherbourg (share-boor'), Lor lent (lo-re-on'), Rochefort, and Toulon are important as gov- ernment ship-building and repairing stations. Corsica, a mountainous island in the Mediterranean, belongs to France. Its area is about 3,000 square miles and its population nearly 300,000. For purposes of government it is considered a part of the mainland. The island is productive of minerals, forest products, and wine. It is an important naval station. Ajaccio (a-yd'-cho) , the capital, was the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. Emigration and Colonies. — France has always been a leading nation in the discovery and colonization of new countries. Her foreign possessions were once more extensive than those of Great Britain, but America and India were lost through bad management, and as the result of wars. Her most flourishing colony is Algeria. Its trade with France amounts to more than $100,000,000 annually. Other colonies in Africa are Senegal, Senegambia, and the Niger country, French Guinea, the Ivory coast, Dahomey, French Congo, Somali Coast and Madagascar, and various islands. Her Asiatic colonies comprise several settlements in India, Annam, Cambodia, Cochin-China, Tonking, and Laos. In America she has Guada- loupe, Guiana, Martinique and St. Pierre, and Miquelon. She has also a few trading-posts in Oceania. The total area of these various possessions is about twenty times that of France, and the population is about 56,000,000. The entire Church of the Madeleine at Paris. EMIGRATION AND COLONIES 71 colonial trade with the home country amounts to a little over $200,000,000 annually. The increase of population in France has been but a little over a million during the last ten years, while that of Germany has been ten times as great. As a result there is almost no emigration from France. She has room for her people at home. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS. — (1) Location; compare latitude with that of the United States (see page 178). Size and population; compare with Great Britain; with Germany; with New York state; with the United States. What advantages for com- merce has France? Name a port on each seaboard. (2) What natural boundaries surround France? Where are the highlands? The lowlands? What is said of the central plateau? Two highest elevations? (3) Name the chief rivers of France, and tell their sources and directions. What rivers in the interior of France are joined by canals? With what countries is France joined by canals? (4) Describe the climate. Where does the greatest amount of rain fall? What is said of the climate of the Medi- terranean coast? What famous places are located there? (5) What races have occu- pied France at different times? What forms of government has it had at different times? (6) What is said of the character of the French people? Of the peasant farmer? Im- portance of agriculture. What are the leading crops? What other crops are important? What about the supply of lumber? (7) Where are the stock-raising regions of France? What is said of horses? Of sheep? Importance of the fisheries? What kinds of fish are taken? Where are oysters obtained? (8) What minerals are the most important in France? Compare the supply of coal and iron with that of Great Britain or Germany Where is salt obtained? Name other minerals found in France. (9) What important manufactures depend directly upon minerals? Name three leading manufacturing cen- ters of France. Name the leading classes of manufactures in each. What section is noted for silk? Write an account of the culture of the silkworm and of the preparation of the silk. Make a list of ten articles of French manufacture, and name the city where each is made. (10) What are the chief exports of France? The chief imports? Make a list of ten leading cities, and give the location and an interesting fact about each. Give some account of Corsica. Name the leading colonies of France, and tell some- thing of their importance. Why is there so little French emigration? CHAPTER IV GERMANY The New Germany. — A few years ago we studied in this book about a great ^' German Empire/' with its large population, its mighty army and navy, its vast commerce, and its extensive colonies in Africa and among the islands of the Pacific ocean. This gTeat German Empire was ambitious to become still greater, and the ex-Kaiser Wilhelm II and the military party associated with him deliberately embroiled the world in a terrible war, by which they hoped to extend their power across Europe to Constantinople and into Asia. This war began with the assassination of the Austrian Archduke Ferdinand at Sara- jevo in Bosnia, June 28, 1914, and ended with the signing of the Peace Treaty at Versailles just five years later. The War and its Results. — The story of the war is fresh in our minds. We recall how one nation after another took the field until nearly the whole world was arrayed against Germany and her allies. We recall how our own country entered the war after the sinking of the Lusitania and other offenses against the law of nations; and how the American armies, together with those of Great Britain, France, and Italy, drove the Ger- mans out of France and compelled them to make peace. To Germany the war was a terrible disaster, but one that she richly deserved. In the first place she was compelled to give up her vast colonial empire of 1,270,000 square miles of territory. She was also forced to give back to France Alsace- Lorraine with 5,600 square miles; to Belgium she forfeited the districts of Malmedy and Eupen with 382 square miles; 72 CHANGES IN G0VEKNMENT 73 to the new nation of Poland she gave up parts of Silesia, Posen, West Prussia, and East Prussia — in all 27,686 square miles — besides the 40 additional square miles in the vicinity of Memel. Besides these cessions, she loses her sovereignty over 738 square miles in the basin of the Saar river, and the free city of Danzig with 729 square miles. Still more territory may be lost if the inhabitants so vote; for 5,785 square miles in East Prussia, 2,500 square miles in Schleswig, and the 910-square mile strip of East Prussia north of the Niemen river are to go to Poland, Denmark, and to some third nation not yet determined, if a majority of the voters so decide. Thus the total area which may be lost to Germany aggregates about 45,000 square miles, or one fifth of her entire territory in Europe — and this in addition to her colonies. Even this is not all, for she must pay for the cities and property destroyed by her in France, Belgium, and Serbia a sum estimated at $25,000,000,000, and whatever additional sums the victorious Allies choose to impose upon her. Truly, ''The way of the transgressor is hard!" Changes in Government. — The old German Empire con- sisted of four kingdoms — Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Wiirttem- berg — six grand duchies, five duchies, and seven principalities, besides the three free cities of Hamburg, Liibeck, and Bremen. The Kaiser, the kings, princes, dukes, and grand dukes have been removed from office. Germany to-day is a republic, and all the separate states have republican forms of government. Of course, the affairs of government are not fully settled and we do not know just how the country will finally be governed, but it is certain that the old kings and princes will never be restored to power. In order to prevent any attempts to re- store them, the Allies compelled Germany to surrender her entire navy, to reduce her army to 100,000 men, and to destroy all her forts and defenses. From the military point of view Germany will hereafter rank among powers of the third class. 74 GERMANY Surface and Climate. — With the exception of the upper plain of the Danube river the surface of Germany is a con- tinuous slope from the summits of the Alps and the Erzgebirge {erts-ge-hir' -ge) {ore mountains) to the North and Baltic seas. The Rhine at the Seven mountains. The highest of these is the Drachenfels, or Dragon Rock, at the foot of which, according to the German legend, Siegfried slew the dragon. The southern half consists of a highland region, through which the Rhine and its branches have cut broad and fertile valleys, and of worn-down mountain ridges clothed with forests. The extreme southern parts of the highlands belong to the region of the Alps, where the loftiest peaks attain a height of nearly 10,000 feet. The plain of the Danube and the central highlands do not exceed 2,000 feet in elevation except in occasional mountain peaks, those of the Riesengebirge {giant mountains) being the highest. MAP STUDIES. — (1) In what part of Europe is Germany? What countries bound it on the east? On the south? What other land boundaries has it? What waters on the northern boundary? What parallel passes near the mouth of the Elbe river? What parallel near the southern border? What is the extreme length of Ger- many from east to west? From north to south? (2) Compare the latitude of Berlin with that of London; with that of New York City (see page 178). What mountains qn RIVERS AND LAKES 75 The climate of Germany is remarkable for the fact that the southern part, on account of the increased elevation, is quite as cold as the northern part. Bavaria, in the extreme south, is one of the coldest parts of the country, the city of Munich having the same average temperature as Konigsberg in the extreme north. Generally speaking, the climate of south- western and western Germany is mild, the temperature aver- aging about the same as that of Great Britain. The low plains and river valleys of these sections are the warmest parts of the country. The highlands are cooler and have a heavier rainfall. The eastern half of the country is much colder, and has less rain than the western half on account of its greater distance from the ocean. The southwesterly winds lose a large part of their heat and moisture in passing over the high- land regions. The ports on the North sea are open and free from ice nearly all the winter, while those on the Baltic are closed from two to three months. Rivers and Lakes. — The general slope being northward, all the rivers, with the exception of the Danube and its branches, discharge into the North and Baltic seas. The Rhine forms a most important highway of commerce from Switzerland to the sea. It flows through a broad and fertile valley, in which are located the largest of Germany's manufacturing interests. the southern border of Germany? What lake? What river rises in this lake and fiows through Germany? What river rising in the Alps crosses southern Germany? Find the sources of the Oder, the Elbe, and the Vistula. Into what waters does each of these flow? (3) Describe the slope of Germany. In what natural divisions of Europe does the greater part of it he? What seaports on the North sea? On the Baltic? What is the capital city? Name and locate five of the leading German states. What is the capital of each? (4) On an outline map of Germany locate the chief rivers and cities and write in the names of all the boundaries. BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS. — (1) In what part of Europe are these countries? (2) What countries border Belgium? Compare its coast line with that of Holland. "What rivers cross Belgium? In which direction does the country slope? (3) Lo- cate the capital of Belgium; the chief seaport. Locate Ghent, Liege (h-azh'), Namur, and Verviers (ver-vya')- (4) What countries border Holland? What rivers cross Holland? Where is the Zuyder Zee? What islands along the coast? (5) What is the capital of Holland? The chief city and leading seaport? Compare Belgium and Holland as to coast line. Draw an outline map of these two countries and locate the rivers and chief cities. w 9 Jo IS ill ® " s«MII* l>^5^ ANIMALS AND PLANTS 77 Double-tracked railroads on both sides of the river and the mountainous and picturesque scenery help to remind us of the Hudson river in New York state. The songs and legends connected with its ancient towns and the lofty castles which crown the cliffs on either side make the Rhine the chief historic river of Germany East of the Rhine are the Weser, the Elbe, the Oder, and the Vistula, each of which is navigable for hundreds of miles and has many navigable tributaries. These river systems are A view on the Rhine showing the village of St. Goar on the heights. connected with one another in their middle courses by canals, forming a complete system of waterways across the country from east to west. The Rhine is also connected by canal with the Danube and the Rhone, securing water transportation to both the Black and the Mediterranean sea. The Kiel ship canal, 61 miles in length, connecting the North and Baltic seas, is the most useful of the canals; between 30,000 and 40,000 ships pass through it annually. Animals and Plants; Forests. — In an old and thickly- settled country like Germany, where all the available space is cultivated, the native animals disappear to be replaced by 78 GERMANY those domestic species which are common to all countries. The stag, deer, and wild boar, however, are still found in the extensive forests of Germany, and also the usual small animals. Fully one fourth the area of the country is forest-covered. The pine and the fir are the chief varieties among the soft woods, and the oak, beech, birch, and larch among hard woods. Women harvesting with the sickle in Germany. Agriculture. — Nearly one third of the people are dependent for a living upon agriculture, which is still the most important industry of Germany. The quality of the soil, except in the fertile river valleys, is poor, but the German farmer by scientific methods secures excellent crops. Rye, potatoes, and hay are the leading farm crops. Wheat is grown to a less extent than the other grains because the clayey and sandy soils of the lowlands are not so well adapted to it. The potato crop of Germany exceeds that of any other country. Great quantities are exported and still greater quantities are used in the manufacture of alcohol. Another MINING 79 crop in which Germany leads the world is the sugar-beet. It grows well in the lighter soils of the northern plains. Germany- produces more beet sugar than any other country. The national drink of Germany being beer, much attention is given to hop culture. The warm and moist climate of the Rhine valley is well suited to this plant, and it is here that the crop is chiefly grown. Tobacco raising and grape culture are also leading industries of this section. The vine will grow farther north in the Rhine valley than in any other part of Europe, and the steep hillsides along the river are often terraced to their tops and planted with vineyards. Meadows and pastures occupy about one third of the arable land. The hay crop ranks next to that of potatoes in value. Beef and dairy cattle are raised everywhere, and much attention is given to securing the best breeds; but the low price at which beef and wool can be obtained from both Aus- tralia and America has made farming more profitable than grazing. Mining. — The Germans are skilled miners and metal- lurgists. As in Great Britain, the chief minerals are coal and iron. These ores commonly occur in the same region, thus fixing the location of the great manufacturing towns. The richest coal field hes in the middle of the Rhine valley along the river Ruhr (roor); it extends eastward, as either coal or lignite, through Saxony and Silesia, and westward through Belgium, Luxemburg, and into France. The Rhine district, the Hartz and the Ore mountains, have the richest deposits of iron. Silver and copper are found in the Hartz mountains. About half the silver mined in Europe comes from Germany. The largest zinc mines in the world are located in Silesia. The north German plain contains rock salt mixed with valuable salts of potassium. The latter are used in glass-making, soap-making, dyeing, and many other manufacturing processes. Potash (potassium salts) is usually obtained from wood ashes; but Germany has a natural supply stored away beneath the soil sufficient for many centuries. 80 GERMANY Solenhofen in Bavaria is the chief source of lithographic stone, a stone that is used especially in printing maps and pictures containing many colors. Manufacturing. — As a manufacturing country Germany- ranks next to the United States and Great Britain. Iron, steel, and textile fabrics are the most valuable products of her mills; next come drugs and chemicals, leather goods, glassware, m I M ^S£S0fHBHi ^^^^^SMI^B liiS ^M^:T'--: '^m i^S i3^*^^^'-'-'i^« m ^SSH! ^H s^;vv;->., i A view in the heart of Leipzig showing public square and boulevard. books, and fine engravings. Toys, carved wood, and cutlery are also famous German products. The coal fields in the Ruhr valley have fixed the location of the " Black Coun- try " of Germany. The entire valley is devoted to manufacturing. The twin cities of Barmen-Elberf eld are centers for cotton and woolen goods, while Krefeld (krd'-felt) leads in the manufacture of silk. Dortmund is a center of coal and iron mining, and is noted for its foundries and machine works. Solingen {zo'-ling-en) is famous for cutlery and other articles of steel. A second important manufacturing center is southern Saxony, where the Erz- gebirge mines furnish coal, iron, and other minerals, and the river Elbe supplies transportation to the sea. Saxony woolens have long been famous, but now cotton goods are the more important, and Chemnitz, Zwickau, and the neighboring towns form a cotton manufacturing center which may be compared with Manchester in Great Britain. Other leading Saxon towns are Dresden, the capital, famous for its GERMAN CITIES 81 architecture and art treasures; near by at Meissen and also at Berlin the beautiful Dresden chinaware is made; Leipzig, known the world over for its fur-dressing and printing and publishing establishments, is the center of the German book trade', Magdeburg is the chief center of the sugar trade. Stuttgart, the ancient capital of Wiirttemberg, is noted for its pianos, its school of music, its book publishing; and the old town of Nuremberg in Bavaria is the chief seat of the toy trade. German Cities. 7- Owing to the introduction of steam power and the rapid ex- tension of the factory system, German cities have had a ra- pidity of growth during the last forty years that has not been equaled e 1 s e- where. In 1871 there were only eight cities with The former royal palace at Berlin. a population of over 100,000; they contained a little less than five per cent of the population. Now there are about forty cities having over 100,000, and fifty more having between 50,000 and 100,000; these cities contain one fourth the popu- lation of the nation. Toy-making, wood-carving, cabinet work, lace and embroidery work are still largely carried on in the German household. Berlin, the metropolis, ranks as the most important city. It is the third city of the world in size, coming next to London among European cities. It is the chief railway center of central Europe, and is connected by canal with both the Elbe and the Oder river. It is also the money center of Germany, and like all large and rich cities specializes in high-class manufactures. Clothing, shoes and leather goods, jewelry, fine pottery and vases, artistic and fancy articles, and machinery are some of the varied products. 82 GERMANY Some famous cities in the Rhine valley are Cologne {kd-lon'), noted for its beautiful cathedral, Essen, famous as a steel-manu- facturing center, Aachen {ah' -ken), the burial place of Charle- magne {shar' -le-man) , and Frankfort-on-the-Main, the old seat of government of the German Confederation. Seaports and Commerce. — On account of its favorable location, Hamburg, the second city in size, handles about half 5 [ t f ii ■ \ i j ^H ^^m is ^M| M ; a 19 ^^^B^M 1 MM ^g^^ i gsfegjj MB pjEK^MK^Myg^ I!e^^1.^<^i1 "Jja^^ ^mI L^KiEHiBSnnH^SHi BBfeiWl ISH |'l{|(4HKjSB* Mi iKyi^Bwfl^^^^^i ^ '^ »^^i3g^^^^ B^ 1 hI ^^H^^H ■ H^^^B P/U 11^ m HH^HI Cathedral at Aachen. The burial-place of Charlemagne. the foreign trade. Bremen, near the mouth of the Weser, ranks next to Hamburg in the amount of its commerce. Emigration; Religion. — Over five million Germans have come to the United States during the last seventy-five years, and many have settled in Brazil, Argentina, and other countries of South America. New York City has a larger German popu- lation than any other city in the world except Berlin. The majority of the population are Protestants, though more than one third are Roman Catholics. The manner in which the clergy are maintained varies. The control of the universities is divided between the two churches. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS ' 83 The Elbe river at Hamburg. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS. — (1) Location, area, and population of Germany. (2) How old is the present German Republic? Describe the older form of government. Describe the present form of government. (3) Surface. Highlands. Lowlands. Divisions of the plain. Where is the best soil found? Explain the difference of climate between the eastern and western parts of the country. Name the chief rivers of Germany, and give their sources and directions. Canals. (4) Why are there few native wild animals in Germany? The forests. Varieties of trees. (5) What are the chief crops? What is said of beet sugar? What are the chief crops of the Rhine valley? Where is stock-raising carried on? What is said of it? (6) What minerals are found in Germany? In what locality is each found? (7) What minerals are the basis of manufacturing? Why? What are the leading German manufactures? Name others. (8) How do you explain the rapid growth of the cities in Germany? For what is Cologne noted? Aachen? Frankfort-on-the-Main? (9) Two leading ports. What advantage has Hamburg over Bremen? CHAPTER V BELGIUM AND THE NETHERLANDS Answer the questions on Belgium and the Netherlands, page 75. The Low Countries. — Belgium and the Netherlands occupy the northern part of the central European plain bordering the North sea. About one third of the Netherlands, and the coast lands of Belgium, lie in the Rhine delta, and are protected from overflow by sea walls f ^"^^S-^^^^^B^^-B!^^^^^^^^ Sea dike on the coast of Holland. and drainage canals. The rest of the surface is composed of low plains formed from glacial drift (see jyage 19), and of the remains of an ancient highland region. On account of the situation of these countries in the lowest part of Europe they are often spoken of as the Low Countries. People and History. — The Belgians and the Dutch are descended from Low German tribes — the Saxons, the Frisians, Jutes, and Danes, who in Roman times inhabited the northern part of the low plain. Their languages, the Flemish and the Dutch, are closely related. It was these same tribes that conquered Roman Britain (see 'page 11.) The two countries were united until 1830, when Belgium became a 84 THE GERMAN INVASION 85 separate kingdom. The Belgians are a mixed race and three languages are spoken. About two per cent of the people are German, and of the remainder, one half are French and one half Flemish. Dutch is the prevaiUng language of the Netherlands. Surface and Climate. — By the terms of the treaty of peace with Germany, 382 square miles of land lying on the south- eastern border of the two countries were restored to Belgium, thus bringing her total area up to 11,755 square miles. The population is about seven millions. The surface in the south and east is elevated, sloping down into the low coast "plain. This plateau region is rich in forests and in coal and iron, building stone, and zinc. Copper and lead also are found. The lowland plain is a rich farming district. The climate is temperate and moist, the number of rainy days during the year averaging about 200. The Campine District, between the upper waters of the Meuse and the Scheldt, was formerly barren because the soil has no underlying stratum of clay to hold the waters; but the industrious farmers have redeemed 270,000 acres by fertili- zation and irrigation and made it highly productive. The German Invasion. — Belgium suffered more heavily from the war than any other country in Europe. When the German armies began the invasion of the country in August, 1914, they planned the total destruction of its industries. Hundreds of towns and villages were battered to pieces and the inhabitants driven out or killed. The machinery in the fac- tories was carried away or destroyed, in order to prevent any competition with Germany after the war. Even the soil, which was fought over for four years by the contending armies, was plowed up by exploding shells, furrowed with trenches, and littered with the appliances of war, in such a manner that it will require years to restore it to its former value and fer- tility. With the same indomitable energy with which they entered the war, the Belgians are laboring to rebuild the coun- try and to restore it to its former productiveness. 86 BELGIUM Agriculture. — About one fifth of the people are supported by farming and gardening. The farms are very small, mostly from two acres to twelve acres. Less than one third of these farms are owned by the farmers and the high rent tends to discourage agriculture. Cereals are grown, but more attention is given to the potato. The beet-sugar product is rapidly increasing and flax, colza (see yage 61), and hops are important crops. Flowers and vegetables are profitably grown near the large cities. Much attention is given to dairying and the rearing of farm animals. Belgian butter is said to be the finest in Europe and along with eggs and poultry finds a good market in Great Britain. Heavy draught horses of the Norman and Flemish breeds are raised for export, but many horses are imported, for Belgium is one of the few countries where horse flesh is an article of food. Swine and cattle are kept in large numbers and sheep are pastured on the Ardennes highland. About one sixth of the country is wood- land, which is made highly productive by careful management. Minerals and Metal Manufactures. — The southern part of Belgium was formerly one of the greatest mining and manu- facturing regions of the world. The cities of Liege, Seraing, Charleroi, and Mons were busy making up the native iron and coal into pig iron, steel, machinery, cutlery, rifle-barrels, tools, railway supplies, and hardware of every sort. Lead, zinc, and silver were mined, and the quarries of sand and clay utilized in the production of different grades of pottery and glass- ware. But all these cities now lie in ruins, and all their indus- tries are gone. Many of the fugitives have returned, and are patiently rebuilding their ruined homes, but the restoration of the great manufacturing industries will be the work of many years. Textile Manufactures. — The Belgians are the oldest manu- facturers of woolen goods in Europe and they are still expert in making cloths of every sort. Their linens and linen laces are noted throughout the world. The waters of the river Lys, TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION 87 being free from lime, are well adapted to the retting of flax (see page 36), and the cleansing and scouring of both flax and wool. The cities of Brussels and Mechlin have given their names to carpets and laces, which are sold under these names in every civihzed country. The textile industries, like those in metals, have been destroyed and must be rebuilt. Raw cotton for the textile mills is brought from the United States to the port of Antwerp and thence distributed by water. and rail to the in- tenor cities. Many goods are woven on hand looms in the homes of the work- men. The rest of 1. The senate house. 2. The palace of justice. this chapter refers to the condition of affairs in Belgium before the war, and it should be borne in mind when reading it that all the cities mentioned, except Brussels and Antwerp, were practically wiped out during the years 1914-1919. In due time the country will doubtless be restored to its former activities by the rebuilding of the cities and their industries. Trade and Transportation. — Besides her rivers and canals Belgium has an excellent system of railroads built and owned by the state. There are also 6,000 miles of well-kept pub- lic highways. The number of her ships is very small, and the foreign trade is handled mostly by British, German, and Dutch vessels. In the value of her foreign commerce Bel- gium is sixth among the countries of the world. Her larg- 88 THE NETHERLANDS est trade is with France, Germany, Great Britain, and the United States. The chief exports are iron and steel goods, machinery, coal, textiles, gun barrels and rifles, diamonds, and rubber. The imports are food and raw materials. The United States supplies her with cereals, cotton, kerosene, tobacco, and provisions. Cities. — Belgium contains many old towns. Brussels is the cap- ital and chief city, famous for its ancient Town Hall, for its picture galleries, its University, and its Botanic Garden. Antwerp is one of the leading commercial ports of Europe. It is strongly fortified and is the basis for the defence of the country. It has a fine old Gothic cathedral containing some of the pamtings of Rubens, the greatest of Flemish artists. Government, Education, Religion, Colonies. — Belgium is a con- stitutional monarchy. Laws are made by the king and a legislature composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The senators are chosen by the provinces and the representatives by the people. In Belgium a man may have more than one vote according to age, wealth, or educational qualifications, but none may have more than three votes. The Belgians maintain an excellent public school system with universities at Ghent, Brussels, Liege, and Louvain. Nearly the entire population is Roman Catholic in religion, while a few thousands are Protestants or Jews. All denominations are partly supported by the state. As the independence of Belgium is guaranteed by the great powers of Europe she does not support a large army and has no navy. Belgium has only one colony, the Congo Free State, from which she obtains rubber, ivory, palm oil and nuts, and copal. THE NETHERLANDS Situation, Surface, Climate. — The situation of the Netherlands on the border of the continent, its extensive coast line, and numerous islands have developed a nation of fishermen, sailors, and traders. The area exceeds that of Belgium, but the population is about two milhons less. Holland, the name of the leading province, is often AGRICULTURE 89 applied to the whole country. The climate is moderate owing to the winds that blow steadily from the ocean for more than two thirds of the year, bringing almost daily showers. A little more than one third of the surface of the Netherlands has been formed by the delta deposits of the Rhine, the Meuse, and the Scheldt, or has been reclaimed from the sea. The rest of the country consists of rolling hills of sand and gravel, and in the southeast a part of the ancient highland of central Europe, where the elevation slightly exceeds a thousand feet. In this section are a few coal mines. Clays and sandstone and a small amount of iron ore are the only other minerals. Agriculture. — Having no forests and few mines Holland is an agricultural and trading nation. Her manufactures are of minor . - '^9 ";_ '^^HIi^^MMa J^^m^^^SS^ . 1* , i ''-^P IHHHili^^ttB^^ Canal and windmills in Holland, near Delft. importance. The farms are larger than those of Belgium, half of them containing over thirteen acres each. There are many large estates. Rye, oats, and potatoes are the largest crops, twice as many acres being given to these as to all other crops together. Potato flour is a valuable export. Other farm crops largely exported are flax and beet-root. The exports of fruits, flowers, vegetables, bulbs, shrubs, trees, and other garden and nursery products are greater in value than that of any other single product. Wheat is grown, but to supply the large population cereals and rye flour are imported 90 THE NETHERLANDS annually, to the value of about $200,000,000. The sea bottoms and alluvial delta lands form fertile pastures, and dairying is carried on with great profit. Butter, butterine, and cheese form six per cent of the exports. Alkmaar and Delft are the most noted butter and cheese markets. The latter town is to be remembered also for the manufacture of the fine grade of china known as " Delft." The work of reclaiming land from the sea by building walls of earth has been going on in the Netherlands for many centuries. Some of these walls are three hundred feet thick and thirty feet high, with portions built of massive blocks of stone brought from foreign countries. Over six- teen hundred miles of sea dikes have been built at a cost of fifteen hundred million dollars. In some instances the sand dunes which have been blown up along the coast afford pro- tection against the inroads of the sea. Building the dikes is the first step in re- claiming land. The second step is to get rid of the surplus water. This is done by means of canals into which the water is pumped, thus draining it off into the sea. Windmills used for lifting the water dot the land in every direction. They also benefit the farmer and manufacturer by furnishing power, at little cost, to saw wood, grind grain, and to turn the wheels of small factories. Over a thousand miles of canals have been built, intersecting the country at frequent intervals. Their banks are utilized as highways. The canals and rivers form the chief means of communication. The lower courses of the rivers are walled in by dikes, for all the streams of low Holland are higher than the adjoin- ing land. 1. Industrial palace at Amsterdam. the same city. Tlie royiil palace in INDUSTRIES AND CITIES 91 Fisheries. — Holland has important herring fisheries in the North sea which give employment to 20,000 men and are worth about $5,000,000 annually. " Dutch herrings " are a well-known commercial article. The yield of oysters along the coast is large. The Dutch fishing fleet visits also the cod banks of the Lofoten islands on the coast of Norway, Manufactures. — Coal for the manufacturing industries of the Netherlands is brought chiefly from Great Britain and Belgium. Beer, alcohol, and hquors are the important manufactures. Many ships are built. The minor products are cloth, leather goods, machinery, sugar, vinegar, glass, and paper. Cities, Trade and Transportation.— The metropolis of the Nether* lands is Amsterdam. It is built on a chain of islands in a long arm of the Zuider Zee and is also connected directly with the North Sea by a ship canal. The islands are joined by three hundred bridges, and canals run through the streets. On this account it has been called the " Venice of the North." As a seaport it ranks next to Rotterdam, but its trade is equal to only one fifth that of the latter city. Amsterdam has many handsome buildings with towering spires and steeples which, mingled with the masts of the ships that line the streets, give an impression different from any other city. Amsterdam is for its size one of the richest of cities. While it has extensive manufactures, its money exchange and banks, its university and museums are of special interest. The city is a heavy importer of rough diamonds from Africa, for it is the first city in the world in diamond cutting and polishing. Rotterdam is the chief seaport. Its location at the mouth of the Rhine makes it a leading distributing point for goods shipped to the interior of the continent. Steamship lints from New York and from other leading ports of the world have their termini at Rotterdam. Like Amsterdam it has a multitude of canals and bridges. Among its manufacturing industries are many distilleries. The Hague is the capital of the nation although the sovereigns are crowned at Amsterdam. The word Hague means garden, and the spacious and beautiful capital is worthy the name. It is connected by a densely 92 THE NETHERLANDS wooded park about two miles in length with its suburb, Scheveningen {ska'ven-ing-en), the fashionable watering-place of Holland. In 1899 a body of delegates from the leading nations of the world met at The Hague and established itself as a permanent Court of Arbitration, the work of which is to settle disputes among the nations of the world and thus avoid wars. A second meeting of this International Peace Congress, as it is also called, was held in 1907 at the suggestion of President Roosevelt. Its object was to consider the questions growing out of the Russo-Japanese war. A number of agreements were made in regard to the conduct of warfare. On the beach at Scheveningeru Utrecht and Leiden are cities familiar in American history. The former is the most important inland city, a railroad center and the seat of an old university. Leiden was the home of the " Pilgrim Fathers " for the eleven years preceding their immigration to New England. Government, Education, Religion. — The government of the Netherlands is a limited monarchy. A majority of the people are Protestants, but there is entire religious liberty and all denomina- COMMERCE AND COLONIES 93 tions receive support from taxation. The Dutch schools are excel- lent, and attendance is compulsory. Commerce and Colonies. — For a time in the seventeenth century the Netherlands held the first rank as a sea power and trading nation. To-day she is fifth in the value of her foreign commerce. During her naval supremacy she established colonies in all parts of the world. New Amsterdam, and some of the smaller West India islands were settled, and, in the East Indies, Java, Sumatra, Celebes, the Moluccas, Banca and Billiton, Madura, and other small islands. Holland's principal trade is the importation of the products of her colonies and their distribution to the other countries of the world. Over 4,000 Dutch ships engage in this carrying trade. The coffee, sugar, spices, tobacco, and tin that we buy in Amsterdam are brought from Sumatra, Java, and the Moluccas by Dutch ships, which carry back our cotton goods and other manufactures to the Indies. Other articles that the United States imports from Holland are diamonds, chemicals, and cheeses; our other exports are oils, breadstuffs, oleomargarine, provisions, flaxseed, and manufactured goods. The great bulk of the Dutch trade is wath Germany, Great Britain, the East Indies, the United States, Belgium, and Russia. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS. — (1) Belgium and the Netherlands; location. Race and language of the people; history. Area and population of Belgium. What lan- guages are spoken? Religions of the country; how supported? (2) What are the natural divisions of Belgium? Seacoast. Rivers. Harbors. What kind of climate prevails? Where and why is irrigation necessary? (3) The two leading occupations. What crops are raised? What advantage has a small farm over a large one? What farm products are exported? Dairy-farming and stock-raising. What is the chief mineral wealth of Belgium? (4) What advantages have the people for the manufacture of linens? What cities are noted for lace-making? What is said of home-manufac- ture? What uses are made of potatoes? Transportation. Exports and imports. (5) Make a list of the leading cities of Belgium and state an important fact about each. How is Belgium governed? What does it obtain from its colony? (6) Situ- ation of Holland. What are the divisions of the surface? How are the lowlands protected from overflow? Describe the climate of Holland. Compare its area and popu- lation with those of Belgium. With those of New York state. (7) Why is farming the leading occupation? What is said of Dutch gardening? What are the chief crops? Write a paragraph on the reclaiming of land. Describe the means of transportation in Holland. (8) What are the most important manufactures in Holland? Name other manufactures. Make a list of the four leading cities and write a short paragraph on each. What was the Hague Conference? For what is Leiden noted? (9) When was Holland the leading trading nation? What colonies does she own? What is the value of these colonies? How extensive is her commerce now? Describe the trade that she Carries on with other nations. Exports and imports. CHAPTER VI THE SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES Answer the questions on Norway and Sweden; Denmark, page 21. General Sketch. — The Scandinavian countries occupy the Scan- dinavian peninsula and the peninsula of Jutland in the north of Europe and the numerous islands that fringe the coasts of these countries. The two peninsulas vary widely in surface and in the A fiord on the Norway coast. nature of their coasts. The Scandinavian peninsula is on the whole a plateau region, rugged and mountainous in the north and west, but in the east and south descending gradually by a series of plateaus and plains to the coast. The coast line is famous for its many fiords and estuaries. Glaciers and snow fields aboimd in the high mountain region. Jutland is flat and sandy and for the most part unindented. 94 NOKWAY AND SWEDEN 95 The people of these three countries are closely related in race and have a common history. The spoken languages were the same in early times, but now differ slightly; the written languages of Norway and Denmark are still the same. Each country is now a separate constitutional monarchy. The people of the Scandinavian countries were formerly called Northmen. Accustomed to the sea, they became daring adventurers. They established settle- ments in England and France. They founded the kingdom of Naples in Italy. They colonized Iceland and Greenland, and in the year 1000 reached the coast of America. During the next two centuries the Danes ruled over the whole southern coast of the Baltic sea. In recent years many thousands of Scandinavians have made their homes in our western states, where they have become prosperous farmers. NORWAY AND SWEDEN Location, Surface, Climate. — The rugged Scandinavian peninsula occupied by Norway and Sweden is, next to Switzerland and Spain, the most mountainous region of Europe. These two countries have so many features in common that they can be most conveniently treated together. The extreme breadth of the peninsula is 450 miles; the length is about 1,150 miles — a greater extent north and south than that of any other European country except Russia. Norway is the most northern country of the continent, extending several degrees within the Arctic circle. Its area is 124,000 square miles and its popu- lation 2,400,000. The area of Sweden is 173,000 and its population 5,500,000. Although each of these countries is considerably larger than the British Isles, both together have far less soil available for agriculture, only one twentieth of the area of Norway and less than one tenth of that of Sweden being fit for cultivation. The rest is made up of mountainous ridges and high plateaus deeply cut by streams which widen into fiords as they approach the sea. Many of these fiords are navi- gable, extending inland from fifty to one hundred miles and affording easy access to the settled regions. The towns and villages of Norway almost without exception are built near the sea. In the north the Kiolen mountains form the boundary between the two countries and are the chief watershed. Near the western 96 NORWAY AND SWEDEN coast isolated mountain peaks range from 6,000 to 8,000 feet in height. The momitain ridges descend abruptly into the sea, their scattered tops appearing in the thousands of islands which fringe the coast of Norway and which form many safe harbors for the multitude of Norwegian fisher- men. AVhile prac- tically the entire surface of Norway is mountainous, that of Sweden is made up of broad plateau which slopes eastward from the dividing ridge, and a long low plain along the Baltic sea and the strait of Skagerack. The climate of Norway is mild for the latitude. The harbors are free from ice, and open all the year round. The rainfall is heavy in the north, decreasing toward the south. The snowfall of winter is light along the coast but heavy among the high mountains, where glaciers are formed which plow their way through the valleys, melting as they approach the sea. Sweden, being on the eastern side of the mountain ridge, is cut off from the genial westerly 1. A mountain valley in Norway. A wind- ing highway follows this valley to the top of the mountain. 2. An ancient pagan church in Norway built in the eleventh century. FOKESTS 97 winds and has a climate subject to extremes of temperature. The winters are long and severe, the ports and the mouths of the rivers, unHke those of Norway, being closed by ice for six months. The rainfall is less than half that of Norway. It is abundant on the west- ern coast, but the eastern coast is quite dry. Out for a drive, in Sweden. Forests — About one half the surface of Sweden and one fourth that of Norway is covered with forests of pine, fir, and spruce. Owing to slow growth in the cold cHmate, the wood is very hard and of excel- lent quality for ship-building, a characteristic industry of a people whose home for ages has been the sea. The numerous swift mountain streams furnish power for thousands of lumber mills and factories. The timber of southern Norway has been freely cut on account of convenience of shipment through the port of Christiania. The annual product is now only one sixth that of Sweden. The two countries together furnish about two fifths of the lumber supply of Europe. Mining timber, building materials, wood-pulp, paper, furniture, wooden ware, and matches are some of the forms of lumber which make up one half the total exports of the two countries. The value of the lumber products of Sweden equals one third the total manufactures. 98 NORWAY AND SWEDEN Fishing. — The fishing industry is as important to Norway as lumbering is to Sweden, employing fully 100,000 men, or one twentieth of the population. With a population of only 2,000,000, Noi-way has as many men engaged in fishing as Great Britain. Fishing villages border the fiords all along the coast. Fleet of herriug boats on the coast of Norway. Cod, mackerel, and herring are the principal catch. Sahnon, sea trout, lobsters, and oysters abound in the fiords and coast waters. Trondhjem {tron'-yem) , a busy seaport of nearly 40,000 inhabitants and third in size among the cities of Norway, is the most important fish-packing center. Agriculture. — Farming is relatively unimportant in Norw^ay, but in Sweden it employs about one half of the people. Only along the southern coasts of Norway are there tracts of arable land. Here grain and potatoes are raised and a considerable number of farm animals. Both Norway and Sweden are obliged to import grain, meat, and other provisions. The southern and western provinces of Sweden contain the most productive farm lands, bearing good crops of oats, rye, and vegetables including the sugar-beet. Especial attention is given to dairying. Dairy schools are maintained and modern machinery is used. Swedish butter is noted for its excellence and forms one tenth of the exports. The centrifugal cream separator, now widely used in all countries, is a Swedish invention. MANUFACTURES AND TRADE 99 Mineral Wealth. — Iron constitutes the chief mineral wealth of Sweden, although gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc are mined in paying quantities. The iron ore from the Swedish mines is the richest in the world, yielding 70 per cent pure metal. The mines of Danne- mora in eastern Sweden have been worked for centuries and the ore has been sold to all iron-producing countries. Three fourths of the Swedish iron ore is exported. Sweden has little coal and that is found in the extreme southern section. Small amounts of silver, copper, and iron are mined in Norway; and apatite, a lime phos- phate used as a fertilizer, is exported to Great Britain. Manufactures and Trade. — There are few manufactures of impor- tance. The only manu- factures of metals of consequence are at Dannemora and Norr- koping, in Sweden, where iron ore is made into bars and blooms 2. Raking for export, and into sheet iron, wire, nails, machinery, tools, and hardware for home use. Coarse cloths are made from cotton, flax, and wool; flour, tobacco, brandy, and beer are also manufactured; but these do not fully supply the home market. Coal and coke, wool and yarn, coffee, tea, sugar, and oils are large imports in both countries. The United States sells to Norway and Sweden wheat, provisions, raw cotton, machinery and locomotives. Among our imports are wood-pulp and matches. Sweden makes and exports more matches than any other country. 1. A peasant home in Dalecarlia in Sweden, and binding grain in Sweden. 100 NORWAY AND SWEDEN ..^ftjSiVfei-- >»..»». ^ 1 -^ . ly HBkk" ""^'~\ ^^ ^ ' '^ ^"-JMrS^^^ HlR^5&a.'~^ irfarSiU, -.~«-rf*.,S!i(»ffe_ i-^^^Btts SlSl ^E'i.^—..^.^ ».S ^^^^— ^ a ^gw^^^Hfl^^^l ij^ '^sr i^m^i^^^^i^^mmi^^^B§iig H9 IfeteHs'c The mountain of iron at Kiruna in northern Sweden. Notice tlie mines at various levels and the inclined chutes for transferring the ore to the railroad. Transportation. — The rivers of these countries are generally not navigable. In southern Sweden, however, there is a chain of large, navigable lakes which have been utilized in making canal connection The port of Gothenbur between Stockholm and Gothenburg. This is important for Swedish trade, as the latter port is always free from ice. There are about CITIES 101 7,800 miles of railroads in Sweden and 1,600 miles in Norway. The northern part of Sweden is crossed by a line which terminates at Victoria Haven, the most northern railway station in the world. In the extent of her shipping Norway- ranks with Great Britain, Germany, and the United States; and according to the number of her people she is in advanqe of any other nation. Her merchant ves- sels number about 6,000, many of them engaged in the carrying trade for other nations. Christiania, Bergen, Trondhjem, and Frederiksstad are the chief ports. Swe- den has less than one third as many ships. and these are devoted mainly to her own trade. Cities.— Sweden has only two towns that exceed 100,- 000 popula- tion, Stockholm and Gothenburg, Norway has only one, Christiania. The chief cities of both countries are also seaports. Stockholm is the capital and metropolis of Sweden. Originally built on an island it has extended to other islands and the mainland. The several parts Views in Stockholm: 1. The Royal Palace, arm of lake Malar and bridges. 102 NORWAY AND SWEDEN of the city are connected by bridges, and many of the streets have canals running through them. SIOCDOTOLM ^nd Vicinity Stockholm has mu- seums, a university, and many old historic buildings. Gothenbixrg is the second city in size, but the chief sea- port in Sweden. It is a well-built modern city and has a fine univer- sity. Other important towns are Malmo and Norrkdping. Christiania, the capital of Norway, is situated at the end of a long fiord, dotted with many beautiful green wooded islands and has a splendid harbor. It is noted foi its museum of antiquities of the days of the Northmen. ^ ^^^^^H^i ± B 1- ^^ !lli!F'^'^^yr'"r7i m ^^^n^ tfft^^^ Ci^ ~ijr'!':5™;23^j § ^'^'^^liTiW^'vMliflM^r^ f ~ '^^^"'^^ g;.-: --.^^^^-r^^ "^^^^^^^^^b __=^ ^^^K^v«£:^^ -IHiH 9,js- ma Shipping Malaga grapes from the port of Almeria in Spain. tion of the city is inconvenient and the climate is bad. The sights of Madrid center about its splendid square, the Puerta del Sol, or Gate- way of the Sun, so called because it was formerly the eastern entrance to the city. The Royal Palace with its fine interior decorations, the Parliament Houses, and the Picture Gallery with hundreds of paintings by the most distinguished artists of Europe, are the most famous buildings. Valencia, Seville, Malaga, Murcia, and Cartagena, the next cities in size, are practically seaports. Cartagena has the best harbor. Seville, the " Paris of Anda- lusia," is noted for the old Moorish palace of the Alcazar. Granada contains the royal palace of the Moorish kings, the Alhambra, one of the most beautiful and ISLANDS AND COLONIES 127 lavishly decorated structures in the world. Cordoba, once a city of a million inhab- itants, has dwindled to sixty thousand; its mosque is unrivaled among the Moorish sacred edifices. Toledo has a second Alcazar, and both Toledo and Burgos have splendid Gothic cathedrals. Madrid and Seville are famous for large amphitheaters for bull-fighting, though most of the larger cities have their bull rings. Islands and Colonies. The chief islands belonging to Spain are the Balearic (bal-e-dr'-ik) group in the Mediterranean, and the Canary group near the coast of Africa. Politically these groups are at- tached to the mainland, as are also the Spanish possessions on the coast of Morocco. The Balearic islands have rich mineral resources and important manufacturing indus- tries. The Canary group consists of a number of small islands which are very productive of tropical fruits and vegetables. The vol- canic peak of Teneriffe rises over 12,000 feet above the sea. The mild and equable climate of both these island groups has made them A fish pedler in the streets of Malaga. famOUS aS a health rCSOrt. In a lofty valley on the southern slope of the Pyrenees is the little republic of Andorra, which has maintained its independence for over a thousand years. Its area is only 150 square miles, and its population about 10,000. Its resources are chiefly in agriculture and grazing. The rock of Gibraltar on the southern coast of Spain is a crown colony of Great Britain. Its strong fortifications command the entrance to the Mediterranean sea. It is also important as a naval station and coahng port. Industries and Cities of Portugal. — Portugal closely resembles Spain in surface features, climate, resources, and industries. It has the most extensive cork forests in the world, and cork bark is, next to wine, the most valuable export; copper ore, cotton goods, timber, 128 SPAIN AND PORTUGAL and fruits are the exports next in value. The trade of Portugal is chiefly with Great Britain, Germany, France; and with Brazil, at one time her largest colony. The leading imports are wheat, fish, sugar, iron work, cotton, and machinery. Both Spain and Portugal have extensive fisheries both in the Mediterranean and in the Atlantic, but the catch is not large enough to supply the home demand, so that fish is one of the foods imported. Lisbon and Oporto are the only large Portuguese cities. Lisbon is situated on the Tagus twelve miles from the coast, where the river widens to form a splendid harbor. It is picturesquely situated with rugged mountains at its back. It has one of the largest libraries in iiism^*'s;rym- WM^^ \ >if. __^\ Funchal, the capital of the Madeira islands. Europe. It is the seat of the government and is the chief military and naval station. Oporto, at the mouth of the Douro, is the leading wine-shipping port. Colonies. — Portugal has important colonies on the coasts of India and China. The eastern part of the island of Timor in the East Indies also belongs to her. Coffee and wax are exported, but the island is not developed. The most important of Portugal's colonies, however, are Guinea, Angola, and Portuguese East Africa. She owns also the Cape Verde and Madeira {ma-de'-r'a) groups of islands near GOVERNMENT AND RELIGION 129 the African coast. The African colonies are valuable to Portugal for minerals, forest products, and fruits. Government and Religion. — The government of Spain is a limited monarchy. The king is the executive, and takes part in the making of the laws. The legislature is called the Cortes, and is com- posed of a Senate and Congress equal in authority. The Senate, num- bering 360, consists of three classes. First, those nominated by the crown; second, those elected by the church, the universities, and by various corporations; third, senators in their own right, among which are sons of the king, certain of the nobility, and various officers of state. The Congress is composed of deputies elected by the people. The government of Portugal formerly resembled that of Spain. In October, 1910, the revolutionary party seized the government prop- erty in Lisbon, expelled the king, and established a republic under a president. The new government has abolished the House of Peers, the Council of State, and titles of nobility. The popular branch of the legislature only has been retained. The Roman Catholic Church is the state religion in both countries. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS. — (1) Location and surface of the Iberian peninsula. Locate the mountains; the plateau. Why does the rain decrease from north to south? Explain the climate of the coast plain. (2) Name the races that have successively invaded the Spanish peninsula. Are any of them still found there? Who were the Moors? What is said of their civilization? (3) What is said of Spain in the days of Columbus? Name some of the distinguished men of Portugal and Spain. (4) What difficulties retard successful farming in Spain? What are the products of the interior? Of the coast plain? What plants grow well on the uplands? What farm animals are kept? Why are sheep more abundant than cattle? What use is there for donkeys and mules? (5) What is said of the mines of Spain? Which minerals are the most abundant? Name other minerals, and tell some use of each. How could Spain make her mines more profitable? (6) What caused the decline of Spanish manufactures? Make a list of the chief manufactures to-day and tell the locality of each. Exports and imports of Spain. (7) What are tlie two leading cities of Spain? Of Portugal? Trade of Portugal. Make a list of all the cities named in this chapter, and state an important fact about each. What is said of the colonies of each of these countries? CHAPTER IX SWITZERLAND Answer the questions on s-u'itzerland, page lOS. Location and Surface. — The area of Switzerland is a little less than 10.000 square miles and its population about 4,000,000. Thl^ is the most mountain- ous country in Europe. It may be called the roof of the continent, from whose lofty ridges flow four rivers, the Rhine, the Rhone, the Danube, and the Po. On the northwestern border are the Jura mountains with an aver- age elevation of 2,500 feet; the southern and southeastern parts, com- prising about three fifths of the entire sur- face, are occupied by the high Alps, ranging in height from 5,000 to 15,000 feet. Between these two mountain regions lies the Swiss pla- teau extending from lake Geneva to lake Constance. This plateau is irregular and hilly, heaped here and there with the glacial deposits of the Ice Age (see page 19), and deeply furrowed by the numerous 130 The Matterhorn. CLIMATE 131 swift mountain streams which descend from the Alps and flow north- west into the Aar (dr) river. The mountain ranges and plateaus have a general trend from northeast to southwest: nevertheless the streams, with the exception of the upper waters of the Rhone and the R,hine, instead of following the ridges, have found their way across them through the numerous mountain passes. These mountain passes are followed by the highways and railroads of the country. The most famous are the Great St. Bernard, the Simplon, the St. Gothard, and the Splugen. The same The Rhone glacier. Every glacier is the source of a stream which flows under- neath the ice for several miles and finally emerges as the source of a river. force that shaped the courses of the streams has arrested their flow in hundreds of places, forming lakes of great beauty, and some of considerable size. The mountain passes divide the Alps into numerous groups each of which bears the name of the territory in which it stands. The Pennine Alps contain the greatest number of lofty peaks. Near the village of Zermatt are mount Rosa (15,217 feet), Weisshorn (14,803 feet), the Matterhom (14,705 feet), and twenty others, exceeding 12,000 feet in height. West of Zermatt, just over the French boundary, is mount Blanc, the highest peak of all (see page 56). Climate. — A great variety of climate and products is found in Switzerland, depending upon the elevation and the direction of the mountain slopes. Wheat, the vine, and the mulberry tree flourish 132 SWITZERLAND in the plateau regions and in the southern valleys where the height is less than 2,000 feet. The characteristic trees at this elevation are the walnut, the chestnut, and the oak. Up to 4,000 feet the beech and the maple are found. In this region grasses and some of the hardier grains and fruits are cultivated. Above 4,000 feet the pine, the larch, and the fir are the principal trees. At 5,000 feet glaciers appear in the valleys and only dwarfed trees, shrubs, and grasses i ^^■- ■' ''^Wk^^'^''^^'^'' '^''^ "'''-- ^..k^^l^^^^l H .*■'.«*.-»- _i^^^""^-- ;■-.' -, IS^^^^H^HH /'^" M^ ' ' l^^^^^^^^^^H ^H J - '^■■sfll^^^^^^^H I im in^M^j^ - ; ' ^^^^^M ^^ : \:^Vi ^i ^^^^ "J^la The Axenstrasse, a famous higliway which runs along the shore of lake Lucerne where it is chiseled out of the solid rock. This road affords a fine view of the lake and the surrounding mountains and is traversed every year by thousands of tourists. grow. At 9,000 feet comes the region of perpetual snow and ice which includes one twentieth of the country. About one third the area of Switzerland is covered with ice or rock and is valueless for cultiva- tion, the forests cover about one third, while the remaining tliird consists of pasture and cultivated land. On southern slopes, owing to the greater directness of the sun's rays, the tem- perature rises high during the day but falls correspondingly low at night. The western and southern slopes receive the heaviest rainfall because the prevailing GOVERNMENT, RELIGION, EDUCATION 133 winds blow from those directions; but the whole country has rain in abundance. In the high altitudes snow takes the place of rain, and the vast accumulations shd- ing off the mountain tops and ridges into the valleys form the glaciers, of which there are about 600 among the Alps. In Berne, the most populous canton is found in the Aletsch glacier, the longest in the Alps (16 miles). In the same regions are the famous mountains, the Jungfrau iyiing'-frdu) (the maiden) and the Mbrich (the monk). Near by are the beauti- ful valleys of the Grindelwald and the Lauter- brunnen; further north are lakes Thun (tun) and Brienz, with Interlaken between them, the favorite resort of tourists. With the coming of the warm season the glaciers retreat up the valleys and the melting ice deposits the soil and drift. People and History. — The early inhabi- tants of Switzerland were a Celtic tribe called Helvetians. Helvetia, as ancient Switzerland was called, fell under the rule of the Franks, and afterwards became a part of the German Empire. In 1291 some of the cantons united and founded the Swiss republic. From time to time other cantons joined; there are now 22 in all. These cantons were free and independent districts and have retained their old powers of self-government. The Swiss have no national language. Two thirds of them speak German; those near the borders of France and Italy speak the languages of those countries; a surprisingly A native of Grisons, the largest of the Swiss cantons, occupying the Engadine, or upper valley of the Inn. great number speak all three languages, as well as English. Government, Religion, Education. — Each canton elects mem- bers to a State Council and the people at large elect members to a National Council. These two bodies form a national legislature called the Federal Assembly. The Federal Assembly chooses a President and a Federal Council of seven members which is the executive body of the Republic. The President holds office for one year only, but the term of membership for the Federal Council varies. Both religion and educatior are under the control of the separate cantons. Considerably more than half of the people are Protestants; the rest are Catholics, 134 SWITZERLAND with one per cent, of Jews. No one can be taxed to support any creed to which he does not belong, and there is entire freedom of worship for all. Elementary, high, and technical schools are maintained, and there are universities in six cities. Industries. — Though Switzerland has poor conditions for farm- ing, agriculture combined with stock-raising and dairying provides a living for about half the population. There are nearly 300,000 small farms owned by the peasant proprietors, but the returns are insuf- ficient for the comparatively large population, and half the food sup- ply is brought from other countries. Dairy products and fruits are more important than field crops. Con- densed milk and cheese are large exports. Swiss milch cows are of the finest breeds and are much in demand in the neighboring coun- tries, while beef cattle are imported from Italy and Austria. The fine flavor of the Swiss milk and butter is due to the rich grasses and sweet- smelling herbs which grow in the upper valleys. The pastures belong to the entire village and every farmer has the right to graze his cows in them. During the long winter the cattle must be stabled and fed. In the early spring when the grass springs up in the mountains, a day is set when all the cows of the village are brought together. The village herdsman and his assist- ants drive them to the upper pastures where they are kept and tended throughout the summer. The milk is either made into butter and cheese there or is sent down the mountain each day to the village. Rye, oats, and potatoes are the chief products of the farms. Apples, grapes, pears, and cherries flourish. The wine product is very large but is not exported. The forests of Switzerland are cared for by a government commission. The forests supply timber for fuel and building purposes and for the important industries of wood- carving and the manufacture of musical instruments. Salt, cement, Quaint architecture in the old quarter of Lucerne TEANSPORTATION 135 and building stone are the only mineral products of any impor- tance. The manufacturing industries of Switzerland employ about one third of the people. The textile industry is the most important. Silk and cotton are manufactured extensively and the Swiss are expert in making knit goods and underwear of a mixture of these fibers. Plain and embroidered silks and ribbons are made at Zurich and Basel, and fine laces, trimmings, edgings, and embroideries at St. Gall and Berne. St. Gall is especially noted for hand embroideries on linen. Much of the weaving is done by hand at home. Straw is braided by hand and exported for use in making hats. The metal industries include watches, clocks, machinery, and jewelry. Geneva is the center of the watch trade. Over 300 technical schools are maintained by the canton governments. For- merly all metal work, including watches, was done by hand ; but the competition of other countries has compelled the Swiss to introduce machinery. Transportation and Commerce. — Switzerland has about 3,000 miles of railways and a complete system of telegraph and telephone lines, most of which are operated by the Federal Government. Five important railways cross the Jura mountains into France, Germany, Belgium, and Holland, and shorter lines lead up the valleys to points of interest to tourists. Public highways, built with much engineer- ing skill, cross the country in every direction. Two railways cross the high Alps into Italy. One of these passes under Saint Gothard mountain by a tunnel nine miles long; the other, under the Simplon, by a tunnel thirteen miles long. A third tunnel, the Loetschberg, nine miles long, was completed in 1911. It connects Berne with the Simplon railroad and with Milan, Italy. These roads make it possible to travel in two days from the North sea to the Mediterranean. The water-power of the country supplies electricity to railroads and factories. Besides dairy products and cattle, Swiss exports consist of the manufactured goods above described. Material for the textile indus- tries is practically all imported. Raw silk comes from Italy, China, and Egypt. Cotton thxead and yarn come from England, and raw cotton, 136 SWITZERLAND foodstuffs, and kerosene from the United States. Our imports from Switzerland are mainly cotton goods, lace trimmings and lace cur- tains, clocks and watches, dyes, silks, knit goods, cheese, and choco- late. Cities. — The large cities are all in the plateau region, this being the most productive part of the country, the most easily accessible, and the seat of the chief manufactures. Zurich, besides its manu- Zurich on lake Zurich. facturing industries, has a university, a national scientific school (see page 135), and a national museum. Basel, the second city and chief railroad center, stands on the frontier where the Rhine crosses into Germany. Geneva, an old city, on the French border at the west end of lake Geneva, is noted as an educational center. Its manu- facturing industries are supplied with power generated by the falls of the Rhone. Berne, the capital, contains the government buildings and the offices of several international bodies which have their meeting place in Switzerland on account of its central location. Other large towns are Lausanne {lo-san'), St. Gall, Chaux-de-Fonds {sho' -de-fdh') , Lucerne, and Bienne. SWISS SCENERY 137 Swiss Scenery. — The delightful cUmate and scenery of Switzerland are the chief commercial assets of the country. With- out the money received annually from travelers she would be heavily in arrears to foreign countries for raw mate- rials and food. She has over $100,000,000 invested in summer hotels and there are thousands of board- ing houses. Prob- ably tourists spend every year, in this " Playground of Eu- rope," from $60,000,- 000 to $70,000,000. The thrift of the Swiss and the money left by tourists, con- tribute to make the country prosperous. Favorite amusements in Switzerland 2. Tobogganing. 1 Mountain climbing. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS. — (1) Location and surface of Switzerland; natural divisions. Describe the streams and lakes. Name some of the high mountain peaks. (2) Name five of the climatic divisions that depend on elevation. How do the slopes affect temperature and rainfall? Tell how the glaciers are formed. Where is the longest glacier? What interesting places near it? When are the glaciers longest? Shortest? What is the result of the melting of the glaciers? At what height does perpetual snow begin in the Alps? (3) What languages are spoken in Switzerland? What are the divisions of the Federal Government? What are the principal religions of the country? (4) What are the chief farming industries in Switzerland? Why is stock-raising more important than agriculture? Describe the pastures of the Swiss valleys. What is said of the forests? What mineral products are found? (5) What are the leading textiles? The leading metal products? What city is noted for watches? Transportation and com- munication. (6) Exports and imports. Trade with the United States. (7) Make a list of the chief cities of Switzerland, and write a statement about each. CHAPTER X RUSSIA Answer questions on eussia, page 21. Effects of the World War. — In 1914 before the outbreak of the Great War, the Russian Empire was the strongest absolute government on the globe. It embraced one sixth of the land surface, and was second only to the British Empire in area. All its divisions — Russia-in-Europe, Siberia, Caucasia, and Turkestan — were rich in agricultural resources, producing enough for the needs of the home land, besides exporting more food products and raw materials than any other country except the United States. The area of European Russia was about 2,000,000 square miles and. the population nearly 160,- 000,000. The great bulk of the people were peasant farmers living upon land belonging in common to their villages or leased from large estates belonging to the nobility, which numbered about 100,000 landed proprietors. The Czar, the absolute ruler of the Empire, residing at Petrograd, governed the coun- try through the army and through his appointed officers living in the provinces. Home affairs were administered by the head- men of the villages and the local assemblies of the provinces. Revolution. — The government of Russia has always been oppressive. It has always been the object of the Czars to make Russians out of the multitude of alien peoples living within the Empire by forbidding the use of their native lan- guages and the practice of their religions. In this way the Finns, the Poles, and especially the Jews have been subject to continual persecution. It is no wonder, then, that Russia has been the breeding place for Anarchists, Nihilists, Bolshe- 138 SCANDINAVIAN INVADERS 139 vists, and revolutionists of every type, all seeking to destroy the harsh and oppressive government of the Czars. The ranks of the revolutionists have been recruited mainly from among the educated classes and the poor laborers in the cities. The peasant farmers, for the most part illiterate and densely igno- rant, have taken little interest in matters of government, and as a general thing supported the government of the Czars. Historical Sketch. — A few centuries ago before Russia became one of the states of Europe, there were three sections known by the name ''Russia." These were Red Russia, in the west between the Dnieper and the Vistula rivers. White Russia, lying north and east of Red Russia, and Black Russia, consisting of the central provinces of which Moscow was the capital. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the colonization period of America, the name generally applied to Russia was ''Muscovy," a name derived from Moscow, indicating the prominence of that state. The "Czar of Mus- covy" was the symbol of autocracy and arrogance. All Rus- sians are members of the Slavonic race, which is supposed to have come from Asia in the fourth and fifth centuries. Scandinavian Invaders. — In the eighth and ninth centuries the northern countries of Europe (Norway, Sweden, and Den- mark) were united under the government of Denmark, the greatest power of that time. The people were known as "Northmen," and their soldiers and sailors led by able chiefs explored and conquered in every direction. They sailed west to Iceland and America. They conquered Britain and northern France. In 862 Chief Ruric led an army into Russia and estabHshed a kingdom in the west with his capital at Novgorod, about 100 miles southeast of Petrograd. The seat of govern- ment of the Scandinavian state was afterward removed suc- cessively to Kief, Vladimir, and Moscow, the last-named city remaining the capital until St. Petersburg — now Petrograd — was made the capital in 1703 by Peter the Great, who drove the 140 RUSSIA Swedes out of the country. Peter and his descendants, or the ''House of Romanoff," continued in power until the abdication of the late Czar Nicolas, March 15, 1917. Bolsheviki and Soviet Rule. — A new republic was pro- claimed immediately after the removal of the Czar, with free speech, universal suffrage (including women), pardon for all political prisoners and exiles, and the maintenance of the existing political relations with other countries. Attempts were made to establish a permanent constitutional govern- ment at Petrograd, but these attempts were opposed by the radical revolutionists, or Bolsheviki, who wished the ''Soviet," or Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates, to have the supreme control. The result was a series of revolutions in different parts of the country and several provinces declared independence. The Bolsheviki, under their leaders Lenine and Trotzky, finally obtained control of affairs and set up their government at Petrograd. The new government abolished all property rights and divided the land among the people; it wiped out the institutions of marriage and religion, and all other institutions that civilization has laboriously built up, and began the systematic confiscation of all kinds of private property. Opponents of the new government were massacred. Civil wars sprang up in different parts of the country and are still raging. Millions of people have been killed, and of those who are left thousands are dying of starvation every month. The railroads and industries of the country are for the most part suspended; the system of the "government by the people" — which in Russia means the worst people — has failed and the entire land is in a state of ruin and desolation. Of the 2,000,000 inhabitants of Petrograd, the capital and largest city, only 600,000 are left, and hundreds of other towns have suffered a similar decimation from war, famine, and disease. Losses of Territory in European Russia. — A comparison of the old and new maps of Russia indicates that nearly one GENERAL DESCRIPTION 141 third of the surface has been given up to the new repubhcs, Finland, Poland, Esthonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukrainia. All these lie along the western and southern borders. It is probable that other regions also will be lost, especially if the Bolsheviki remain in control of Petrograd. The remainder of this chapter was written before the war, and it should be read with the thought that many of the productions mentioned are not now produced, and that many of the industries described are now suspended. General Description. — Russia with its dependencies, Siberia, Caucasia, and Turkestan, lies in the great northern plain, extending from the Baltic sea to the Pacific ocean and from the fortieth parallel to within ten degrees of the north pole. The border of European Russia is broken by four seas: the Caspian, which is landlocked; the Black and the Baltic, whose outlets are controlled by other nations; and the White, which is icebound eight months of the year. The Russian plain is crossed by a low table-land ex- tending in a north- easterly direction from the Carpa- thian mountains to the Valdai Hills and thence to the Ural mountains. The large rivers of -r» • ii TT 1 Plowing in southern Russia. Russia, the Volga, Don, Dnieper (ne'-per), Duna, and Dwina rise in the table-land and flow down its gentle slopes to the four seas. Near the Cas- pian the plain is below the sea level, yielding luxuriant grass in spring, but in otlier seasons blasted by extremes of heat and cold. In the north, the plain slopes toward the Arctic ocean and ends in the tundras, the home of the reindeer, and the breeding places of innumerable migratory birds. 142 RUSSIA Climate. — As Russia lies far from the warm oceans and has no high bordering mountains to arrest the rainfall or to break the force of the winds, it has all the features of a con- tinental cHmate. The winters are cold and the summers hot. The shores of the Arctic ocean are ice- bound for more than half the year, while the mouths of the Volga and Dnieper rivers in the south are closed on account of Devil's Gate, a pass in the Caucasus. A military road the ice f Or more than has been built by Russia through this pass. , i i • three months durmg the winter. The winds which bring rain and warmth to the plain are the same westerly and southwesterly winds that bathe the shores of Great Britain and France. But they ^_. ^ ^^^H ^^ ^^^^ A view of the steppes of southeastern Russia. become drier and cooler as they proceed eastward, so that the Russian plains receive only one fourth as much rain as the Atlantic coast, while the climate toward the east is subject to THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE 143 greater extremes. Thus the western part of the country is fairly well watered, while the eastern and southeastern parts receive not over 20 inches annual rainfall, and frequently less; as a result droughts, with crop-failures and famines, are fre- quent. In the winter the winds from northern Siberia bringing the Arctic cold traverse Russia from the northeast. Russia may be divided into six belts of vegetation. In the extreme north are the tundras (see page 22). South of the tundra region is a belt of forests of low birches, larches, and firs; farther south are forests of evergreen trees, with here and there cultivated clearings. Next to this and crossing the central part of the ^ s 1 iHii^; $^M i@ A Russian drosky, or carriage. country is a belt including forests of deciduous trees and the great farming region where grain, hemp, and flax are the chief products. Below this farming belt is the Black Earth belt which extends from the valley of the Dnieper to the base of the Ural mountains. This is the " wheat belt " of Russia, and has extensive orchards and meadows. In the arid region bordering the Caspian sea only coarse grasses are found; this is the chief grazing section. The inhabitants are wandering tribes of Tartars who keep cattle and sheep. In the region south of the Caucasus moun- tains the climate is semi-tropical; corn, cotton, the vine, and tropical fruits are produced. Southwest of the river Dnieper vegetables and root crops, especially the sugar-beet, are important products. The Russian People. — Russia contains from fifteen to twenty races, speaking forty languages and dialects. Of the 144 RUSSIA 100,000,000 people belonging to the white race, over 90,000,000 are Slavs, who constitute the backbone of the nation. There are many Poles and Germans and about 4,000,000 Jews. The Finns and Samoyeds in the North and the Tartars in the South belong to the yellow race. Although the town popu- lation has increased in recent years, the mujik {mobzhik'), or peasant farmer, is stUl the real representative of the nation. Until 1861 the Russian peasants were serfs attached to the estates of the nobles, and were bought and sold with the land. They lived in villages, and when set free about two fifths of the land was ap- portioned among them. There are about half a million villages in the empire, A Russian tea party. The tea urn, or "samovar," is always kept ready for use among the Russians, who are great tea drinkers. Russian peasants in the market place. holding on an average from four to five square miles of land each, been changed by the present government. All this has AGRICULTURE 145 Government, Education, and Religion. — Each village is self-governirig, all the men meeting together in the open air to discuss public affairs. They elect an elder, or headman, to direct the business of the village; and a tax collector. The peasant population is still very ignorant, less than one fourth being able to read and write. The established religion of the Empire is the Greek Catholic faith. There are, however, about 12,000,000 Roman Catholics, 14,000,000 Mohammedans, and some Jews, Buddhists, and various denomi- nations of Prot- estant Christians. The Jews are the only sect to whom religious liberty is denied. Agriculture. — ■ Farming is the main occupation of the Russian people. Russia is, next to the United States, the greatest grain-raising country in the worid. The annual yield of grains of all kinds amounts to two thousand five hundred millions of bushels. Rye is the chief crop ; wheat and corn grow in the Black Earth country and oats and barley in the northern and central sections. A Russian pleasure sleigh. Russia is also the chief hemp- and flax-growing country, supplying four fifths of the entire world's product. Next in value are hay, potatoes, beet sugar, eggs, and poultry. Rice is grown in Trans-Caucasia, and tobacco chiefly in the Volga basin. Seeds, oils, and oil-cake are important articles of export; flax, hemp, rape, and sunflower seeds are the source of some of the oils. Oil-cake is what remains of the seeds after the oil is pressed out; it is sold to the countries of western Europe for fattening cattle, and for use as a fertilizer. Animals and their products are exported from southern Russia and the steppe regions. 146 RUSSIA Forests Products. — The basin of the Dwina is the richest section of the great forest belt. In the value of its forest products Russia ranks next to the United States and Canada. The home demand for lumber is enormous as most buildings are made of wood. In the manufacturing districts wood is still used for fuel; it is more easily obtained than coal. Lum- Petroleum tanks at Batum. ber, resin, potash, and wood-pulp are exported by way of Archangel and the ports on the Baltic sea. The forests of European Russia are disappearing rapidly, and the effect is already apparent in the diminishing volume of the streams and in the disappearance of the fur-bearing animals. Minerals. — Russia is rich in minerals, and mining indus- tries are increasing in value. Coal and iron are abundant in the Ural district and north of the sea of Azov; blast furnaces and iron and steel works are found in both of these sections. Coal and iron also occur in the district south of Moscow. FISHERIES 147 Gold, silver, copper, precious stones, and nine tenths of the world's supply of platinum are also found in the Ural mining district. Quicksilver ore and petroleum are found near the Caspian sea. Russia ranks next to the United States in petro- leum. These two countries supply nearly the entire world. Salt is obtained north of the Caspian sea and near the sea of Azov. Fisheries. — Fishing is carried on along the Arctic coast, in the rivers, especially the Ural and Volga, and in the Black and Caspian seas. An important industry is the making of the Russian caviar from the eggs of the sturgeon and other fish; this is much esteemed as a table delicacy and extensively imported. Cured fish is one of the largest imports into Russia on account of the many fast days observed by the Greek Church. Manufacturing. — Since the Russian Revolution in 1917 the manufacturing industries have been at a standstill. An attempt was made by the new government to have all the factories controlled by the state, but it was found impossible to carry out this method. Before the war the textile industries were in the lead, Russia being the third country in the produc- tion of cotton cloth. Next in value were woolens, hnens, and silks. It is probable that the farming industries will have to be restored before manufacturing is resumed on a large scale. The coal deposits near Moscow have stimulated manufacturing in that city, while water-power has promoted the growth of Narva near Petrograd. Tanning is an old Russian industry. "Russia leather" is stm a leading product. Kazan is a center of both leather and linen industries. Tula is noted for steel works and the making of small arms. It is the national arsenal. Alcohol made from potato starch is an article of export. Iron and steel industries are of later development, so that less skill in making them has been acquired. In the making of farm ma- chinery Russia is far behind the United States. She is a large importer of our plows, harrows, harvesters, seed-drills, and mowers. 148 RUSSIA Domestic and Foreign Commerce. — Domestic trade is still carried on partly through annual fairs. The most important of these is that held at Nijni-Novgorod ( nizh' -nee-nov-go- rod'). Merchants come from all Russia, from Per- sia, and central Asia. As many as 200,000 people are often present. The value of the goods sold often exceeds $100,000,000. Other large fairs are held at Kief and Kharkof in the southwest. Nearly 2,000 smaller ones are held in various parts of the country. A party of gypsies with their team, in Caucasia. Moscow, showing the Kremlin on the left. Such fairs are still held in many parts of Europe. They are a relic of the Middle Ages. In our times, with the improyed facilities for transportation and travel, the cities have become easier of access, and the fairs are dying out. TRANSPORTATION 149 The export trade consists mainly in the shipment of food products and raw materials to the countries of western Europe. About one half these exports consist of flour and grain; next in value are lumber, flax and hemp, seeds, petroleum, eggs, and poultry. Manufactured goods make up less than one twelfth the exports. Odessa is the chief port for the shipment of grain; it also has machine shops, sugar refineries, flour mills, and breweries. The grain and timber of western Russia are sent down the river Vistula and shipped by way of Danzig. Arch- angel exports hemp, flax, timber, and grain. Baku on the Caspian sea is the chief center of petroleum production and export. Batum, the principal port on the Black sea, exports petroleum, wheat, carpets, and silks. Most Russian imports enter the country by way of the Baltic sea; our cotton and machinery take that route. Tea, however, which, next to raw cotton, is the largest import, comes over the Siberian railroad from Dalny and Irkutsk. It ia pressed into blocks and is known as brick tea. Much cotton also goes from Tash- kend and other towns in Turkestan, over the railway to Orenburg on the eastern frontier. Cotton and woolen goods and machinery are imported from Germany; and coal, iron, copper, lead, and machinery from Great Britain, Our leading imports from Russia are raw wool, skins, and hides. Transportation. — Internal communication is mainly by means of the numerous rivers, canals, and lakes, all of which furnish nearly 80,000 miles of navigable waterways. The great drawback to the water transportation is the ice during the long winter. The chief railway center is Moscow; from this city, trunk hues radiate connecting with the larger cities and, over the long trans-Siberian route, with the Pacific coast of Si- beria. The Siberian railway terminates at Vladivostok, situated on the Pacific ; this port has direct trade connections with New York by steamers through the Panama canal. Nine tenths of the ocean commerce is carried on by foreign ships. This trade is about equally divided between Odessa on the Black sea and Petrograd and Cronstadt on the Baltic. 150 RUSSIA PETROGRAD And yioinity Crties. — About one seventh of the people of European Russia now Hve in towns; there are sixteen cities that exceed 100,- 000 population, and two, Petro- grad and Mos- cow, that exceed 1,000,000. Mos- cow, the former capital, is more oriental than European; its churches with their gilded,bulb- shaped domes, the houses painted in bright colors, and the dress of the people remind the traveler of Constantinople. Petrograd, the capital, is a modern European city with broad avenues, and buildings of more recent architectui'e. It is the fifth city of Europe. The Winter Palace in Petrograd is the largest royal palace in the world. Other famous buildings are the Cathedral of St. Isaac, with its beautiful golden dome, and the Admiralty Building, the center of the naval affairs of the Empire. The Nevski Prospekt is the most magnificent street of the city. Among the monu- ments is a statue of Peter the Great, the base of which is the largest stone ever used in building. It is of red granite, 84 feet high, and 14 feet in diameter at the base. As a result of the revolutions Petrograd is estimated to have lost one half its population. Moscow is the center of a populous region and chief lines of travel meet there; to these facts it owes its prominence. The most famous spot in Moscow is the walled enclosure called the Kremlin, which contains the Imperial Palace, the tower of Ivan the Great, the Treasury, and churches. The most sacred of the churches ia the Church of the Assumption where the Russian emperors were crowned. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS 151 Several cities mentioned in this chapter are located in the new state of Ukrainia, which has not been recognized by the Russian Government. QUESTIONS AND TOPICS. — (1) Compare European Russia with the United States in area and position. Describe the slopes of European Russia; the high- lands; name some of the rivers. (2) Climate; why extreme or continental? Direction of the winds; rain- fall; temperature. Locate the six vegetation belts of Russia; name some of the products of each belt. (3) How do you account for the variety of races in Russia? Which races are the most numer- ous? Under the new gov- ernment the peasants own the land; why is this better than the old system by which the people of each village held the land in common? (4) Why is it better for a country to have the farmer own the land that he tills? In what farm crops is Russia . , , . , , the leading nation? What A church m Moscow, farm products are exported? (5) What is said of the Russian forests? What mmerala does Russia produce? Where is each of these found? Can you think of any reason why she should import coal and iron? What is said of the Russian trade in fish? (6) Name some manufacturing centers of Russia. What are the leading manufactures? (7) What is said of the factory system and of home manufacture? What manufactured goods are imported by Russia? How is this explained? Make a list of the exports. _ Im- ports, and the countries from which obtained. Describe the transportation facihties of Russia. (8) Make a list of the principal cities, and write a statement about each. CHAPTER XI AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY The Empire Dissolved. — The old Austrian Empire, or Austro-Hungarian monarchy as it was called, was made up of a number of different races, which were once separate nations. The chief divisions were Hungary, German Austria, Bohemia, inhabited chiefly by Czechs and Slovaks, and Jugo-Slavia in the southeast. Besides these nationalities, Austria held terri- tory in the north which had been taken from Poland, territory in the east inhabited by Rumanians, in the southeast by Italians, and in the west was land closely related to the Swiss. By the Peace Treaty all these lands have been restored to their rightful owners, and the province of Austria proper has been made a separate nation. It is inhabited almost entirely by Germans and has a republican form of government. Location, Surface, Climate. — Austria lies in the Danube valley between Jugo-Slavia and Hungary; it has an area of 25,000 square miles and a population of about 7,000,000. Except on the north and west it is surrounded by its former subject nations and enemies, the Czechs, Slavs, Italians, and Magyars, or Hungarians. It is a landlocked country, having now no access to the sea, and has few natural resoiu"ces except the soil. The land, however, is rich, and the climate temperate and moist. The surface of the northern part is level, but the southern part is crossed by ranges of the Alps, which, however, afford little mineral wealth. Much of the mountain region is forested with oak, walnut, and chestnut, with evergreen trees in the higher elevations. 152 VIENNA 153 Productions and Industries. — In the absence of minerals, farming, grazing, and fruit-growing are the natural industries connected with the soil. Rye, flax, hemp, tobacco, potatoes, and sugar-beets are the leading crops. Good breeds of stock are raised, and the poultry and egg product is the largest pro- duced in Europe on an equal area, the dry Hmestone soils of the uplands being perfectly adapted to poultry. The hard- woods of the forests are utilized in the manufacture of staves for wine and beer casks which find a ready market in Germany and Italy. In pre-war times the manufactures of Austria were considerable, but her manufacturing districts have been mostly taken away. It is difficult to predict what will develop in the future in the manufacturing way. Vienna. — The only large city in Austria is Vienna, the capital of the former Empire. Then it supported a population of over 2,000,000, but it is hard to see how in the new repubhc so many people can find the means of making a living. The old Imperial government supported a vast army and employed many thousand officials; but now both the military and the civiUan officials must find other occupations. The glory of Vienna has departed. That city, which for centuries had been so lavishly adorned by kings and emperors that it ranked with Paris in the majesty and grandeur of its pubfic buildings and in the beauty of its streets, pleasure resorts, and environs, must now become largely a place of historical interest. The Parliament Houses, the old Imperial Palace, and the Cathedral of St. Stephen still remain to be visited by tourists. The city may continue to flourish as an educational and musical center. Once the home of the great masters of musical composition — Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, Bach, Haydn, and Schubert — its hundreds of schools and societies of music will continue to be frequented by students from every civilized land. The Vienna University with its renowned School of Medicine will remain and will doubtless continue to flourish. 154 AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY The famous ''Ring Strasse/' or circular boulevards, the ''Prater/' or public pleasure park, and the hundreds of noted places in the city and its suburbs will still attract visitors; but Vienna as the capital of a great Empire, as a center of politics, and as a meeting-place of world congresses is gone forever. HUNGARY Size and Surface. — Hungary has been left by the war a small country of 25,000 square miles in area and about 5,500,000 people, who are almost entirely Magyars. The surface is level and lies in the plain of the Danube river. The country is sur- rounded by five of the new republics and is shut off from the sea. The industries must in the future be almost entirely agricultural, for there are little or no resources of any other kind. Products. — Wheat, rye, corn, oats, and sugar-beets are grown, and much stock is raised. Horses, sheep, and swine are exported, but the largest exports are grain and flour. The capital and largest city is Budapest. The city has large flour mills and a variety of other industries. CHAPTER XII THE BALKAN PENINSULA History and People. — This peninsula forms the south- eastern part of Europe and takes its name from the Balkan mountains, which ex- tend from the Black r View on the Balkan plateau and mount Olympus. sea to the Adriatic. As it is separated from Asia by two narrow straits, the Dardanelles and the Bosporus, it has from the earliest times been the principal road by which the people in Asia have entered Europe. The surface is broken into plains and valleys by mountain ridges and for this reason many separate nations have grown up. The Mohammedan Turks, who were the latest invaders of Europe (1453), con- quered Greece as well as the Slavonic nations of the Balkan peninsula, and ruled them for nearly 400 years. Montenegro broke away from Turkish rule in 1697; in 1829, Greece proclaimed its independence; Rumania and Serbia received their in- dependence by the agreement of the nations of Europe in 1878; Bulgaria declared its independence as a result of its war with Turkey in 1912, and the independence of Albania was declared at the same time. 155 156 THE BALKAN PENINSULA RUMANIA Physical Features. — Before the war Rumania had an area of 53,000 square miles and a population of 7,500,000; but she will enlarge her boundaries in every direction at the expense of her neighbors. From Hungary she will take Tran- sylvania and the Banat; from Russia she takes the province of Bessarabia, and from Austria, the province of Bukovina, thus bringing her area up to about 125,000 square miles, while her population will be doubled. The majority of the people in all these added states are of Rumanian stock. Hereafter Rumania will rank among European powers of the second class. Products. — The Carpathian mountains cut through the center of the country, and on either side are broad fertile plains, a part of the famous ''Black Earth" region, which extends through Hungary, Rumania, and the Ukraine. The mountain regions abound in minerals, while the plains are capable of producing all kinds of farm products. Wheat, flax, sugar- beets, and corn are the leading crops, and form the chief exports. There are extensive forests of oak, pine, and other woods. Coal and petroleum are the chief minerals. All industries are in a backward condition owing to defective transportation and a lack of knowledge and scientific skill in manufacturing. Much of the country has been ravaged by war and a con- siderable period will have to pass before the capacities of the people can be developed. BULGARIA Size, Surface, and Climate. — Bulgaria lies south of the Danube river, and is divided by the Balkan mountains into two sections, which are quite different in soil and climate. The northern section has a climate of extremes, like Rumania, and is devoted to grain-growing and grazing. Wheat and wool ALBANIA 157 are the leading products. The southern section has a mild and moist climate, and raises rice, grapes, tobacco, silk, and cotton. A characteristic product is the per- fume, attar of roses — an oil distilled from the petals of the damask rose. The " Vale of Roses " is near Kazanlik, at the south- ern end of the Shipka Pass in the Balkans. Coal is found in the Balkan mountains, and iron is abundant in many places; salt is mined at Burgas, and building stone is extensively quarried. The chief manufactures are textiles, cord, and cigarettes. Cities and Trade. — The capital, Sofia, is on the main line of railway between Constanti- nople and central Europe, and has a large trade. Rustchuk, the Danube port, is connected by rail with Varna on the Black sea. Burgas and Philippopolis are the chief towns in south Bulgaria. On account of the excellent facilities for transporta- tion afforded by the Danube river and the canals of central Europe, Bulgaria finds a market for her goods among her near neighbors. ALBANIA General Description. — Albania is a rough, mountainous region, about as large as the state of Massachusetts, lying along the Adriatic sea opposite the "heel" of Italy. Like the other Balkan provinces, it had been nominally under the rule of the Turks for 400 years when made independent at A Bulgarian shepherd. His rough clothing is made from sheep skins with the wool on the outside. 158 THE BALKAN PENINSULA the close of the war between Bulgaria and Turkey in 1912. The country was made into a principality, and William of Wied, a German Prince, was placed at the head of it. Attempts of the new ruler to restore order and establish a settled govern- ment were followed by a revolution by the rough, warlike Albanians, who drove William out of the country. This happened just before the outbreak of the Great War in 1914. The People. — The Albanians are the oldest race in the Balkan peninsula, and are hunters and herdsmen rather than farmers. Like the old Scotch Highlanders they are divided into clans, and never-ending blood feuds are common among them. They are very hospitable to strangers in their homes, but in their capacity as brigands would not hesitate to rob them abroad. About two thirds of the Albanians are Moham- medans and the rest are mainly Greek Catholics. The future of the people has not yet been decided by the " Allied and Associated Powers." Their land is claimed by Italy, Greece, and Jugo-Slavia, while the Albanians on their part claim that all the surrounding nations are occupying land that is largely peopled by Albanians. GREECE Physical Features. — The boundaries of Greece were con- siderably enlarged at the close of the Bulgarian War, the land bordering the northern shore of the iEgean sea being added with the important seaport of Salon- ica. Greece is usually divided into ''Continental Greece" and "the Islands." The two parts of Continental Greece are con- nected by the isthmus of Corinth, which is crossed by an im- portant ship canal. The "Islands" consist of Crete, Negropont The Corinth canal. GREECE 159 A lady of Greece. (the large island near the eastern coast, anciently called Euboea), the CycladeS; and various other islands scattered through the Ionian sea. The question of the ownership of the ^gean islands has not been fully settled. The coast line of Greece is perhaps as irregular as. that of any other country in the world, and her people from the earliest times have been noted as fisher- men, sailors, and traders. The mainland is broken by mountain ranges into many valleys, plateaus, and river basins. The southern pen- insula, or Morea (a name meaning mulberry leaf), is bordered by a narrow coast plain. Climate. — Greece has the usual Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and warm, rainy win- ters. The climate is a delight to the pleasure-seeker but disastrous to the farmer, whose fields are furrowed by the torrents of winter rain and parched dur- ing the growing seasons. Effects of Turkish Misrule. — During the three centuries of Ttu-kish government the forests were cut down and the farm land suffered from flood and sum- mer droughts; but under the present government great progress has been made in agriculture as well as in education, manufactures, and commerce. Agriculture. — Though only one fifth of the surface is fit for cultivation, Greece is chiefly dependent on the products of the soil. The best farming regions are the inland valleys and the plains along the coast. The plains of Thessaly in the north yield large crops of grain; about one half of all the farm land is devoted to J^ Greek peasant. 160 THE BALKAN PENINSULA wheat, barley, corn, and other cereals. The product for which Greece is chiefly known is the Zante currant, a small seedless grape which grows luxuriantly along the western coast and on the island of Zante. The currants are grown in enormous quantities and the amount marketed is lirnited by law in order to keep up the price. Other products of the soil are tobacco, sugar, olives, figs, and grapes. Minor products of Greece are valonia (acorn cups used in tanning), silk, cheese, and other animal products. Many of the people are shepherds and the country supports over 6,000,000 sheep and goats, besides other farm animals. Mining and Manufacturing. — Iron is the most important mineral, but there is a considerable amount of lead, nickel, zinc, and various earths and clays used in manufacturing. The island of Paros produces the pure white marble from which the ancient sculptors cut the most beautiful statues and archi- tectural ornaments. The manufacturing establishments are located principally at Athens and Piraeus; the products are chiefly articles for home use. Engines are built in the machine shops of Piraeus, and ships are built at Syra. Most Greek households make their own carpets, cloth, and other domestic articles. Cities and Trade. — The capital, Athens, stands six miles from the sea and is connected by railway with its seaport, Piraeus. It is the only large city in Greece, and is the chief seat of culture. It has a university and other important edu- cational institutions. The greater part of the ruins of the ancient city are on the summit of the Acropolis, or citadel, a flat-topped rock around which the modern Athens is built. Greek Art and Architecture. — On the Acropolis stands the Parthenon, the world-renowned temple of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom. This was no doubt the most beautiful temple ever built. It was of pure white marble and contained a statue of the goddess. The whole Acropolis and its approaches are thickly strewn with ruins which were once the most perfect specimens of Greek architecture. The chief exports of Greece are agricultural products, crude minerals, olive oil, and wine. She imports various food products, cloth, sugar, and manufactured goods. Her imports are chiefly from Russia and Great Britain, but her exports are sent to many countries. The imports are considerably greater than the exports, although TURKEY 161 A view of Constantinople and the Golden Horn. the difference is not so great as formerly. The freishts earned by her large fleet of merchant vessels, and the money spent in her cities by tourists more than make up the balance of trade standing against her. Transportation is provided for by good highways and various short lines of rail- roads which follow the coast. The newly-acquired seaport of Salonica is the second city and is con- nected by rail with Constantinople and the cities of central Europe. TURKEY Extent. — The future of Turkey has not yet been decided by the "Associated and AlUed Powers." Her possessions in Europe are now known as ''Con- stantinople State/' but whether Turkey will be allowed to retain this State or whether she will be driven back into Asia is a question still unsettled. Constantinople. — This city dates from 700 b. c. when the Greek colony of Byzantium was founded. About 1000 A peasant woman of Turkey. 162 THE BALKAN PENINSULA years later, the Roman Emperor, Constantine, made it the capital of his empire, naming the city after himself. Its char- acter was entirely changed by the Turks, who captured it in 1453, and it became half Euro- pean and half Oriental. Constantinople is built on both sides of an inlet from the Bosporus called the Golden Horn, a name arising from the shape of the inlet and from the valu- able cargoes of goods entering it. The two sections of the city are connected by the " Galata bridge," which is supported by boats. The bridge with its rows of bazaars on either side is one of the most interesting places in the city, for over it streams daily a most curious assemblage of persons from all parts of the East and the West. Constantinople has hundreds of mosques, which from a distance resemble a forest A Turkish letter writer in Constantinople. Palaces and mosques along the Bosporus. TUEKEY 163 of domes and minarets. The church of St. Sophia, built by Justinian and turned into a mosque by the Mohammedans, is one of the most costly churches in the world. A street in Constantinople. The most beautiful scene about Constantinople is the Bosporus itself, with the hills on both sides lined with palaces and costly residences, and its waters dotted with The chui'ch of St. Sophia. the ships of all nations. Adrianople stands near the Bulgarian frontier and is the most important military post in Turkey. 164 THE BALKAN PENINSULA REVIEW. — (1) Account for the name of the Balkan peninsula. (2) By what two straits is it separated from Asia? (3) What nations does it now contain? (4) By whom were they formerly ruled? (5) Describe the surface and climate of Rumania. (6) What are the chief products? (7) Why are the industries in a backward condition? (8) What are the two physical divisions of Bulgaria? (9) How do these sections differ in climate and products? (10) What are the principal minerals and manufactures? (11) Name the capital and the chief seaport. (12) What is said of the surface and size of Albania? (13) When did Albania become independent? (14) Describe the people and industries. (15) What are the two divisions of Greece? (16) What is said of the "Islands"? (17) Describe the surface of the mainland. (18) What is said of the cli- mate? (19) What are the farm products? (20) What fruit is famous? (21) What is the capital of Greece? (22) What famous ruins in the city? (23) Describe the foreign trade. (24) What are the two leading seaports? (25) By what name are Turkey's European possessions now known? (26) What two cities in European Turkey? (27) Write a paragraph about Constantinople. 15° Longitude East 20° horn Greenwich 25 SOUTH CENTRAL TEUROPE Scale of Miles n" 60 100 200 300 l^itjesl Cities in lach Country AtllCllS Cities next in imitortanee Budapest Capitals , _^ Rmlroaiis Wms.Ene.Co..N.Y. CHAPTER XIII THE NEW NATIONS OF EUROPE Boundary Changes. — If you examine the map of Europe between the Black sea and the Baltic you will find the names of eight nations made independent by the war. These are Fin- land, Esthonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Czecho- slovakia, and Jugo-Slavia. The western third of Russia, nearly all of Austria-Hungary, and about one fifth of Germany have been used to make up these new nations and to enlarge other old nations. Old Serbia has been made over into Jugo- slavia by the addition of Montenegro and parts of Austria. Rumania has been enlarged at the expense of Russia and Austria. France, Belgium, and Denmark have had restored to them the lands taken from them by Germany. Hungary has been made much smaller, while Turkey in Europe has nearly disappeared from the map. Italy has recovered the Trentino (the land in the neighborhood of the city of Trent), the city of Trieste, and other territory on the eastern shore of the Adriatic sea. Comparative Size of Countries. — Russia is still the largest country in Europe, but Austria, formerly second in size, now ranks with the small nations. Poland, Finland, and the Ukraine rank with Great Britain, France, and Germany. Next come Spain, Sweden, Norway, and Italy followed by Jugo-Slavia, Rumania, Czechoslovakia, and Greece. The rest are the ''small nations," with Constantinople State as the smallest of all. 166 FINLAND 167 FINLAND Physical Features. — Finland is one of the three countries of Europe which extend beyond the Arctic Circle, and hence has a very cold climate. The land is very level and is dotted with thousands of lakes, from which it is called ''Suomi," or the Land of the Lakes. The -northern part of Finland belongs to the belt of swamp land known as the ''Tundras," and is unproductive; but the southern half is a fertile farming and grazing region. The area is a little less than 150,000 square miles, and the population about 3,000,000. The chief foreign races in the country are Swedes, Russians, Garmans, and Lapps. The Finns and the Lapps are of the same race as the Tartars of northern and central Asia, and they have inhabited the region where they now live for the past 2,000 years. Government. — For many years Finland has been governed by Russia as the "Grand Duchy of Finland." The object of the Russian government was to crush the national spirit of Finland, and there was much disorder. With the Russian Revolution in 1917 the Finns got back the right to govern themselves and they declared their independence in December of that year, and established a republican form of government. Industries and Cities. — Farming, herding, and lumbering are the leading industries. Rye, barley, oats, wheat, flax, and hemp are the chief grain -crops. Potatoes and all kinds of root crops flourish. Good breeds of cattle are kept, and dairy products form a valuable export. The northern part of the country abounds in minerals and forests. Pig iron and bar iron are manufactured and exported. Paper, tar, and pitch are the chief forest and wood products. Flour, meal, and hides are sold to the neighboring countries. There are valuable fisheries in the Baltic and salted fish are exported. The merchant marine comprises 2,800 saihng and steam vessels, and there are 2,500 miles of railroad. An active com- 168 THE NEW NATIONS OF EUROPE merce is carried on by sea and land. Helsingfors is the capital and chief city. THE BALTIC PROVINCES People and History. — These provinces are the three small states of Esthonia, Latvia, and Courland, lying on the eastern shore of the Baltic sea south of the Gulf of Finland. The Esths are of the same race as the Lapps and Finns, but are- far more advanced in civilization than their kinsmen to the north. South of the Letts, as the people of Latvia are called, are the Lithuanians, and to the west of the Lithuanians are the Prus- sians of East Prussia. The people of the Baltic states were in- dependent in early times, but with the growth of the Russian power they became subject to that country. With the coming of the last Russian Revolution in March, 1917, all of them declared their independence. ESTHONIA This country lies opposite Finland across the gulf of that name. It is a peninsula embraced by the Baltic sea and the two gulfs that open into it. The area of Esthonia is 7,600 square miles, and the population is about 500,000 consisting mainly of Esths and Finns. The surface is low and level, much of the land consisting of sand and marsh. About one fifth is covered with evergreen forests. The northern coast is bordered with high cliffs. The climate is very moist and favorable to agriculture. The majority of the people cultivate the soil, raising grains and vegetables, especially potatoes. Iron and granite are the chief minerals. The principal manu- factures are spirits, cotton cloth, and machinery. Reval, the capital, the largest city, and chief seaport, is a noted bathing resort. LITHUANIA 169 LATVIA Latvia is variously known as Lettonia, Livonia, or Letvia. The official spelling is not decided. The country hes between Esthonia and Lithuania. Its area is 17,574 square miles and its population about 1,800,000. The surface resembles that of Esthonia — flat and sandy near the coast with a large part covered with dwarfed forests of pine, spruce, fir, oak, alder, birch, and larch. The interior plateau rises nearly 500 feet above the sea, and is excellent farming land. The leading crops are, rye, barley, oats, flax, wheat, and hops. The river Dwina crosses the country, and there are several lakes of con- siderable size. The fisheries off the coast are the principal source of animal food. Elk, wolves, and bears are found in the forests. Riga is the largest city and the chief seaport. The manufactures are sugar, spirits, tobacco products, linen, cotton, and woolen goods. There are about 900 establishments employing 25,000 workmen, with an output of $30,000,000 annually. LITHUANIA Race and History. — The Lithuanians belong to the white race, but are neither Slavs nor Teutons. They are the parent race of the Letts and the Borussians (now Prussians), and have lived since the very beginning of European history on the shores of the Baltic sea and on the plain between the Niemen and Dwina rivers. At the beginning of the eleventh century the ancient nation divided into three branches. The Prussians moved westward, the Letts northward, while the parent race continued to occupy the old home land between the Niemen and Dwina. The Lithuanians are also closely related to the Poles; in 1386 these two nations were united by the marriage of the King of the former nation with Yadviga, the Queen of Poland. 170 THE NEW NATIONS OF EUROPE The two countries then extended from the Baltic to the sea of Azov and became the most powerful nation in Europe. From the sixteenth century on, the power of Lithuania waned before the rising kingdom of Russia, which finally conquered both Poles and Lithuanians. Kosciuszko was a Lithuanian patriot who came to America and fought under Washington during our Revolutionary War. He afterward returned to his native land and fought many battles with the Russians in defense of his country, until finally defeated and imprisoned in 1794. He died in Switzer- land in 1817. The New Republic. — The city of Vilna on the Niemen has always been the center of Lithuanian life, and here in January, 1918, a congress of Lithuanian representatives met and affirmed their independence, which had been formally declared in 1905 and 1917. As the country has no natural boundaries the people have spread out in every direction and many of them are found in the bordering countries. The fixing of the political boundaries is therefore a very difficult matter and will be determined by the ratio which the Lithu- anians bear to other races. Surface, Climate, Products. — The land is very level and slopes gently toward the Baltic sea. Much of it is swamp and marsh land, and is partly covered with forests of pine, which have given rise to various lumber industries. To the east and south there is excellent farm land, which yields wheat, rye, tobacco, potatoes, and fruits. Many cattle are raised and dairying is a leading industry. The chief manufactures are, lumber, flour, leather, liquors, paper, glass, and metal work. Cities. — The capital and chief city is Vilna, a river port on the Niemen. It contains about 200,000 inhabitants, and is the chief manufacturing and commercial center. Kovno, with about 100,000 population, manufactures soap, candles matches, flour, tobacco, and textiles. Grodno has about POLAND 171 50,000 people; it was once the seat of government for Poland and Lithuania; it has a variety of manufactures including building materials and machinery. POLAND People and History. — The- Poles are a very ancient Slavonic race who came into Europe long before the Russians. We hear of them on the banks of the river Vistula in the sixth century, and the PoHsh kingdom rose to the height of its power in the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries. After this the history of Poland is one long story of wars with the rising power of Russia and her neighbors, the Prussians and Austrians. Finally, in 1795, the Poles were overcome and their territory was divided among the conquerors, Russia getting the largest share. Dur- ing the World War just closed, Poland was overrun and dev- astated by the Germans, who granted the country, tempo- rarily, an independent government in 1917. Present Area and Territorial Claims. — Early in the seven- teenth century Poland contained 375,000 square miles, and extended from Hungary and Turkey to the Baltic sea. It included the kingdom of West Prussia, the Red Russian portion of Galicia, besides the Ukraine, Lithuania, and Livonia, or Latvia. The capital was Warsaw. The present territory on the Vistula centering about Warsaw contains 70,000 square miles, and of the 20,000,000 population 14,000,000 are Poles. Besides this territory, however, Poland claims additional lands on every side, including Posen, West Prussia, parts of other German provinces inhabited by Poles, and other lands now held by Lithuania, Czechoslovakia, and Ukrainia. All these claims are disputed and remain to be adjusted by the Council of the Allies at Paris. Natural Resources and Industries. — When the final terri- torial adjustments have been made, Poland will doubtless 172 THE NEW NATIONS OF EUROPE rank next to Italy in size and have a population of 40,000,000. She will have great resources in fertile soil, extensive forests, and vast and varied mineral deposits. There is no variety of grain, vegetable, or fruit that will not flourish upon her soil. The forests comprise both evergreens and hardwoods and yield valuable lumber, timber, potash, and other forest products. There are abundant deposits of coal, iron, lead, salt, copper, and silver. Gold and potash are mined. Petroleum is found on the northern slopes of the Carpathians. The coal mines yielded 52,000,000 tons in 1911. Textile and metal manu- factures are well developed. The leading exports in the past have been beet sugar, starch, spirits, cattle, pigs, fowls, eggs, and dairy products. Warsaw and Lodz are the chief cities. Both are important manufacturing centers. UKRAINIA Country and History. — The Ukrainians, or ^^ Little Rus- sians," are a Slavonic people inhabiting the southwestern part of Russia extending across the Carpathians into Austrian Galicia, where they are known as Ruthenians. Their country includes eight states centering at Kief, the ancient capital. The area is about 300,000 square miles — nearly the same as Texas and Louisiana combined — and the population is between 30,000,000 and 35,000,000. Additional races living within Ukrainian boundaries bring the total population up to 40,000,000. The " Grand Principality of Kief " was at one time the ruling Russian State. In fact, the Ukrainians claim that they are the only genuine Russians, and that the " Great Russians " of the State of Moscow are a mixed race of Finns, Russians, and other tribes. The Ukrainians were the first branch of the Russian people to be converted to Christianity, which was carried from them to the other Russians. In the ninth century the Ukrainians were absorbed by the kingdom of the Poles and Lithuanians, and in the 12th and 13th centuries their land was devastated by the terrible Mongol armies, which swept away nearly the entire population, the small remnant taking refuge with the Poles and Hungarians. Since that time the land CZECHOSLOVAKIA 173 of the Ukrainians has been under the rule of the Great Russians of Moscow and Petrograd. During this whole period the Ukrainians have been persecuted by- Russians, Poles, and Hungarians alike, who have tried to destroy their nation by forbidding the use of their language and the practice of their customs, religion, and laws. Nevertheless they have preserved their identity as a nation, and they are now claiming independence. This independence was proclaimed by the Rada, or Parliament, November 20, 1917, and freedom of speech, religion, and the press was declared. Resources and Products. — Ukrainia lies in the famous *' Black Earth" region, on this account sometimes called " Black Russia." The soil is wonderfully fertile and productive of wheat and other grains. The vine and other fruits flourish, and potatoes and other root crops yield enormous returns. Ukrainia may easily become, next to Russia, the most pro- ductive agricultural country in Europe. It ranks next to Russia in size and stands probably third in population. At the present time all industries are disturbed by war, and it is still uncertain what the outcome will be for this ancient land. CZECHOSLOVAKIA The Land. — The country of the Czechs and Slovaks con- sists of a strip of mountain and plateaus, about 400 miles in length, lying along the upper waters of the Danube, the Elbe, and the Moldau rivers. It is hemmed in by high mountain ranges. The Carpathians border the south and east; the Erzgebirge (ore mountains), and the Riesengebirge (giant mountains) are on the north, while the mountainous region of the Bohemian Forest lies on the west. A central highland divides the country into northeastern and southwestern slopes, down which rush the numerous tributaries of the Danube and the Elbe. The country includes the ancient kingdom of Bohemia and Moravia, Austrian Silesia, and portions of the Carpathian region lying farther east, the boundaries of which have not yet been fixed. The Ukrainians to the eastward, known as Ru- thenians, have mingled with the Slovaks, and are claimed by them as a related race. 174 THE NEW NATIONS OF EUROPE The entire area is about 50,000 square miles, neai'ly the same as that of the state of New York, and the population is approximately 9,000,000 Czechs and Slovaks, besides 4,000,000 Germans, Hungarians, and other races. Race and History. — The Czechs and Slovaks are Slavonic tribes who entered this mountain region in the sixth century, being driven westward by the Avars, a warlike Tartar people. They displaced the Marcomanni; a branch of the Teutonic family, who formerly had driven out the Boii, of whom we read in Julius Caesar's story of his ''Gallic Wars." For many centuries they maintained their independence, though sur- rounded by their traditional and bitter enemies, the Germans and Hungarians. In 1637, about three centuries ago, their government was abolished and they have since been ruled by either Germany or Austria. The Czechs are the leading race, and the native name of the country is ''Czechy. " Czech is the official language, of which Slovak is a dialect. Soil, Climate, Products. — The soil of the Slovak country is poor, but that of the Czechs is rich and fertile. The climate is of the cold-temperate variety, resembling that of the northern part of the United States. The average annual temperature is 46|° F. The spring rains are heavy, and the rivers in the higher regions become swollen torrents in the rainy season. The most valuable farm product is the sugar-beet and the manufacture of sugar is the leading industry dependent on the soil. Rye, oats, potatoes, and other vegetables flourish. Minerals and Forests. — The mineral wealth is rich and varied, including coal, iron, silver, lead, tin, antimony, and graphite. The northern mountain region affords the most of these, and the chief manufacturing cities are in this section. As the country is mountainous, it has, as we might expect, much land given up to forests. It is estimated that one third of the country is covered with hardwoods and evergreen species. The Czechs are a very intelligent and industrious people, and have developed extensive manufactures. After the effects of JUGO-SLAVIA 175 the war shall have passed away they will doubtless develop into a great commercial nation. The chief cities are Prague and Briinn. ^ JUGO-SLAVIA Boundaries and People. — The country of the Jugoslavs, or South Slavs, lies, in general, between the Danube and Drave rivers and the Adriatic sea. It comprises the formerly separate and independent countries of Serbia and Montenegro, and the provinces of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia-Slavonia, and Car- niola, all of which formerly belonged to the Austrian Empire. The boundaries with Austria, Italy, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania, which countries border on Jugo-Slavia, are still unsettled. The probable area of the new constitutional monarchy will be 100,000 square miles, and the population 15,000,000. The leading races are the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, but there are many others, with every variety of custom, religion, and traditions. About two thirds of the people are Slavs; the rest are mainly Turks, Germans, Italians, and other races from the bordering nations that have '' filtered" in. The prevailing religion of the Slavs is the Greek Catholic; the Roman Catholics are next in num- bers; Mohammedans and Jews together make up something more than a half-million. Surface, Climate, and Products. — Jugo-Slavia is crossed by numerous offshoots of the central mountain system running in a northeast-southwest direction. The drainage is mainly into the river Save, which crosses the central part of the country and joins the Danube at Belgrade, the former capital of Serbia. There is a narrow strip of coast land which slopes toward the Adriatic sea. Much of the rock is limestone, which has been dis- solved by the waters forming grottoes, caves, intermittent lakes, and underground streams. The famous ''Karst" limestone region is in Croatia-Slavonia. It is remarkable for curiously 176 THE NEW NATIONS OF EUROPE sculptured rock forms. There is much fertile land on the slopes and in the river valleys yielding wine, silk, fruits, grains, and vegetables. The climate is apt to be severe in the mountain regions in winter, but is generally mild with plenty of moisture. Forests. — Nearly one third of the surface is covered with forests of oak, chestnuts, beech, and pine. These forests sup- port vast herds of swine, which fatten upon the ''mast," or nuts. Herdsmen are employed to look after the animals. The hardwoods are used in the manufacture of wagons, farm- ing tools, various articles of wood, and lumber for building purposes. Fanning. — The farms are small, but well-worked and very productive of corn and other grains, hemp, hay, and especially plums. The silk product is valuable and increasing, and marmalade and brandy are manufactured from the plum crop. Much attention is given to bee culture. Minerals. — Jugo-Slavia contains some of the richest mineral deposits in Europe. Gold, silver, lead, copper, h'on, and quicksilver are found. The quicksilver mines at Idria in Carniola rank next to those of Spain in the value of the output. Owing to the backwardness of the people the rich mineral resources have been little developed, and the people have devoted themselves mainly to the more primitive occupations of farming and grazing. Every advantage is at hand to make this country a leader among the manufacturing countries of the continent. Cities. — The capital and largest city is Belgrade, famous in history for the defeat of numerous Turkish armies attempting the conquest of Europe. Belgrade was almost entirely de- stroyed by the Austrians and Germans during the Great War. The public buildings were battered down, and all the homes of the wealthier citizens were plundered and burned. Sixty trainloads of ''loot" were carried off. Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, is famous as the scene of the murder of JUGO-SLAVIA 177 the Archduke Ferdinand, the event which kindled the Great War. Laibach, the capital of Carniola, is a railroad center on the main route of trade between Vienna and Trieste. Agram is the capital and chief city of Croatia-Slavonia. Flume is the seaport of the country, but it has not yet been settled whether it shall belong to Italy or Jugo-Slavia. MAP STUDIES. — (1) Compare the latitude of Europe with that of North America. What part of each continent is crossed by the Arctic circle? Which continent extends further south? (2) What part of North America lies directly west of the British isles? Directly west of Spain? (3) How do the parts of these continents lying in the same lati- tude compare in climate? (4) What is the distance from New York to Liverpool? From New York to Havre? To Hamburg? (5) What is the distance from Pernambuco and Para to the nearest ports of Europe and Africa? (6) Trace the route from London west- I ward to Hongkong. (7) Trace a route from London by way of the Suez canal to Bombay. (8) What waters are crossed on this route? (9) Trace a route by sea from Lisbon to the Cape Verde islands; from this point to Cape Town, and from Cape Town to Melbourne. (10) Compare this distance with the western route to Melbourne, by way of New York, San Francisco, and Honolulu. (11) What is the distance from Hongkong to Yokohama? Prom Yokohama to Victoria? From Victoria to Montreal? COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA LOCATION AND SIZE. — (1) In what zone is the greater part of these two con- tinents? (2) How many degrees of longitude between London and New York? Between London and San Francisco? (3) What city of Europe directly east of New York? (4) What city of North America due west from Petrograd? Locate this city. (5) What is the time at New York City when it is twelve o'clock at London? (6) Compare North America and Europe as to size. (7) What form of government prevails in the countries of Europe? (8) In those of North America? OUTLINE. — (1) What natural division of land is each of these continents? (2) Which has the more irregular outline? (3) Name the chief peninsulas of each continent. The chief islands. The chief seas, gulfs, and bays. (4) Which of these are farthest inland? (5) What great indentations on the southern borders of each of these continents? SURFACE. — (1) Name the chief mountain system of each continent. (2) How do they compare as to direction and extent? (3) How do the Appalachian highlands compare in direction and character with the northern highland region of Europe? (4) Compare the great lowland plain of Europe with that of North America. What is the extent of each north and south? East and west? LAKES AND RIVERS. — (1) Compare the largest river of Europe with the largest river of North America as to direction, length, and size of basin (see Appendix, p. iii). (2) Name the three rivers of Europe that are next in size and compare them with the St. Lawrence, the Mackenzie, and the Yukon. (3) Name some rivers of Europe flowing north. What great river flows east? (4) Name two flowing south. (5) What can you say of the navigability of the rivers of Europe and North America? (6) In what part of Europe are the largest lakes? In what part of North America? (7) Compare the largest lake of each continent as to size. (8) What can you tell of the origin of the lakes of these continents? SOIL AND CLIMATE. — (1) In what part of each continent do we find the m^ost productive soil? (2) Which has the greater extent of alluvial soil? (3) Compare the ex- tent of the Mississippi basin with the basins of the Volga and the Danube rivers. (4) Compare the area of the Po basin with that of the St. Lawrence basin. (5) In what part of each continent do we find soil formed from glacial drift? (6) Tell something of the effect of glaciers on the soil. (7) What region in Russia may we compare with the prairies of the United States? (8) What part of the United States resembles southern Europe in soil and products? (9) Which parts of these continents receive the greatest amount of rainfall? (10) From which direction does the rainfall come in each case? (11) Compare the climate of Great Britain with that of the part of North America lying directly west of it. (12) What part of Europe has a climate resembling that of California? (13) In what part of each continent do we find dry regions suitable for grazing? (14) Why has the southern coast of Europe less rainfall than the southern coast of North America? (15) Why is the climate of Europe warmer than that of North America, when lands lying in the same latitude are compared? (16) Compare the effects of the westerly winds on each of these continents. Why the difference? PLANTS AND ANIMALS. — What are the chief conditions that affect plant and animal Ufe? (2) What are the four plant regions of Europe? Give the characteristics of each region. (3) Compare the most northern of these regions with the northern part of North America. (4) Compare the forest belts of the two continents with respect to location and variety of trees. (5) Compare the regions lying south of the forest belt as to plant life. (6) Which continent has the greater variety of wild animals? How do you account for this? (7) What parts of each continent raise the greatest number of domestic animals? (8) Name five leading cultivated plants of Europe and five of North America. Compare. (9) In what part of each continent do you find the vine? Tropical 182 COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA fruits? Olives? (10) Name some products of Europe that are not produced in North America. How do you explain this? (11) Name the chief plants of each continent which are useful as raw material. What animals supply raw materials? PEOPLE. — (1) In what part of Europe do you find the greatest density of popula- tion? In what part of North America? (2) Compare the density of population of the two continents. (3) Give reasons why that of Europe is greater. (4) Why are the lead- ing races of Europe and America the same? (5) Name the races peculiar to each continent. (6) In what way do they resemble each other? (7) What relation do you notice between the disposition of people to emigrate and their energy and civilization? (8) What is generally true of stationary races? INDUSTRIES. — (1) Name the seven leading occupations of mankind. (2) In which of these is Europe the leading continent? (3) In which is America the leading continent? (4) What are the chief industries of the countries of western Europe? (5) What part of North America leads in similar industries? (6) Leading occupations of eastern Europe? Compare with North America. (7) What are the leading occupations of the people of southern Europe? (8) Compare the lumbering industries of the two con- tinents as to location and value. (9) In a similar manner compare the grazing, mining, and fishing industries. (10) Describe the commerce of Europe, and compare it with that of North America as to products exchanged and their value. CITIES. — Make a list of the ten largest cities of Europe and compare with the ten largest of North America. What is meant by a capital city? (2) Make a list of the capi- tal cities of each continent. (3) Make a list of the ten leading seaports of each continent and tell something of the trade of each. (4) Make a list of the ten largest inland cities of each continent and describe briefly the character of each. INDEX AND PRONUNCIATIONS The authority followed in the system and manner of pronunciation is Webster's International Dictionary, edition of 1910. Key to the Symbols used. — Vowels: a as in ale, a as in senate, a as in care, a as in S,m, a as in arm, a as in ask ;' e as in eve, e as in event, 6 as in 6nd, e as in maker; i as in ice, lasinHH; 5 as in old, 6 as in obey, 6 as in orb, 5 as in 6dd; u as in use, 11 as in Ijinite, ti as in tirn, ii as in tip, ii as in German ii or French ii. Diph- thongs: ou as in out, oi as in oil, oo as in moon, 66 as in f66t. Consonants: ch as in chair, g as in go, th as in then, th as in thin. Italics are silent. Aachen (a'kSn), 82. Aar river (ar), 131. Aarhus (or'hoos), 105. Aberdeen (S,b er den'), 34. Acropolis (a kr6p'6 lis), 160. Adrianople (3.d rl an 6'p'l), 163. .^gean sea (e je'an), 10, 158. Agram (a'gram), 177. Albania (alba'nla), 157-158. Algeria (al je'ri a), 70. Alkmaar (alk mar'), 90. Alps mountains, 14, 56, 107, 130-131. Alsace-Lorraine (al sas'16 ran'), 72. Amiens (a myan'), 66. Amsterdam, 91. Andorra (an d6r'a), 127. Anglesey island (an'g'l sS), 43. Ant'werp, 88. Apennines mountains (ap'gnlnz), 14, 107. Archangel, 149. Athens, 160. Austria, 152-154. B Baku (bakoo'), 149. Balearic islands (bal e Sr'ik), 127. Balkan States (bal kan'), 155-164. Barcelona (bar se 16 'na), 124, 126. Barmen-Elberfeld (-61 ber Mt'), 80. Basel (ba'zgl), 136. Batum (ba t66m'), 149. Bavaria (ba va'ri a), 73, 75. Belfast, 37. Belgium, 84-88. Belgrade (b6l grad'), 176. Berlin (ber len'), 81. Berne (bgrn), 136. Bienne (bygn), 136. Bilbao (bilba'6), 124. Birmingham (bvlr'mlng Sm), 42, 46, 48. Blanc, Mount, 14. Bohemia (bohe'mla), 152, 173. Bordeaux (bor do'), 56, 70. Bosporus strait (b6s'pd rus), 155, 163. Br6m'6n, 73, 82. Br6st, 56, 70. Bristol, 49. British Isles, 30-54. Briinn (briin), 175. Brussels (briis'glz), 88. Budapest (boo'dapgst), 164. Bulgaria (b66l ga'rl a), 156-157. Burgas (b66r gas'), 157. Key. — ale, senate, care, am, arm, ask; eve, event, gnd, maker; ice, 111; old, obey, 6rb. 6dd; use, unite, llrn, up, menii; out, oil, food, foot; chair; go; then, thin. 183 184 INDEX AND PRONUNCIATIONS C Calais (ka 16'), 66. Cambrian mountains, 43. Cambridge, 49. Campine District, 85. canals, Europe, 24; British Isles, 47; Germany, 77; France, 58; Holland, 90. Canary islands, 127. Cardiff (kar'dif), 43. Carpathian mountains (kar pa'thi S,n) , 15. Caucasus mountains (ko'ka siis), 13; 14. Cevennes mountains (sav6n'), 15. Channel islands, 44. Chemnitz (kgm'nits), 80. Cherbourg (shSrboor'), 56, 70. Cheviot hills (chgv'I iit), 40. Christiania, 102. Clyde river, 39, 40. Cologne (ko Ion'), 82. Constantinople (kon stS,n tl no'p'l), 27, 161-163. Constantinople State, 161. Copenhagen (ko p6n ha'gen), 105. Cordoba (kor'do ba), 127. Corsica (kor'sK ka), 70. Cote d'Or (kot dor'j, 15. Cumbrian mountains (kum'bri Sn), 42. Cyclades (sik'la dez) , 159. Czechoslovakia (chgk'o slo vS,k'i a), 1C6, 173-175. D Dannemora (dan e mo'ra), 99. Danube river, 130, 152, 154, 156. Danzig (dan'tslk), 73. Dardanelles strait (dar da nelz'), 155. D6lft, 90. D6n'mark, 103-106. Derby (dtlr'bl), 45. Key. — ale, senate, care, Sm, arm, ask; Dneiper river (ne'per), 141, Don river, 141. Dortmund (dort'moSnt) , 80. Dresden (drez'd6n), 80. Dtib'lin, 37. Du'na, 141. Dundee (dun de'), 41. Dunku-k (dtin'kui'k), 56, 70. Dwina river (dwena), 141. E E'bro river, 121, 125. Edinburgh (6d"nbur6), 40. El'be river, 77. Elbruz mountain (glbrooz'), 14. Esthonia (6s tho'nl a) , 141, 166, 168.- Et'na, Mount, 14, 119. Eurasia, 9. Europe, 9-29. F Faroe islands (far'6), 105. Finland, 141, 166-168. fiords (fyord), 18. Fiume (fyoo'ma), 177. Florence, 117. Forth river, 39. France, 55-71. Frankfort-on-the-Main, 82. G Garomie (garon'), 58. Geneva (je ne'va), 136. Genoa (j6n'6 a), 117. Germany, 72-83. Gibraltar (jl brol'ter), 127. Glasgow (glas'ko), 40. Gothenbxu-g (g6t'6n burg), 102. Granada (gra nii'da), 126. Greece, 158-161. Greenwich (grln'ij), 49. Grodno (gr6d'n5), 170-171. eve, 6vent, 6nd, maker; Ice, 111; old, obey, INDEX AND PRONUNCIATIONS 185 H Hague, The (hag), 91. Hamburg, 73, 82, 83. Hammerfest (ham'er fest), 22. Havre (ha'ver), 56, 70. Hek'la mountain, lOG. Hel'stog fors', 168. Hull, 34, 49. HurnHber river, 33. Hungary, 154. Iberian peninsula, 121. Iceland, 106, 139. In ter la'ken, 133. Ireland, 35-37. Italy, 107-120. J Jugo-Slavia (y5o'g6 slaf'i a), 175-177. Jura mountains (joo'ra), 56, ISO. Jutland (jiit'land), 94, 103. Kazan Qcazan'y'), 147. Kharkof (kar'kof), 148. Kief (ke'yef), 139, 148, 151, 172. Kiel ship canal (kel), 77. Killarney lakes (ki lar'ni), 35. Konigsberg (ku'niks berk), 75 Kovno (kov'no), 170. Krefeld (kra'felt), 80. Krgm'Un, 150. Laibach (li'bak), 177. Latvia (lat'vl a), 141, 166, 168, 169. Lausanne (lo zan'), 136. Leeds, 42, 45. Leicester (les'ter), 45. Leiden (li'den), 92. Leipzig (lip's&), 81. 6rb, 6dd; use, lonite,