A country that occupies the western part of the Iberian peninsula in southwest Europe, Portugal borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south, and Spain to the east and north. It also includes two Atlantic archipelagos, the Azores and Madeira that occupy strategic points along the approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar. The overseas territory of Macao (Macau) was returned to China in 1999. Portugal has developed a diverse and increasingly service-oriented...

France, one of the most important countries in Europe, encompasses medieval cities, alpine villages, and Mediterranean beaches. Paris, its capital, is famed for its fashion houses, classical art museums, and monuments like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. France is also famous for its wines and superior cuisine. Lascaux's ancient cave drawings, Lyon's Roman theater, and the vast Palace of Versailles attest to its rich history. As one of the...

Germany lies in the heart of Europe. It stretches from the North Sea and Baltic coasts in the north to the Alps in the south and has land borders with nine countries: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland. Following Germany's defeat in World War I and the collapse of their empire, they were left with crippling reparations, soaring inflation, and high unemployment. The rise of the Nazi...

A kingdom of southwest Europe, Spain occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with Portugal, Gibraltar, and Andorra. Spain consists of a vast plateau that slopes toward the southwest and is crossed by several mountain ranges. The Mediterranean Balearic Islands, the Atlantic Canary Islands, and Ceuta and Melilla, two enclaves in Morocco, together with a few islands, are also included in the territory. Spain's economy is based on tourism...

Denmark is a kingdom of northwest Europe bordering the North and Baltic Seas. It occupies the northern two-thirds of the Jutland Peninsula, together with the islands lying between the peninsula and Sweden. During World War II, Denmark was invaded by Germany, but offered strong resistance throughout the occupation. Denmark joined NATO in 1949 and in 1973, together with Britain, entered the EU. Today, Denmark is a prosperous, progressive, and thoroughly...

A kingdom of Northern Europe, Sweden occupies the eastern portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula and borders Finland in the northeast. It has a coastline on the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea to the east, and the Skagerrak and Kattegat Straits lie to the southwest. Sweden has enjoyed a long period of peace and neutrality, and an almost continuous Social Democratic government since 1932. This stability, combined with the country's mix of high-tech...

A prosperous, democratic country, Austria joined the EU in 1995. It has a well-developed market economy, having modern agricultural and industrial sectors and a high standard of living. It has a thriving tourist scene based around its historic cities and winter sports facilities. Austria is a landlocked country bordered by Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Geographically, Austria can be...

On January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia was divided into two entities: the Czech Republic and the Republic of Slovakia. The Czech Republic now occupies about two-thirds of the area that once was Czechoslovakia, and consists of the Bohemian plateau in the east and the Moravian lowlands to the west. Mountains form most of the republic's northern border with Germany and Poland. Czechoslovakia was occupied by Germany during World War II, but the Communists...