Test: Europe & Russia – Review Answers
Physical Geo/environment/climate
1. Nationalism? Extreme pride in one’s country. Sometimes caused countries to take over other places and started wars.
2. What separates the Iberian Peninsula from Africa? Strait of Gibraltar
3. What is marked by the Ural Mountains? Traditional boundary between European Russia and Asian Russia
4. The major British Isles include….? Great Britain and Ireland
5. What do the Pyrenees Mountains separate? Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe
6. Which mountain Black Sea from the Caspian Sea? The Caucasus Mountains
7. Jagged coastlines with fjords are characteristic of…? Iceland and Norway
8. What resulted in the fall of the Soviet Union? Ethnic conflicts and nationalist movements threatened stability. Wars, independence movements by colonies
9. How does the Netherlands protect its lowland areas? With dikes to hold back the sea
10. Describe the Volga River and its tributaries. Connects Moscow and the Caspian Sea
11. Describe the Thames river. River with no real significance in European history because everyone has access to the coast.
12. What are fjords? Long, narrow, steep-sided inlets carved out by glaciers
13. What type of climate does southern Europe have? Mediterranean
14. What type of climate does Scandinavia have? Subarctic and Tundra climate
Economy/Gov’t
15. What goal led to the formation of both the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the European Union (EU)? To increase political economic cooperation between member nations
16. What organization currently unites Western and Central Europe? The European Union
17. The European Union began with the development of a common market built around the coal and steel industries
18. What is it called in the EU when countries give up some control of their own affairs to work together on goals they all share? supranational cooperation
19. What is the purpose of the European Union? To strengthen Europe’s economies and unite its people
20. Centripetal and Centrifugal forces. Centripetal brings countries together (good things). Centrifugal pushes countries apart (bad things).
21. What happens when a member country does not agree with a decision made by the EU government? The country must carry out the decision anyway
22. What ideas make up the basis of communism? Karl Marx’ ideas of a Utopian society where everything is equal. Problems= usually not enough wealth/resources to have a successful equal society.
23. Which country in Europe is the most populated? Germany
24. What are the characteristics shared by political cultures of the United Kingdom with USA and Mexico? A democratically elected national legislature (parliament and Prime Minister in Britain)
25. After studying the governments of the U.S., Latin America, and Europe, which type of government allows the greatest participation by ordinary citizens in the process of government decision making? Democracy (followed by a republic as 2nd most)
26. What is the European Parliament? Directly elected officials into branches of government
HISTORY
27. Explain the significance of Greece and Rome? Early cultural hearths of ancient Europe. Greece: Athens/Sparta- city-states… Allies against Persians until the Spartans used the Persians to stab Athens in the back. Sparta declines from non-stop wars.
a. Rome- Rise to power after Greece… Rapid expansion until overthrown by Barbarian tribes.
i. Coliseum – gladiators, plays, concerts
28. Know the significance of the following time periods:
a. Middle Ages- No big powers in Europe; smaller kingdoms- castles, knights, feudalism
b. Crusades-
c. Renaissance- Time of knowledge, philosophy, the arts… Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello
d. Reformation- Problems with Catholic Church in Europe… indulgences, money to priests, extravagant churches… Martin Luther 99 Theses… breaks away from Catholic Church
e. Enlightenment- challenging previous beliefs; politics, religion, science (Copernicus)
29. Know significance of WWI, WWII, and the Cold War?
30. Study the Russia notes from the Gallery walk.
a. Also, what was the former name of Russia when they were under communist control during WWII. Soviet Union
b. Also, who is the current president of Russia. Putin
Know the location of the following places:
Caucasus Mtns.; Danube River; Poland; North Sea; Apennines, Switzerland; Black Sea; Volga River; Austria; Thames River; Germany; Alps; Rhine River; Ukraine; Netherlands; Spain; Greece; Rome; Russia; Britain; Germany