Question

How has Europes coast affected its culture and settlement patterns?

Answer 1

This may explain a few things. Generally, seafaring coastal towns attract more wealth through trade, bringing jobs and opportunities for entrepreneurship. The Wikipedia article may have links to other sources of info, too. Use them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Europe

Answer 2

This question is out of control !!! I do not know where to start.
Perhaps divide up into regions of Europe:
1. Eastern Med and Black Sea - Greece, Balkans
2. Western Med - Italy(Etruscan, Roman), French Med coast, Spain
3. Atlantic coast, southern - Portugal, Basques, Frence, Belgium
4. Islands - England, Ireland, Scotland
5. North Sea Coast - Netherlands, Friesland, Germany Denmark, Norway,
6. Baltic - Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Russia after Peter the great and Vikings (Rus) before Peter, Finland
7. Barents Sea - Norway, Russia. World War 2 in particular.

They all have different patterns of development, depending on their coastline and trade partners. I would have to write a book !!

Answer 3

This question has been around for ages in slightly varied forms. See Related Questions below. I wonder which "school" is still including this tired ol' thing. =(

Answer 4

In fact, just Angles, Saxons, Danes and Norse including former Vikings from Normandy in France are worth a few books covering their effect on culture and settlement of England :) Are you writing a PhD dissertation ?