Western Europe Test Review: Key Terms, Countries, and Geography

What is a canton?

A state in a country

What does it mean to decentralize?

To transfer power to smaller regions

What are reparations?

Money for war damages

What is strip mining?

Open pit mining

What is a dialect?

Variations of a language that are unique to a region or community

What is inflation?

Sharply raising prices

What is a polder?

Land reclaimed by sea

What does it mean to nationalize?

To bring under state control

What is lignite?

Soft brown coal

What does neutral mean?

Not taking sides in conflicts

What is a confederation?

A loose political union

What is a recession?

An extended decline in economic activity

What countries are found on the Iberian Peninsula?

Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and part of France

What separates the Iberian Peninsula from Africa?

The Mediterranean Sea

What separates the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe?

The Pyrenees mountains

Which seas bound the Scandinavian Peninsula?

North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Arctic Ocean

What countries make up the British Isles?

Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland

What countries make up the United Kingdom?

Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales

What led to the improvement of London's relative location in the 1500s?

It became a bustling port

What countries make up the Nordic nations?

Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland

What is Ireland's nickname?

Emerald Isles

What are polders used for in the Netherlands?

They are used for land reclamation and windmills powered pumps that removed water

Which two French regions are located in south central and southeastern France?

Massif Central and the Alps

Where are Germany's industrial centers located?

Central Germany

Where are France's industrial centers located?

In the north

What event led to the unification of Germany in the 1900s?

The Berlin Wall was destroyed on October 3rd, 1989

What languages and ethnic groups are in Belgium?

French speakers are called Walloons and Flemish speakers are called Flemings

How do Switzerland's cantons differ?

Each canton has its own language, religion, customs, and economy

How are Austria and Switzerland similar?

Both are landlocked, bordered by the Alps, and not members of NATO

Where was democracy first developed?

Greece

How are Spain and Portugal similar?

Both rely on agriculture and trade

Describe Spain's climate in its three regions.

Northern Coast: moist; Meseta: drier; Southeastern: semi-arid and dry

Which region of Italy experiences the most poverty?

Southern Italy due to lack of jobs

Describe the economy of Greece.

It is heavily focused on agriculture

What is the Massif Central?

A set of low mountains and plateaus located in Southern France

How has Italy changed in the last 100 years?

It transitioned from a poor agricultural focus to a booming economy within the European Union