Subregions of Europe. The principle of dividing Europe into subregions

Europe is one of the two parts of the world that make up the continent of Eurasia. Nevertheless, due to a number of geographical, cultural, economic and political factors, the division of Europe into subregions is additionally made. As we shall see in the future, despite the fact that the studied part of the world is relatively small, the differences between its individual parts are still significant. So, what are the subregions of Europe and what are their features? Let's try to answer these questions.

History of the division of Europe

Before we begin to study the subregions of Europe, let's go into history to understand what the geographic regionalization of this land is based on. It should be noted that, unlike most other parts of the world, this is not a separate continent, and therefore has no clearly defined boundaries. This circumstance stipulated that the territory that was included in the geographical concept of "Europe" had different boundaries in different historical periods.

Even the ancient Greeks came up with the division of the continent on which they lived. By Asia they understood Phenicia (present-day Lebanon) and all the territories that lie to the east of it, and under Europe - the lands to the west of this country. In the north, the Greeks conducted a border along the Tanais River (present Don).

For the first time the proposal to divide Europe and Asia along the Ural ridge was expressed in 1720. But even then the entire Caucasus, including the northern Caucasus, was referred to Asia. Later the border began to "creep" all the south. Currently, most specialists throughout the Caucasus are included in Europe, and the border with Asia is carried by them along the Ural Mountains and along the Emba River.

Nevertheless, there are territories that some geographers refer to one part of the world, while others - to the opposite. These include Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Israel and Cyprus.

In the period after World War II, it was decided to divide Europe on a political basis into the West and East. The Eastern countries included the countries of the socialist camp, and the Western ones - all the rest. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the collapse of the socialist system, the former division into subregions of Europe has completely become obsolete. Although other types of regionalization existed at an earlier period, they have now become increasingly used.

The modern zoning of Europe

What are the subregions of Europe in the most current classification? Currently, most often apply the division into five main parts:

• Western Europe;
• Central Europe;
• Northern Europe;
• Southern Europe;
• Eastern Europe.

In the future, we will talk about each of these parts in more detail, having studied, in turn, their grouping into geographical units of a lower level.

Zoning of Western Europe

Currently, Western Europe includes countries such as Germany, France, Britain, Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, Andorra, the Netherlands. Although purely from the geographical point of view, Germany would still be more correctly attributed to the Center, but when zoning, economic and political factors are also taken into account. Sometimes Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein belong to the same category, although they can often be found included in Central Europe. In addition, Great Britain and Ireland are sometimes included in the North.

What are the subregions of Western Europe? Here France, Monaco and Andorra are singled out as a separate group. This is due not only to the neighborhood, but also to the fact that France represents these dwarf states at the international level, including the UN.

The United Kingdom and Ireland are separate subregions of the Foreign Europe. Regardless of where they are included, in the North or West of the continent, these countries are united together. This group of states can be called British, or Island, subregion. This community is justified not only by geographical proximity, but also by a long way of joint historical development.

Another subregion of Western Europe is the Benelux countries. From the abbreviation, it is not difficult to understand that this group consists of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. It is also a country of one cultural and historical community, moreover, currently united in an economic union.

The last state, which is separately included in the subregions and countries of Overseas Europe, is Germany. However, in cases where Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Austria are referred to Western Europe, they are united with Germany in one group. This is facilitated by geographical and cultural proximity, because in all these countries the majority of the population speaks German.

Areas of Central Europe

The regionalization of Central Europe is the most difficult. This is due to the fact that in different versions, very many countries can be included both in this subregion and practically in all the neighboring ones. Traditionally, the following countries are considered to be Central Europe: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Often Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are included, and sometimes even Germany. In addition, some experts attribute the Baltic countries (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania) to Central Europe, although most still see them as part of the North.

This region can be conditionally divided into two subregions: Eastern Central European (Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania) and Balkan (or Yugoslav), which include the countries of the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Serbia, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia). Geographically, Romania can also be included in the last group of states, but for economic and political reasons this country still more often refers to the East Central European subregion.

Southern Europe

The subregions of Southern Europe can be conditionally divided into three complexes: the Pyrenean, the Apennine and the Balkan.

The first group includes Spain, Portugal, as well as Gibraltar, which is a British overseas territory, but at the same time it has attributes of statehood. In addition, Andorra is sometimes included in the same group, although it refers to Western Europe by other specialists.

The Apennine subregion includes all of Italy, as well as dwarf states, surrounded by its territory - San Marino and the Vatican. In addition, Malta is most often included here, since this island country is closest to the Apennine peninsula.

In the Balkan subregion of Southern Europe include Bulgaria, Albania and Greece. Also here is the European part of Turkey, together with Istanbul. Sometimes here also include the island of Cyprus, because of its cultural affinity with Greece, but most geographers it is still considered as part of Asia.

Division into subregions of Northern Europe

The subregions of Northern Europe also suggest a division into parts. This includes Fennoscandia, the Baltic states and the northern Northern Europe.

Fennoscandia includes Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The last two countries also allocate to the Scandinavian subregion proper, as only they are geographically located on the peninsula of the same name.

The Baltic countries are Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Northern Europe is island Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Faroes are the possession of Denmark, which has a certain independence.

Countries in Eastern Europe

We studied the subregions of the Foreign Europe, now it's time to turn to the territories that once belonged to the USSR. If during the Cold War all countries of the socialist camp belonged to Eastern Europe, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania, which are now classified as Central Europe, now this region includes only the states of the post-Soviet space.

Conventionally, the subregions of Eastern Europe can be divided into two large groups: the Slavic and the Caucasian. The first group includes Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, as well as Moldova. Although the latter is dominated by a population not of Slavic but of Roman origin, which, however, only confirms the conventional nature of the name of this group of countries.

The countries of the Caucasian group in their majority are not completely, but only partially located in the territory of geographical Europe. Some experts generally refer to Asia. These states are Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, as well as partially recognized republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Kazakhstan stands apart, its lands to the east of the Emba River are also Europe, but relative to the total area of the country, their relative importance is relatively small.

UN classification

In addition, there is an official classification of the UN regions of Europe. It differs from the above in that it divides the continent into five parts rather than into four parts: North, West, South and East. However, this group can not be named as such, which takes into account all the features of the development of the region.

According to this classification, the countries that we referred above to Central Europe are divided between Western, Southern and Eastern. Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein belong to the West, and all other states except the countries of Yugoslavia - to the East. Bulgaria also belongs to Eastern Europe. The states of the former Yugoslavia are classified as South.

Classification of the WTO

The World Tourism Organization has its own classification. In many respects it resembles the UN classification. True, instead of Eastern Europe, a similar group is called Central-Eastern Europe.

The main difference from the UN classification is that the Baltic countries were moved from the North to the group of Central Eastern Europe, and the former Yugoslav republics from the South.

The meaning of classifications

Of course, different classifications can not in any way affect the existing state of affairs. They only allow to order the list of states for more convenient work with it.

At the same time, we should not forget that such classifications are notorious, since they rely not only on a geographical factor, but also on an economic and political one, which can change. In addition, over time, the generally accepted criteria of grouping may change.