World Geo Europe

What are the five major European peninsulas

Iberian (Spain & Portugal), Italian (Italy), Balkan (Greece & nearby countries), Scandinavian (Norway & Sweden), and Jutland (Denmark).

What is the North European Plain

A large, flat, fertile region across northern Europe important for farming and transportation.

What is the most important river in Western Europe

The Rhine River.

What is the most important river in Eastern Europe

The Volga River.

What are Europe’s boundaries

Arctic Ocean (north), Atlantic Ocean (west), Mediterranean Sea (south), and the Ural Mountains and Ural River (east).

What are Eastern Europe’s boundaries

Ural Mountains, Ural River, Caspian Sea, and Caucasus Mountains.

Why is population density higher away from mountains

Mountains make farming, transportation, and building cities difficult.

What is Scandinavia

A region in northern Europe including Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

What are the Baltic Republics

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

What are the three primary climates of Europe

Marine west coast, Mediterranean, and humid continental.

What percentage of the Netherlands was once under the sea

About 25%.

What group controlled water and reinforced dikes in the Netherlands

The Dutch.

How was the Zuider Zee transformed

It was drained and turned into farmland and became the IJsselmeer.

Why is Venice unique and what challenges does it face

It is built on canals and faces flooding, sinking land, and pollution.

What two advantages helped the Mediterranean become the birthplace of civilization

Easy trade routes and a mild climate.

Where was the birthplace of democracy

Athens, Greece.

Who was Alexander the Great

A Macedonian leader who built one of the largest empires in history.

What form of government did Rome establish

A republic.

What is a republic

A government where citizens elect representatives.

What was Rome’s official religion by the late 300s

Christianity.

What was the goal of the Crusades

To regain control of holy lands from Muslim rule.

What was the Renaissance

A period of renewed interest in art, science, and learning.

What was the Bubonic Plague and when did it occur

A deadly disease that spread in the 1300s.

What did Spanish and Portuguese exploration lead to

Global trade, colonization, and the spread of European culture.

What is the majority religion in Greece today

Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

What religion do most people follow in Italy, Spain, and Portugal

Roman Catholicism.

Where does the Running of the Bulls take place

Pamplona, Spain.

What did Athens expand to reduce traffic and pollution

Public transportation.

What was the Reformation

A religious movement that led to Protestant churches.

What were the Middle Ages

The period between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance.

What was the Holocaust

The genocide of six million Jews during World War II.

What was the Berlin Wall

A wall dividing East and West Berlin during the Cold War.

What are TGVs, where were they introduced, and when

High-speed trains introduced in France in 1981.

What is the Chunnel and what cities does it connect

A tunnel under the English Channel connecting London, Paris, and Brussels.

What are the autobahnen

Germany’s highway system with sections that have no speed limit.

Who were Beethoven, Bach, and Mozart

Famous European composers.

Why is Western Europe popular with tourists

History, culture, and strong economies.

Who has a higher standard of living, Western or Eastern Europe

Western Europe.

How does burning fossil fuels affect the atmosphere

It increases air pollution and greenhouse gases.

What countries are the Nordic countries

Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland.

Who conquered England in 1066

William the Conqueror.

What does “the sun never sets on the British Empire” mean

Britain had colonies all over the world.

What two ways did Great Britain shape the modern world

Industrialization and democratic government.

What type of government does Britain have

Constitutional monarchy.

What is the Magna Carta and when was it signed

A document limiting the king’s power, signed in 1215.

Why was communism economically inefficient

There was little incentive to work hard or innovate.

How is a market economy different from communism

It allows private ownership and competition.

What is a satellite nation

A country controlled by a more powerful nation.

How many decades did the Soviet Union control Eastern Europe

About four decades.

What government spread through Eastern Europe in the late 1980s

Democracy.

What is the key ingredient to helping cities grow in Eastern Europe

Investment and modernization.

What are important differences between Eastern and Western Europe

Eastern Europe generally has lower incomes and less industrialization.

What are causes of water pollution

Industrial waste, sewage, oil spills, and runoff.

Would you improve an economy if it meant not protecting the environment

Answers vary; many support balancing growth with environmental protection.

What is the European Union

A group of countries cooperating economically and politically.

Can water pollution be caused by air pollution

Yes.

What are four causes of air pollution

Car emissions, factories, burning fossil fuels, and power plants.

What is Benelux

A: A political and economic partnership between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg 

Q: What is an aqueduct

A: A structure that uses gravity to carry water from one place to another, often through bridges, tunnels, or pipes 

Q: What is the North Atlantic Drift

A: A warm ocean current that brings heat from the Atlantic Ocean toward Europe, helping keep the climate milder 

Q: What is a fjord

A: A long, narrow inlet of the sea with steep sides, formed by glaciers 

Q: What is a polder

A: Land that has been reclaimed from water using dikes and drainage systems, mainly in the Netherlands 

Q: What is smog

A: Air pollution made from a mix of smoke, fog, and harmful gases 

Q: What is feudalism

A: A medieval system where land was given in exchange for loyalty, labor, and military service 

Q: What is a satellite nation

A: A country that is officially independent but controlled by a more powerful country 

Q: What is a dike

A: A wall or embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea or rivers

What larger landmass is Europe part of

Eurasia.

What does it mean that Europe is a “peninsula of peninsulas”

It is a large peninsula made up of several smaller peninsulas.

What are the five major peninsulas of Europe

The Iberian, Scandinavian, Jutland, Balkan, and Italian peninsulas.

Which countries are on the Iberian Peninsula

Spain and Portugal.

Which countries are on the Scandinavian Peninsula

Norway and Sweden.

What peninsula includes Greece

The Balkan Peninsula.

What mountain range forms Europe’s eastern boundary

The Ural Mountains.

What body of water borders Europe to the north

The Arctic Ocean.

What body of water borders Europe to the south

The Mediterranean Sea.

How does Europe compare in size to the continental United States

Europe is about three-fourths the size of the continental United States.

What are the two subregions of Europe

Western Europe and Eastern Europe.

How many countries are in Western Europe

Twenty-three countries.

Why is Western Europe’s coastline important

It serves as highways to the rest of the world and supports fishing, shipping, and tourism.

What countries make up Scandinavia

Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.

What is a fjord

A long, narrow inlet of the sea between steep cliffs formed by glaciers.

What are the Baltic Republics

Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

What seas form some of Eastern Europe’s clearest boundaries

The Baltic Sea, Adriatic Sea, and Black Sea.

What city is located on the Seine River

Paris.

What city is located on the Thames River

London.

What city is located on the Tiber River

Rome.

Why is the Rhine River important

It is the longest river located entirely in Western Europe and is a major trade route.

What countries does the Danube River help separate

Romania and Bulgaria.

Why is the Rhine Valley important

It is densely populated and highly industrialized.

What type of climate is found along Western Europe’s Atlantic coast

Marine climate.

What are the characteristics of a marine climate

Warm winters, cool summers, and lots of rain.

What climate is found in Southern Europe

Mediterranean climate.

What are the characteristics of a Mediterranean climate

Hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters.

Where is highland climate found

In mountainous areas where temperature depends on elevation.

What percentage of Western Europe is made up of plains

About 25 percent.

What is the most important plain in Western Europe

The North European Plain.

Why is the North European Plain important

It has productive farmland and major cities like Brussels, Amsterdam, and Berlin.

Why are hills and plateaus better for grazing than farming

The land is less flat and harder to farm.

Why do mountains limit migration and trade

They make travel difficult and isolate communities.

What are the three major mountain ranges in Europe

The Alps, Pyrenees, and Apennines.