Southern Europe

Southern Europe is a region of Europe located in the southern and western areas of the Eurasian continent. The region includes the countries of Andorra, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, San Marino, and Spain. Depending on the regionalization scheme used, the southeastern Balkan countries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia are also sometimes included in the region.

Southern Europe as defined here is bordered on the north by France, Switzerland, and Austria. The Iberian Peninsula (comprised of the countries of Portugal and Spain) is bordered to the west by the Atlantic Ocean. To the east of the Iberian Peninsula and surrounding the Italian peninsula as well as Greece and its islands, is the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Sea is a defining characteristic of the region, and Southern Europe is therefore also referred to as Mediterranean Europe. Andorra does not share borders with the Mediterranean, as it is located between Spain and France. Andorra is the only country in Southern Europe that is landlocked. The region covers approximately 641,000 square miles, according to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency’s World Factbook figures. According to the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) the population of Southern Europe in 2015 was over 130 million people, making it one of Europe’s most populous regions. Italy is Southern Europe’s most populous country, with approximately 62.5 million people according to the PRB’s 2015 estimates. Italy is also the second largest country in area, covering about 187,000 square miles. Spain is the largest country in the region, covering over 314,000 square miles total area. Spain is comprised of seventeen autonomous regions, made up of 46.4 million people. By comparison, the countries of Andorra, Malta, and San Marino are tiny—both in area and population (San Marino only has a population of about 33,000 people). Andorra and Malta each cover less than 300 square miles, while San Marino only covers about 38 square miles.

The region of Southern Europe has long played an important role in Europe and around the world. The roots of the continent and much of Western civilization began in this part of the world with the ancient Greeks and Romans. Italy has contributed artists, inventors, and scientists to the Scientific Revolution, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment. Italian explorers, such as Marco Polo and Christopher Columbus, connected Europe to parts of the world that had previously been inaccessible. Spain has also historically been an important power in both European and world politics. The country’s influence reached far corners of the globe during the Age of Discovery, and made Spain the first world power. Spain’s influence around the globe has left a legacy of 500 million Spanish-speakers worldwide.

Historical Perspective

The history of Southern Europe dates back to classical antiquity and the ancient peoples of the Greco-Roman world. Ancient Greece laid the groundwork for future governments with the popularization of city-states. The Romans came to dominate the Mediterranean region and grew into the largest empire of the time—so large that it was then divided into the Eastern Roman Empire and the Western Roman Empire. The Eastern Roman Empire, based in Constantinople, would eventually become known as the Byzantine Empire. The Western Roman Empire was based in Rome and eventually met its demise by the Germanic peoples in 476 CE.

During the Middle Ages, the Crusades helped to establish Christianity as a formidable force in the Mediterranean region. Many crusaders traveled routes that would one day become the Silk Road, Europe’s route into Asia. The Reconquista took place on the Iberian Peninsula, as the Christian kingdoms sought the removal of the Moors. The fourteenth century saw the beginning of the Renaissance, in which Italy played a major role. With the introduction of Johannes Gutenberg’s printing press to the people of the Holy Roman Empire, an era of knowledge and new thought was ushered in. Many Italian thinkers and artists began to explore science and art and challenge conventions of the time, a movement that spread across Europe.

The Age of Discovery was promoted by the Kingdom of Spain, which provided funding for many expeditions around the globe. Christopher Columbus’s journey to the Americas helped Spain to become a major colonial power. During the eighteenth century, a sense of deep nationalism spread throughout Southern and Eastern Europe, contributing to the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Adolf Hitler in Germany and Benito Mussolini in fascist Italy made moves for control of Europe, leading to World War II. The years after the war saw Europe’s division by the Iron Curtain, with many Southern European countries—including Italy and Spain—under the influence of the Soviet Union and communism. The countries of Southern Europe joined in the European Union (EU), a political and economic alliance between twenty-eight countries.

Geography and Climate

Many countries in Southern Europe are located at or near sea level, due to their proximity to the Mediterranean Sea. However, within the countries there are highlands and several mountain ranges. In Italy, the Apennines run from north to south, stretching the length of the country. Separating Italy from Switzerland are the Alps, which run from east to west. Along the border between Spain and France are the Pyrenees Mountains. Additionally, Greece is home to several mountains including the legendary Mount Olympus, as well as the Pindus Mountains.

The countries of Southern Europe mostly enjoy a Mediterranean climate. Mild, wet winters as well as hot, dry summers characterize the Mediterranean climate. As a result, the landscapes throughout Southern Europe are often similar. Many Southern European countries are known for their small plains and dry hills. This climate is ideal for vegetation such as pine forests, as well as deciduous plants including olive, citrus, and fig trees.

The climate is not completely uniform across Southern Europe, however. Areas of colder climate do exist, especially near the mountain ranges located in both Italy and Spain. In addition, Spain’s northern coast, as well as Portugal, experience more precipitation due to their location on the Atlantic.

Economy

The countries of Southern Europe have highly industrialized centers, but otherwise remain mostly agrarian. The largest four—Italy, Spain, Greece, and Portugal—all rank among the top fifty in the world in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) and per-capita GDP. The economy of Italy is the most industrialized of the Southern European countries, with Milan at the center of the country’s financial and service industries. Despite only being home to less than ten percent of Italy’s total population, Milan is responsible for approximately one-third of the country’s income. The divide between the economically flourishing northern Italy and the poor, agricultural south is significant. Much of the southern part of the country is unemployed and subsidized. Spain’s economy is dominated by the services sector, which accounts for nearly two-thirds. Tourism is a crucial part of the economy of countries like Greece and Italy, whose rich histories draw tourists.

Agriculture remains an important source of revenue for many countries of Southern Europe. Farmers in Greece, Portugal, Italy, and Spain supply their countries with food. In addition, many of these agricultural goods are exported—especially wine and olives. Southern European countries mostly benefited from joining the EU, making it easier for these countries to import and export goods.

Demographics

The countries of Southern Europe have many urban centers, although more than 30 percent of Italy’s population lives in rural areas, as well as nearly a quarter of Greece and Portugal’s people. Most of the Southern European countries have their own national language, with the exception of Andorra and San Marino. The most common languages spoken in Southern Europe are romance languages, due to the region’s roots in Latin culture. Italian is the main language spoken in both Italy and San Marino, and is the most commonly spoken language in Southern Europe. Spanish is the official language of Spain, along with the dialects of Catalan and Galician. Catalan is the also main language spoken in Andorra. In the Basque Country (the region between northern Spain and southern France), Basque is spoken. The official language of Portugal is Portuguese and the official language of Greece is Greek. In Malta, the official language is the Semitic language of Maltese, although English is secondary. Throughout the Southern European countries, English has been adopted as a secondary language, primarily used in business.

The predominant religion across Southern Europe is Christianity. The Christian religion was adopted as the Roman Empire’s official religion in 380 CE, and spread across Europe as a result. However, the popularity of different branches of Christianity differs according to region. In the western parts of Southern Europe, in countries such as Portugal, Spain, and Italy, Roman Catholic is the main religion. In the eastern parts of Southern Europe, in countries like Greece, Greek Orthodox is generally the most popular.

The populations of Southern Europe are generally aging, with nearly as many people sixty-five years old and older as fifteen and younger.

Bibliography

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