The Geography of Europe

Geography 301 Prof. Jon T. Kilpinen
Spring 2000 Dept. of Geography & Meteorology
10:10 - 11:00 a.m., MWF Valparaiso University
Mueller 2 Jon.Kilpinen@valpo.edu


Of all the world's major regions, perhaps none is as complicated or as important to understanding the contemporary world as Europe. For better or for worse, Europe and its people have affected much of what has occurred around the world for at least the last five centuries, providing the impetus for scientific discovery, exploration, colonization, and industrialization. Twice in this century, Europe has served as the epicenter for wars of global dimension. And even today, as the United States and the various countries of the Pacific Rim effect tremendous change in the world, Europe remains a vital and undeniable force in international affairs. And yet, despite the achievements of the European Union, Europe remains a divided region, full of economic, political, demographic, and environmental challenges.


Course Description

The purpose of this course is to provide a broad, but detailed analysis of the multifaceted geography of that region known as Europe. Throughout the semester, the course will follow a topical approach, systematically examining various physical, cultural, social, demographic, political, urban, and industrial patterns in turn. The course will conclude with a consideration of smaller regions within Europe as they emerge from this topical analysis. Throughout the semester, the course will examine the special dynamics of the European Union. This course has no specific prerequisites and is intended for interested students from all majors, but especially Geography, International Economics and Cultural Affairs, International Service, Political Science, History, and Modern European Studies.


Schedule | Assignments | Policies | Maps


Texts

James R. McDonald. The European Scene: A Geographic Perspective, 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1997.

Michael Heffernan. The Meaning of Europe: Geography and Geopolitics. New York: Arnold, 1998.


The European Geography Specialty Group

The Association of American Geographers, the country's leading geographical organization, maintains a variety of "specialty groups" to promote focused inquiry on specific topics and regions. The European Specialty Group works to foster research, teaching, and scholarly interaction on the geography of Europe.


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Created by JTK. Last revised January 20, 2000.