Europe's Industrial Region
Because the Industrial Revolution spawned in the United Kingdom and then spread to the continent, Europe was and is one the dominant regions for industry. Within Europe, industry is concentrated more in Western Europe than Eastern or Russia, due in part to the latter country's involvement in Eastern Europe as the Soviet Union and its command economy policies.
United Kingdom: The United Kingdom was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and benefited from its successes earlier than in any part of the world. Already with colonies and dependent countries, the United Kingdom had access to markets not held by many other countries. After World War II and the loss of many of its colonies, the UK shifted form a world producer in steel, coal, and textiles, and moved to attracting other companies to build manufacturing plants within the UK and transfer to a more computer/technological based market.
Rhine-Ruhr Valley: From the world's largest port, Rotterdam, Netherlands, to Dortmund, Germany, this corridor has large amounts of industry focused on steel and iron making. Easy access to coalfields spurred this development which meant manufactured goods from steel and iron (military, machinery, and railroad industries) began to set up factories and plants to the area.
Mid-Rhine: This includes the French regions of Alsace and Lorraine and the German cities of Frankfurt and Mannheim as well as numerous others. This corridor has Europe's largest iron ore deposits and so became huge in manufacturing of armaments, machinery, and transportation. Frankfurt's networks alone have made it an important transportation and communication hub of the region while other cities, like Stuttgart, have brought in automobile companies requiring skilled workers. The chemical and pharmaceutical industry as grown in this area as well.
Po Basin: In Northern Italy with access to hydroelectric power form the Alps. Textile manufacturing is in charge here ever since the Industrial Revolution.
Spain: In the area of Catalonia, Spain has developed a massive textile industry and automobile industry. Currently, Spain is second behind Germany in production of automobiles.
Moscow: Russia's capital, Moscow, is the country's largest market. This area is focused in textiles.
St. Petersburg: Focuses on shipbuilding and industries associated with military development.
Volga: The Volga region has major fields of oil (petroleum) and natural gas. This was the area Adolf Hitler was trying to control when he sent his ill-fated 6th Army to Stalingrad in 1942 to supply the Nazi War Machine.
Donetsk: In the eastern region of Ukraine, has large fields of iron, coal, and natural gas. This area is currently under control of the DPR (Donetsk People's Republic) and is supported by Russia while considered a terrorist organization by the government of Ukraine.
United Kingdom: The United Kingdom was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution and benefited from its successes earlier than in any part of the world. Already with colonies and dependent countries, the United Kingdom had access to markets not held by many other countries. After World War II and the loss of many of its colonies, the UK shifted form a world producer in steel, coal, and textiles, and moved to attracting other companies to build manufacturing plants within the UK and transfer to a more computer/technological based market.
Rhine-Ruhr Valley: From the world's largest port, Rotterdam, Netherlands, to Dortmund, Germany, this corridor has large amounts of industry focused on steel and iron making. Easy access to coalfields spurred this development which meant manufactured goods from steel and iron (military, machinery, and railroad industries) began to set up factories and plants to the area.
Mid-Rhine: This includes the French regions of Alsace and Lorraine and the German cities of Frankfurt and Mannheim as well as numerous others. This corridor has Europe's largest iron ore deposits and so became huge in manufacturing of armaments, machinery, and transportation. Frankfurt's networks alone have made it an important transportation and communication hub of the region while other cities, like Stuttgart, have brought in automobile companies requiring skilled workers. The chemical and pharmaceutical industry as grown in this area as well.
Po Basin: In Northern Italy with access to hydroelectric power form the Alps. Textile manufacturing is in charge here ever since the Industrial Revolution.
Spain: In the area of Catalonia, Spain has developed a massive textile industry and automobile industry. Currently, Spain is second behind Germany in production of automobiles.
Moscow: Russia's capital, Moscow, is the country's largest market. This area is focused in textiles.
St. Petersburg: Focuses on shipbuilding and industries associated with military development.
Volga: The Volga region has major fields of oil (petroleum) and natural gas. This was the area Adolf Hitler was trying to control when he sent his ill-fated 6th Army to Stalingrad in 1942 to supply the Nazi War Machine.
Donetsk: In the eastern region of Ukraine, has large fields of iron, coal, and natural gas. This area is currently under control of the DPR (Donetsk People's Republic) and is supported by Russia while considered a terrorist organization by the government of Ukraine.
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Related Links: Industry- Industry Origins and the Most Industrial Regions of the World Quiz Importance of Site Factors: Labor AP Human Geography Quizzes AP Human Geography Notes |