Europe Study Guide w/ Answers
1. What are fjords and how are they formed? p. 273
Steep u-shaped valleys that connect to the sea and filled with seawater after the glaciers melted
2. How did the Netherlands recover land from the sea for farmland and freshwater? p. 282
By building polders
3. What is the impact of the North Atlantic Drift and the Sirocco? pgs. 278-279
They provide warmth along the Mediterranean and Western coastal regions
4. How have rivers been important to the history of and movement of Europe? p 275
Brought people and goods together, transportation of goods, people and ideas
5. What climate zones are found in Europe? map on pg. 266
6. What are polders? p. 282
Land that is reclaimed by diking and draining seawater
7. What are dikes? p. 282
Earthen bank used to direct or prevent the passage of water
8. What was the legacy of Rome? pgs. 290-291
A republic government, art, architecture, science
9. What was the Renaissance? p. 291
A time of renewed interest in learning and the arts
10. What geographic factor contributed to the rise of the Renaissance in Italian city-states? p. 289
Location near the coast of the Mediterranean Sea
11. What was the feudal system? p. 297
Political system where powerful lords offered an exchange of land for service
12. What is nationalism? p. 297
Belief that people should be loyal to their nations
13. Where are the Nordic countries located? p.302
Scandinavian & Jutland peninsulas (Northern Europe)
14. What is the Euro? p. 305
Common currency used by the nations in the European Union
15. Where are the war-torn areas of Eastern Europe? Which countries have fought over ethnicity? p. 311
Balkan nations of Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia
16. Where was the first democracy created? p. 289
Greece
17. Know the peninsulas. p. 273
Iberian, Jutland, Scandinavian, Italian, Balkan
18. Know the uplands. p. 275
Spanish Meseta & French Massif Central
19. Know the mountains. p. 274
Alps, Pyrenees, Apennines, Balkan, Ural
20. Where would a mistral be located? p. 279
Mediterranean coast of France
21. What is balkanization? p. 311
Process of a region breaking up into small, mutually hostile units
22. What is a market economy? p. 313
Type of economic system in which production of goods and services is determined by consumers demand
23. What is a Catholic? What does it mean?
Means “unified”; official church of Western Europe until 1500’s
24. What were the Crusades? p. 291
A series of wars to take Palestine from the Muslims
25. What was the Reformation? p. 297
A period when many Christians broke away from the Catholic Church
26. Why was Martin Luther dissatisfied with the Catholic Church? p. 297
He did not agree with the practice of selling indulgences. He felt that the only way for Christians to
achieve salvation is through faith alone.
27. What is the United Kingdom and how does it differ from Great Britain? pg. 303
Great Britain + Northern Ireland = United Kingdom
28. Which countries make up the Baltic Republics? p. 361
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
29. What is the European Union? pgs. 292
An economic and political alliance of 15 nations.
Short Answer
30. Describe the political ideal and two types of governments that arose from ancient Greece and Rome. pgs. 289290
31. Identify and describe the importance of the five major peninsulas of Europe. pgs. 273-274
32. What are the ways in which rivers and mountains affect the movement of people and the development of different
cultures in Europe? pgs. 274-275
Map Identification
Be able to identify the following locations on a map: United Kingdom, Meseta, Massif Central, Alps, North Sea,
Apennines, Jutland Peninsula, Balkan Peninsula, Italian Peninsula, Iberian Peninsula, Scandinavian Peninsula,
Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland, Pyrenees, 4 Regions of Europe, Danube
Essay
You have been asked to give a lecture on the geography of Europe/Russia. How would you describe the interaction
of physical and human systems that have shaped contemporary Europe?
Answer in A, B, C order.
a. How would you describe the location of major physical features and their impact on Europe?
b. How would you describe the major climates of Europe and how they have affected Europe?
c. How would you discuss the importance of Europe’s coastal location, climatic characteristics, and river systems
regarding population, economic development, and world influence?
d. Describe the various ethnic and religious groups in Europe and the influence of geography on those groups and their
major customs and traditions.
e. How would you explain why Europe has a highly integrated network of highways, waterways, railroads, and airline
linkages?
g. How would you describe the environmental issues associated with industrial and natural resource development in
Europe?