Europe is filled with rich history and is also very influential to other countries, such as the United States. The Celts, Romans, Germanic tribes, and Normans were the groups that shaped the culture of the Britain. The primary language, the English language, developed from the Germanic and the Norman languages. Most of the French people came to France from other parts of Europe. Different groups settled in different parts of the country, causing “boundaries” between the people. Today many regions are still somewhat divided. The earliest German citizens came from what is now Poland after the fall of the Roman Empire. Until the last half of the 19th century Germany was not a unified as a country. After they did end up being “one,” the country was very involved in both the World Wars, and World War II split the country into two parts. However, the Berlin Wall was torn in 1989 and that unified the regions once again. The ancestors of the Scandinavian people are known to be the Vikings. They were both industrious and warlike, and they sailed all over the world. After the Viking Age, the 4 countries created different governments. Today they are obviously different from those created before the 19th century. However they are very similar.
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GeographyEurope is the second smallest continent in the world. Britain is completely surrounded by bodies of water. The British land land varies from fertile farmlands, rolling hills, mountains, and plains, depending on which part of the country you are at. The Britain climate has cold, bone chilling air. France is surrounded by both water and land. In the eastern and southwestern areas you’ll find mountains, and in the northern and western areas you’ll find rolling plains. The central provinces are full of highlands and lowlands. The climate of French is very moderate. Northern Germany is made up of lowlands and plains, and the highlands are in the central and southern regions. For the most part the climate is moderate, however the regions near the Baltic Sea has extreme temperatures. Scandinavia is made up of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. The land varies from being rocky, mountainous, filled with forestry, or fertile. Denmark is the least rugged as far as geography. The climates differ depending on the country - most of the countries are cool all throughout. Denmark has the most moderate climate.
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CultureAlthough it is small land wise, Europe is one of the most heavily populated continents. British people enjoy outdoor activities. Sporting events include soccer, rugby, cricket, and hurling. It is also popular to go out to local pubs with friends to have beer, play darts, and talk. The French are known for fashion, cuisine, art and architecture. They are very prideful of their nation and their government. Sports are very important in France, with football (known as soccer here in the states) as the most popular. Germany is the second most populous country in Europe. They are known to be very hard workers. Playing cards is a popular pastime in this country. Scandinavians are known to be very peaceful and loving. The capital of Denmark, Copenhagen, is known to be one of the happiest places on Earth. Skiing and ice skating are popular in the winter, and swimming, sailing, and hiking are how Scandinavians spend their summers.
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History of FoodThe diets around Europe vary greatly. However, there are a few common patterns between countries. British cuisine was mainly influenced by the Anglo-Saxons, and many of the foods influenced by them are still staples today. Scottish cuisine is heavily influenced by the oats and barley that grow well in the region, which results in simple, wholesome meals. Welsh cuisine is basically a mixture of the British and Scottish cuisines. In Ireland, most of the recipes have been around for many many generations. Good food and wine have always been very important to the French. French cuisine can be divided into 3 classes based on how fancy they are and the cooking and ingredients used. Germany has always had a meat based diet, and pork, beef, veal, and game are still very popular in dishes today. Geography, human isolation, and climate, are the 3 main factors that have impacted Scandinavian cuisine. They are very independent as far as food traditions in comparison to the other European countries.
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