Europe

Europe - Introduction

The Age of Discovery began in the early 15th century. European adventurers and entrepreneurs became increasingly curious as to what lay beyond the horizon. The intense curiosity brought on enough courage to allow them sail across uncharted oceans and to endure the discomfort and danger of venturing into strange lands inhabited by strange people. Their epic journeys of discovery were driven by more than wind. The conquers pursued their course with the deliberate intent to enhance, to empower, and to enrich themselves and their supporters. They deserve credit for their bravery and skills as sailors, but they must also bear the responsibility for the unimaginable suffering and despair caused by their efforts to carve out colonies, expand their empires, and preach salvation and redemption to the unfortunate native people they dismissed as savages.

Common European Earthworm - Albania

The Strait of Otranto separates Albania from Italy and connects the Adriatic to the Ionian Sea. A treaty to reduce the continental shelf boundary was signed by Albania and Italy in 1992. The Strait of Otranto is less than 75 kilometers across and has several scheduled ferry services operating between the two countries.

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Lumbricus terrestris - The common European earthworm can stretch its body to lengths of 20 to 25 centimeters when fully extended. Earthworms feed on decaying material and serve an important function in the aeration and fertilization of the soil. The clitellum, a non-segmented raised saddle near the head of an earthworm, secretes a sac able to secure the eggs after mating. Earthworms are hermaphrodites, they possess both male and female sex organs, but are incapable of self-fertilization.

Common Buzzard - Albania

Buteo buteo - The common buzzard is found throughout Eurasia. It is a year long resident in most of Europe, but migrates from the colder regions of Scandinavia and Western Russia to Southern Africa and India. The buzzard will build nesting sites along the fringes of wooded areas. With a wingspan of 135 centimeters, hunting is limited to open fields and meadows. Buzzards are solitary birds, but will flock together when migrating or when the local area has an abundance of prey animals.

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Albania was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1385 to 1912. The call for an independent Albania was voiced through the League of Prizren, an organization formed in 1878. It was founded in response to the Congress of Berlin, convened in the same year for the purpose of reassigning borders in the Balkan region following the Ottoman Empire’s loss to Russia in the Russo-Turkish War. Albanians were not pleased with the results of the conference and began the struggle leading to independence in 1912.

Giant House Spider - Andorra

The Pyrenees are a moderate-sized mountain range running for 491 kilometers from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea and forms the natural border between France and Spain. Andorra, a European micro-state, is situated in the southern section of the Pyrenees Mountains, sandwiched between France and Spain.

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Eritigena atrica - The giant house spider’s appearance is menacing, but it does not pose a threat to humans; it prefers to flee when threatened. Spiders are venomous, but the giant house spider will not bite unless it plans on making a meal of the target. The house spider is found throughout Western Europe and often builds funnel nests in secluded basements or attics. The female’s body is larger than the male’s, with an average body length of 18 millimeters, but the legs of the male tend to be larger, reaching lengths of 25 to 75 millimeters.

Poet's Daffodil - Andorra

Narcissus poeticus - Poet's daffodils are highly fragrant flowers and were one of the first daffodils to be cultivated. It is native to Europe and North America. The flowers grow 20 to 40 centimeters in height and have white petals with a light yellow corona edged in red piping. The oils of the poet’s daffodil are used as a principle ingredient in manufacturing perfume. Each of the 50 species in the genus Narcissus are poisonous; the poet’s daffodil, acting as an emetic, is one of the more dangerous.

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Andorra, formed through a charter granted by Charlemagne in 988, has since evolved into a co-principality with the president of France and the bishop of Urgell as co-princes. These two positions are ceremonial and have no vested powers in the running of Andorran affairs. Real power is held by the unicameral parliament of Andorra, a legislative body referred to as the General Council. The number of “councillors,” as the members of parliament are titled, varies between 28 and 42 individuals.

Greylag Goose - Austria

The Alps were formed 23 to 34 million years ago when the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided. The mountain range extends as an arc for about 800 kilometers stretching from Southern France to Slovenia. Austria, situated in the middle of the Alps, has more than 30% of its area situated at an altitude of 500 meters or more. 

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Anser anser - Domesticated geese in Europe and North America stem from the greylag goose, also known as the wild goose. Geese are grazing birds and usually take advantage of sharing pastures with other grazers, especially cows. The cows graze on the longer grass while the geese prefer nibbling on the shorter grass. The greylag will also eat grain, roots, and leafy vegetables. Grass in itself is not a nutritious food and the greylag must dedicate a greater percentage of its time to finding and eating enough food to meet their needs.

"Woman of Willendorf" - Austria

The “Woman of Willendorf” is a figurine recovered in 1908 from an archeological site near Willendorf, Austria. The design and crafting technique stems from the Gravettian period; it is about 25,000 years old. Sculpted in limestone and tinted with red ochre, the figurine has no facial details. The emphasis is placed on the breasts, buttocks, and abdomen while minimizing the head and lower limbs. This type of statuette is referred to as a “Venus” and it may have been used as a fertility icon.

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Historically, the German states had been a loose collection of independent fiefdoms. This became more obvious with the 1806 collapse of the Holy Roman Empire. The two most powerful states to emerge from the rubble were Prussia, under the Hohenzollern dynasty and Austria, under the Habsburg dynasty. Both struggled to assert their authority over the other German states in an attempt to resurrect a new unified Germany. Prussia eventually succeeded and excluded Austria from the new nation.

Wild Boar - Belarus

The Białowieża Forest straddles the border of Poland and Belarus. It is one of the largest remaining tracts of primeval forest left in Europe. The forest area is about 2,000 square kilometers; most of the area is located in Belarus. Both countries have included large portions of the Białowieża Forest within their national park system.

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Sus scrofa - The wild boar is the ancestor of the domesticated pig and is native to Europe and Asia. It is a sturdy animal, compact in design, with a large head and short legs. The coat has an inner layer of fine fur and an outer layer of stiff bristles. Adult males use their tusks as weapons against predators or other males when battling for females. The females also have enlarged canines, but they do not protrude from the mouth. Boars have a pre-nasal bone at the tip of their snout; it is used as a shovel when digging up roots, tubers or bulbs.

Hawfinch - Belarus

Coccothraustes coccothraustes - The hawfinch is found throughout Europe and Asia. European populations are resident; Asian populations migrate to Southeastern Asia. Hawfinches have stout necks and robust beaks with a  distinctive metallic shine. Males are slightly larger than females and their plumage is brighter. The beak comes in handy for a diet consisting primarily of hard seeds taken from trees or various fruit. It will occasionally feed on insects and the softer pulp of fruit.

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The Principality of Polotsk was the earliest known state to exist in the present day area of Belarus. Polotsk came under the domination of the Kievan Rus' state in the 11th century. The disruption of the Mongol invasion in the 13th century resulted in the sacking of Kiev and allowed an expanding Lithuania to absorb the splintered fragments. Belarus remained part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the subsequent Polish-Lithuanian Union until 1795; it was then absorbed into Russia’s orbit until 1990.

Terror Crane - Belgium

Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the former West Germany, were the founding members of the European Union. The city of Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union; it also serves as the center for the Benelux secretariat and the headquarters for the NATO alliance.

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Gastornis giganteus - After the disappearance of the dinosaurs, the largest meat eaters in parts of Europe and North America were flightless birds known as “terror cranes.” Some of these cranes stood 2.1 meters tall and had massive jaws able to crush the small and medium-sized mammals of the day. Further examination of fossilized remains suggests these birds may not have been carnivores. The legs lacked the ability to pursue fast prey and the beak structure is more suitable to a herbivore. The terror crane debate is unresolved.

Brussels Sprouts - Belgium

Brassica oleracea - Brussels sprouts are members of the cabbage family and may have originated in Belgium. The vegetable has been cultivated for human consumption since Roman times. The sprouts, or buds as they are known, resemble miniature cabbages and form on stalks ranging in length from 60 to 120 centimeters. The buds are usually 2.5 to 4 centimeters in diameter. Brussels sprouts are tolerant of low temperatures and grow ideally in climates of 15 to 18 degrees. 

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Belgium is a bridge connecting Germanic and Latin Europe through its cultural and language differences. The two distinct regions of Belgium are a reflection of those differences. Flanders, located in the north, is Germanic, while Walloon, located in the south, is Latin. Each region has its own language; Flemish speaking Flanders and French speaking Walloon. There is a small area along the German border with a large German speaking population; it had been a former territory of Germany.

European Pond Turtle - Bosnia-Herzegovina

The Adriatic Sea separates the Italian and Balkan peninsulas. The surface area of the Adriatic is 139,000 square kilometers and it has 3,739 kilometers of coastline. Of the six countries bordering along the Adriatic, Bosnia-Herzegovina has 20 kilometers of frontage along the coast. It has the second smallest coastline in the world.

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Emys orbicularis - Pond turtles can be found in lentic areas throughout Southern and Central Europe; lentic denotes areas of slow moving waters such as ponds and lakes. After reaching sexual maturity, 5 to 6 years, the female will lay her first clutch of eggs. She will use her tail and hind legs to dig a hole, then deposit 8 to 10 eggs. Female parental investment ends once the nest is covered up. The temperature of the egg chamber will determine the gender of the hatchlings; below 25 C. results in males, above 30 C. results in females.

European Eagle Owl - Bosnia-Herzegovina

Bubo bubo - The European eagle owl is a large bird; females, growing to lengths of 75 centimeters and having wingspans of 190 centimeters, are larger than males. Nests are built in secluded areas, preferably along the edge of cliffs or rocky terrain. Females deposit up to six eggs, one every three days, and remain at the nest until all the eggs hatch, each one taking about 33 days. The male provides her and the nestlings with food as they hatch. The eagle owl has distinctive ear tufts and orange eyes.

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The 1878 signing of the Treaty of Berlin, placed Bosnia-Herzegovina under the administration of the Austro-Hungry Empire, but officially remained part of the Ottoman Empire. Austria took control of its mandate and formally annexed the territory in 1908. The Ottoman Empire, falling from one crisis to another, was powerless to resist. Bosnia-Herzegovina remained under Austrian control until the end of World War I, becoming part of Pan-Slavic Yugoslavia until gaining full independence in 1992.

Common Wasp - Bulgaria

The Glagolitic alphabet is the oldest Slavic script. It was developed in the 9th century by two monks and promoted by King Boris I of Bulgaria. The Glagolitic alphabet served a duel purpose; to stop the growing influence of the Byzantine Empire in the Balkan region and to preserve the independence of Slavic Bulgaria.

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Vespula vulgaris - The common wasp is found throughout Europe. It is aposematic, a term describing an animal with a color scheme to discourage potential predators. Established wasp colonies contain one queen and 5,000 to 10,000 workers. The nests are usually built underground and are made by wasps chewing wood fibers into a pulp material similar to papier mâché. The colony will last for one season. The entire caste of workers will die, but the queens may survive for several years and will build a new nest each season.

Eastern Imperial Eagle - Bulgaria

Aquila heliaca - The eastern imperial eagle is monogamous and pairs for life. A couple will build and use several large nests in tall trees standing within modest clearings. This allows an unobstructed view of the surrounding area. The female produces two or three eggs per season, but only one hatchling will survive. In an example of animal fratricide, the first eaglet to hatch will attack and kill the others as they hatch. This behavior threatens the eastern imperial eagle with extinction.

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The First Bulgarian Empire was formed in 681. It contained most of the Balkan Peninsula and stretched its influence into present day Greece and Southern Ukraine. The Byzantine Empire was its chief rival and several wars were fought between the two empires. In 1014, Bulgaria suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Kleidion. The victorious Byzantines dismantled the Bulgarian state. The Second Bulgarian Empire emerged in 1185, but eventually succumbed to the Ottoman Turks in the late 14th century.

Dalmatian Pelican - Croatia

Croatia is divided into 21 administrative districts; 20 counties and 1 capital city zone. The southern most county, Dubrovnik-Neretva is split into two sections by a small strip of land belonging to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Dubrovnik, the capital of Dubrovnik-Neretva county once served as the capital of the Republic of Ragusa.

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Pelecanus crispus - The Dalmatian pelican is the largest of the 8 extant pelican species and one of the largest birds in the world. Pelicans are distinguished by their long bills and fleshy throat pouches used for catching and storing food. The Dalmatian pelican can reach a height of 180 centimeters, weigh up to 15 kilos and has a wingspan of almost 350 centimeters; the largest wingspan of any bird. It is found in Southeastern Europe, India, and China. The Dalmatian pelican prefers habits of shallow lakes or swampy areas.

Snake's Head Lily - Croatia

Fritillaria meleagris - The snake’s head lily derives its name from the bobbing flower on the plant’s stem resembling a snake’s head when not fully open. The flowers are a dark purple chequered pattern; on rare occasions, the flowers are white. It is native to Europe, cultivated in gardens, and not easy to find growing in the wild. The bulbs are alkaloid and highly poisonous. Being a hermaphrodite plant, the snake’s head has the capability to self-pollinate, but is usually pollinated by bees.

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Evidence of pre-Neandertal remains have been found in several areas of Croatia. Flints made by palaeolithic humanoids were unearthed in Šandalja Cave, a site near the village of Punikve. Teeth and bone fragments of Neandertals have been recovered from the Hušnjakovo site located near Krapina. These discoveries were found in 1899 and have been dated to 130,000 years ago. The recovered remains are referred to as Homo krapiniensis. Findings also included tools and evidence of a hearth.

European Mole - Czech Republic

Three historic districts make up the modern Czech Republic: Bohemia, Moravia, and Czech Silesia. Bohemia, the largest district, includes the western and central territory of the country. Moravia is located in the southeast of the country and Czech Silesia consists of a small sliver of land to the northeast.

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Talpa europaea - Aside from a brief period when young moles venture out of the maternal nest to build their own tunnels, European moles remain hidden in their underground burrows. The mole is well equipped for this subterranean life. It has small underdeveloped eyes, but a keen sense of smell used for finding earthworms, its preferred food. The cylindrical body and powerful front claws are ideal for burrowing. Moles build and maintain extensive systems of burrows for nesting and storage or as avenues for acquiring food.

Parasol Mushroom - Czech Republic

Macrolepiota procera - Parasol mushrooms belong to a mushroom type known as agarics, a category of mushrooms with the cap located on the stipe, as the stalk of a mushroom is called. The cap of a parasol mushroom is egged-shaped and only extends to a parasol shape at maturity. The lamella, or gills, are a papery structure found underneath the cap and are important for spore dispersal. The parasol mushroom is slightly toxic, but can be eaten if cooked.

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The Kingdom of Bohemia, sometimes called the Czech Empire, reached its apex in the 14th century under the Přemyslid Dynasty and extended its rule over a large segment of Central Europe. It included parts of Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. The Kingdom of Bohemia was a kingdom within the Holy Roman Empire and one of its most powerful. With the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire, Bohemia was incorporated into the Austro-Hungarian Empire.