Europe
I. Essential Skill: Where are important regions, continents, oceans, and major features
on maps and globes.
1. Where is the Iberian Peninsula?
2. Where is the Italian Peninsula?
3. Where is Scandinavia?
4. Where is Jutland?
5. Where is Great Britain?
6. Where is Ireland?
7. Where is Sicily?
8. What and where are Fjords?
9. Where are the Alps?
10. Where are the Pyrenees?
11. Where is the North European Plain?
12. Where is the Danube River?
13. Where is the Rhine River?
14. Where is the Seine River?
15. Where is the Volga River?
16. Where is the Adriatic Sea?
17. Where is the Aegean Sea?
18. Where is the Mediterranean?
19. Where is the Baltic?
20. Where is the North Sea?
21. Where is the Strait of Gibraltar?
22. Where is the Atlantic Ocean?
23. Where is the Arctic Ocean?
24. Where is Berlin?
25. Where is London?
26. Where is Paris?
27. Where is Madrid?
28. Where is Rome?
29. Where is Athens?
30. Where is Warsaw?
**Study your maps!!
II. Essential Skill: What are important economic characteristics of Europe?
How are mountain regions beneficial for tourism, recreation, and mineral resources?
Provide recreation for vacationers – skiing and tourism also provide minerals and hydroelectric power
What kind of industries have developed in the Po and Ruhr Valleys?
Heavy industries, steel mills and manufacturing, chemical industries; also some light manufacturing like textile industries
How do rivers and canals serve as major transportation links?
Rivers and canals provide for the transport of goods from within a country out for export; canals (which are man-made) may link navigable rivers that connect inland manufacturing centers to ports and harbors enhancing economic activity
What is the importance of the oil reserves in the North Sea?
Large oil producing region for Norway and the United Kingdom, it provides a valuable commodity, the North Sea has one of the largest non-OPEC oil producing regions in the world
Is the workforce of Europe well educated? What are examples of this?
Well-educated labor force with many tertiary sector jobs, such as retail and service industries (Switzerland – banking; Finland - #1 ranked education system; Sweden and Denmark with healthcare industries)
What are advanced farming techniques used in Europe? What is chernozem?
Mechanization, chemical fertilizers, genetically enhanced/modified food;
Chernozem – rich, fertile black soil found in the North European Plain
What is the function of the Chunnel?
Underground tunnel that connects the city of London, England to the city of Paris, France; the Eurostar is a high speed train that runs the track of the underwater tunnel
What is the importance of the European Union?
The European Union is an economic union that unites 28 European countries to promote free trade and open borders to travel and tourism. The alliance introduced a common currency, the euro, in 2002.
What is the GDP of Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Sweden?
These countries have the highest GDP’s in Europe. Switzerland ≈ $84,000; Luxembourg ≈$111,000; Sweden ≈ $60,000 (FYI the U.S. GDP ≈ $54,000)
What is the land size of the Ukraine, France, and Spain?
These are the largest countries in Europe ranked respectively: Ukraine is the largest of the European countries, followed by France and Spain.
What is the population of Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and France?
Germany – 81 million; U.K. – 64 million; Italy – 60 million; France – 66 million
How important is trade to island nations?
Very important to island nations because they cannot produce everything they need – resources are not distributed evenly!!
What role do the governments of Sweden and Denmark play in those countries’ economies?
Both countries have mixed economies and are considered welfare states which means the government plays a role in the management and provision of public programs like education, healthcare, retirement. This allows for a more even distribution of income and services but also comes with a very high tax rate.
How has the replacement of communism and capitalism impacted Eastern European nations?
Transition from communism to democracy, privatization of businesses and the shift to capitalism has left the economy of many Eastern European countries stagnant and their development status, GDP, and GNI well below many other countries in the world today, but, with the help of the EU, their economies could begin to grow in the future
What is the role of the EU (European Union)?
The EU is an economic alliance that works to promote trade and travel between member countries. This alliance now has 28 member countries which try to work together to eliminate trade tariffs (taxes) to make import and export of goods easier for one another. All countries must trade to get the goods they need, because resources are not distributed evenly. The EU allows member countries to practice comparative advantage (purchase what is cheaper for them buy than make) and specialize in the production of goods that can generate profit. The member countries have also adopted a single currency, the “euro” in order to make purchasing easier.
III. Essential Skill: What are important historical characteristics of Europe?
What is land reclaimed from the sea called? Where is it prominent?
Polders are found in the Low Countries of the Netherlands and Belgium (windmills)
What areas are threatened by pollution in Europe?
Black Forest of Germany, Canals of Venice, River systems – Danube of Eastern Europe, Rhine River of Germany and the Seine River of France
How has European culture spread to other parts of the world?
Originally - Exploration, Colonization, and Imperialism
(Modern day war, migration and trade)
What is the significance of the Industrial Revolution, and where did it get its start?
The Industrial Revolution started in Great Britain with the discovery of coal and iron ore. This lead to the development of machinery which replaced hand labor and factories replaced cottage industries culminating in a rise in industrial capitalism.
What are the major historical aspects of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?
Military alliance created through a treaty between the U.S. and several Western European nations during the Cold War era to defend countries from the threat of the spread of communism
Where was the Industrial Revolution born?
Great Britain with the discovery of coal and iron ore
IV. Essential Skill: What are important cultural characteristics of Europe?
What are important demographic features of Europe?
GDP – High
Life expectancy – High
Population growth – Low
Infant mortality rates – Low
Population ages – Low population under the age of 15
Literacy rate – High
Rate of urbanization – High urban population
Ethnic groups – Multi-ethnic, except Sweden which has a homogenous population
What are important pieces of cultural landscapes in Europe?
Notre Dame – Cathedral in Paris, France
Arc de Triomphe – Monument to commemorate Napoleon in Paris, France
Louvre – Museum in Paris, France
Eiffel Tower – Paris, France; built to commemorate the French Revolution
Colosseum – Rome, Italy
Leaning Tower of Pisa – Pisa, Italy
St. Peter’s Basilica – Home to the Pope, Large Roman Catholic Church in the Vatican City within Rome, Italy
Parthenon – Temple for the goddess Athena in Athens, Greece
Westminster Abbey – Church/Monastery in London, England
Big Ben – Clock Tower attached to Westminster Palace (seat of British Parliament)
Windmills – Low countries of the Netherlands/Polders
Castles – Throughout Europe dating back to the feudal era
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