Name: ____________________

World Geography

Unit 4: Europe

Chapter 10- Physical Geography of Europe

Chapter 11- History and Cultures of Europe

Chapter 12- Europe Today

Psalm 47:8- God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy

throne.

First Things First: Fill in the first two parts of the chart (the K and the W). You will fill in the last column (L) at the end of the unit!

K (what I KNOW) W (What I want to learn) L (What I learned)

Chapter 10 Notes- Physical Geography of Europe

Essential Question- How do people use waterways? ___________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 1- Physical Features Landforms and Waterways

Europe’s ____________________________ is framed by the Atlantic Ocean and by several seas, including the Baltic, North, Mediterranean, and Black Seas.

Most of the land in Europe lies within ___________ miles (483 km) of a coast.

Only a few countries are ___________________________, meaning they do not border an ocean or a sea, but people in those areas still have access to coastal ports because of relatively long rivers.

Europe, a huge _______________________ with many smaller peninsulas branching out from it, includes many islands, such as Great Britain, Ireland, and Iceland in the Atlantic Ocean, and Sicily, Crete, and Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea.

The large number of peninsulas and islands has affected Europe’s _______________.

Groups of people separated by the seas, rivers, and mountains developed different __________________.

Today Europe has more than ______ independent countries.

Europe’s major landform is the Northern __________________________ Plain, which stretches across the northern half of the mainland from Belarus and Ukraine westward to France and the British Isles.

The rich __________ of the Northern European Plain produces grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy cattle.

The plain also has large deposits of __________, iron ore, and other minerals, which aid Europe’s industrial growth.

Other European lowlands include the Hungarian Plain and the _____________________ Steppe, a broad, grassy plain north of the Black Sea.

Highlands mark the northern border of the Northern European Plain, but steeper _________________ lie south of the plain.

Europe’s highest mountain ranges form the _________________ Mountain System, which stretches from Spain to the Balkan Peninsula.

It includes the Alps, the ____________________________, and the Carpathians.

The region’s highest peak is Mont ______________ in the Alps of France.

Europe’s mountains have never completely _________________________ movement.

____________________, or low areas between mountains, allow the movement of people and goods.

Three older highland areas are found in the northwest (from Sweden to Iceland), the Central Uplands (from southern Poland to France), and the ____________________ in Spain.

Many European rivers are ____________________, or wide and deep enough for ships to use.

The _______________ and Rhine Rivers and the canals that link them are important for transporting goods.

The fast-flowing rivers also generate ____________________.

_________________, though relatively few in number, are important for recreation and tourism.

Europe’s Resources

Almost ______________ of the world’s coal comes from Europe, and mining is a major source of jobs in many countries.

Petroleum and natural gas are found beneath the _________________ Sea.

In the highlands and mountains, swift-flowing rivers are used to create ___________________________ power.

Germany, Spain, and Denmark are leaders in building ______________ farms, which produce electricity from wind power.

Important natural resources in Europe include iron ore, manganese, ____________, marble, granite, and stone.

Fewer forests exist today due to clearing for farming, but Europe’s fertile soil provides rye, oats, wheat, and ___________________________.

______________ from the North Atlantic to the Mediterranean Sea are another natural resource.

Environmental Issues

Europe has become an economic ____________________________, but the impact on the environment has sometimes been harmful.

Examples of the damage include ____________________, air pollution, and water pollution.

Erosion occurred when people cut forests to create _________________________.

With no tree roots to hold it in place, the _____________________ washed away in the rain.

When air pollution from car exhaust and smoke from burning oil and coal mix with precipitation, _________ rain falls to Earth.

Acid rain has destroyed many forests and has harmed lakes, rivers, and historic ______________________.

By dumping ________________________, garbage, and industrial waste into the waters, countries have polluted the Mediterranean Sea as well as rivers and lakes.

Runoff from farms is another ________________________.

Runoff is precipitation that flows over the ground, often picking up ________________________ and fertilizers along the way.

When these chemicals enter a river, they encourage the growth of ______________, which affects the oxygen levels and eventually kills the fish.

Section 2- Climate Regions Wind and Water

Much of Europe enjoys a ________________ climate.

The North ____________________ Current carries warm waters from the Gulf of Mexico toward Europe.

Winds from the west pass over this water and carry more _____________________ to Europe.

These prevailing winds, known as ________________________, are a major influence on warming the European climate.

Warm winds from _________________ contribute to the high temperatures in southern Europe. Winter winds from Asia lower temperatures in eastern Europe.

Climate Zones

The _________________ west coast climate of northwestern and central Europe has two features: mild temperatures and abundant precipitation.

The mild temperatures allow for long _________________ seasons, even though farther north, the summer is shorter and cooler.

The precipitation typically falls in ____________________ and early winter, but the amount is affected by the rain shadow effect of the mountains.

_________________ thrive in much of Europe’s marine west coast climate zone.

Some forests consist of _________________ trees, which lose their leaves in the fall.

____________________ trees, also called evergreens, grow in cooler areas of this zone.

Eastern Europe and some areas of northern Europe have a _________________ continental climate.

This climate region has ________________ summers and colder winters than the marine west coast zone.

___________________ forests of deciduous and coniferous trees are found throughout this zone.

The _______________________________ zone, with hot, dry summers, includes much of southern Europe.

Winters are mild and _____________________.

The __________________________ and Alps block chilly northern winds from reaching Spain and Italy, and some mountains create rain shadows.

In southern France, the lack of a mountain barrier allows a cold, ___________ wind to blow in from the north.

This wind, called the ____________________, brings gusts to the land in winter and spring.

Countries in the Mediterranean climate zone also are affected by hot, dry winds from Africa to the ________________.

In Italy, these winds are called _________________________, and they bring uncomfortably humid conditions to southern Europe.

Vegetation in the dry Mediterranean climate includes low-lying shrubs and grasses, ______________ trees, and grapevines.

Europe has ___________ zones of extreme cold.

The ____________________________ zone covers parts of Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

The __________________ zone is found in the northern reaches of these countries and in Iceland.

The tundra is an area of vast __________________________ plains near the North Pole.

Because of Earth’s tilt, the sun shines on the far north for up to _________ hours a day in late spring and early summer.

In winter, __________________ also can last for 20 hours.

The _________________________ zone is found in the higher altitudes of the Alps and Carpathians where the climate is generally cool to cold.

The _________________ zone includes the southern part of Ukraine.

Steppes are dry, treeless ____________________.

The climate is not dry enough to be classified as ______________ but not wet enough for forests to flourish.

The humid subtropical zone is north of the _______________ Sea and has hot, wet summers and mild, wet winters.

Average temperatures on Earth have been inching upward for several _________________.

Today people are searching for the reasons, the consequences, and the solution, such as the ____________ Treaty.

Chapter 11- The History and Cultures of Europe

Essential Question- What forces have helped unify Europeans at different times? ____________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 1- History and Governments Ancient Europe

The story of European civilization begins with the ancient ____________________ and Romans, now known as the classical world.

These peoples settled near the ____________________________ Sea more than 2,500 years ago.

The earliest Greek civilizations began among farming and _________________ peoples who lived near the Aegean Sea.

They grew wealthy through ______________.

____________________ led to these civilizations’ decline, but independent territories called city-states developed throughout Greece.

The city-state of __________________ became one of the most powerful city-states in Greece.

Athens introduced the world’s first ____________________, a political system in which all citizens share in running the government.

__________________ and the arts also thrived in Athens.

Among the city-state’s great thinkers were ____________________, Plato, and Aristotle.

During the mid-300’s B.C., _______________________ II of Macedonia conquered Greece.

Philip’s son ______________________ the Great eventually ruled Egypt, Persia, and part of India.

Alexander died young, however, and his empire quickly broke into ___________________ kingdoms.

By about 130 B.C., the _____________________ had conquered most of the Greek kingdoms.

While Greece ruled the eastern Mediterranean, Rome became a dominant power on the _____________________ Peninsula.

Rome began as a _____________________ but changed to a republic in 509 B.C.

In a _______________________, people choose their leaders.

One of the Roman government’s achievements was the development of a _______________ of laws.

Written on bronze tablets known as the _____________________ Tables, the laws held that all free citizens had the right to be treated equally.

When Rome seized new territories, it allowed many of the conquered people to become Roman ___________________.

___________________________ created a strong state with loyal members.

The first emperor, or all-powerful ruler, was ____________________, who gained that position in 27 B.C.

His rule began a time of peace, artistic growth, and expanding trade that lasted for 200 years—a period called the _____________________________.

During the Pax Romana, _________________________ was developing in Palestine in the eastern part of the Roman Empire.

_________________________________ preached a message of love and forgiveness.

His enemies had Jesus _____________________, but his followers reported that Jesus rose from the dead.

Two early Christian leaders, _______________ and Paul, established the Christian Church in Rome.

Despite abuses against it, the new religion grew in popularity, and in A.D. 392, Christianity became Rome’s _________________ religion.

By the late A.D. 300s, the Roman ________________ was in decline and under attack.

About A.D. 395, the empire was divided into eastern and western parts, and in A.D. 476, it came to an ____.

Expansion of Europe

After Rome’s fall, Europe entered the _________________ Ages, a 1,000-year period between ancient and modern times.

During the Middle Ages, Christianity formed into ________ separate branches.

The Roman Catholic Church, based in Rome, was headed by a powerful _______________.

The Eastern __________________________ Church was centered in the Byzantine Empire.

About A.D. 800, a Germanic king named _________________________ united much of western Europe.

After his death, a new political and social system arose, called ___________________________.

Under this system, kings gave land to ________________.

In turn, nobles provided ___________________ service, becoming knights, or warriors, for the king.

Most western Europeans were poor ____________________ who worked hard and had limited freedom.

In feudal times, the Christian faith ________________ Europeans.

The religion of _______________, founded in the A.D. 600s by an Arab named Muhammad, was on the rise.

Followers of Islam, called ______________________, spread and gained control of Palestine, alarming Christians who considered this the Holy Land.

Beginning in the 1000s, nobles from western Europe gathered volunteers into large armies to win back the _____________ Land.

These religious wars were called the _______________________.

The Crusades had a major impact on Europeans. _________________ began to flow more steadily between Europe and the Muslim lands.

_________________ taxed the trade and took over land from nobles who left to fight in the Crusades.

As a result, feudalism gradually withered, and Europe’s kingdoms grew ___________________ and larger.

Many of them later became modern Europe’s _________________________________.

A nation-state is a country made up of people who share a common _____________________ or history.

In the 1300s, people all across Europe battled the ________________________ plague, or Black Death.

This disease killed about a _______________ of Europe’s population, causing a shortage of labor.

Workers, now in demand, earned ____________________ wages and gained more freedom.

Muslim-Christian conflict arose again in ___________________ in the late 1400s.

In what came to be known as the ______________________, Spanish rulers forced out the Muslims and united the country in 1492.

Between about 1350 and 1550, new interest in art and learning resulted in a period called the ____________________, or ―rebirth.‖

Poets, ___________________, and painters, such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, created stunning masterpieces.

During the 1500s, ____________________ led people to think that reason was just as important as faith in the path to knowledge.

In 1517 Martin __________________, a German religious leader, set out to reform, or correct, certain Roman Catholic practices.

Luther’s ideas sparked a religious movement called the ________________________, which led to a new form of Christianity called Protestantism.

Wars between Roman Catholics and ________________________ soon swept through Europe.

As the _______________________ of church leaders was challenged, kings and queens claimed more authority for themselves.

As Europe’s kingdoms grew stronger, European seafarers began a series of ocean voyages that led to a great age of ______________________________.

Sailing for Spain in 1492, Christopher ___________________________ tried to find a different route to Asia.

His voyage took him to the ____________________________, continents unknown in Europe at the time.

Other countries sent out their own explorers and founded colonies, or overseas settlements, in the Americas, __________________, and Africa.

Trade with the colonies brought Europe great wealth and power but often destroyed the ________________ cultures in the process.

Modern Europe

After the Renaissance, educated Europeans turned to __________________ as a way to find truth.

New ideas, such as those of Copernicus and __________________, sparked a revolution, or sweeping change, in the way people thought about life and nature.

This ________________________ Revolution led people to believe that reason could bring both truth and error to light.

As a result, the 1700s became known as the Age of _________________________.

Inspired by the American war for independence in 1775, the people of __________________ carried out their own political revolution in 1789.

Soon thereafter, Napoleon _____________________________ gained power and made himself emperor.

He was defeated in _________________.

Meanwhile, the Industrial Revolution was beginning in ____________________.

Instead of making goods by hand, people began using ________________________ and building factories.

Machines could produce goods faster and at lower cost, so people could now __________________ more things.

____________________________ advances helped European countries grow more powerful.

They developed many new _________________________ and competed aggressively for colonies.

_______________________ soon led to World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945).

A major horror of World War II was the _________________________, the mass killing of 6 million European Jews by Germany’s Nazi rulers.

After World War II, the United States and the Communist Soviet Union became rivals in a struggle for world power known as the _______________ War.

__________________________ is a system in which government controls the ways of producing goods.

In 1989 people in Eastern Europe forced several Communist governments from power and set up new _______________________________.

A year later, East and West Germany merged to become one ____________________________ state.

Then in 1991, the ________________________________ broke apart.

In ________________ several democracies in western Europe formed the European Union (EU).

Several eastern European countries joined ______________.

The goal of the ____________ is to unite Europe.

The European Union allows goods, services, and workers to move freely among ______________ countries.

It has also created a common EU currency called the ____________.

Member countries can now trade more __________________ among themselves because there is no need to exchange currencies.

Section 2- Cultures and Lifestyles Population Patterns

Today Europe is home to many ____________________ groups.

An ethnic group is a group of people with shared _____________________, language, and customs.

Having a common heritage or culture creates _________________ among people.

National ethnic loyalties have also led to conflict, such as that in _____________________ in the 1990s.

Despite some divisions, Europeans have a growing sense of ________________________.

Shared values go beyond ethnic or _______________________- loyalties.

For example, Europeans value democracy and human rights and believe governments must care for their _________________________.

Many European countries are ____________________ states in which the government is the main provider of support for the sick, the needy, and the retired.

Because of recent ________________________ of people from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, Europe’s population is undergoing change.

Although the number of immigrants is increasing, the region’s overall population is decreasing due to a low ____________________ rate, or the average number of children born to each woman.

Europe is expected to have __________ percent fewer people by 2050.

Life in Europe

The Industrial Revolution changed Europe from a rural, farming society to an ________________, industrial society.

The concentration of people in towns and cities is known as ______________________.

Today, _____________ of every four Europeans live in cities.

Europe boasts one of the world’s most advanced _______________________ networks, which includes railway, highway, river and canal, and airline systems.

Most transportation systems are ____________________ owned.

Europeans tend to be well _____________________, with more than three-fourths of young people completing high school.

Because of their high levels of education, Europeans earn more ________________ than people in many other parts of the world.

In many European countries, workers receive __________ weeks of paid vacation each year.

Religion and the Arts

For centuries, _________________________ was a major influence in European life.

Since the 1700s, however, European attitudes have become more __________________, or nonreligious.

_____________________ and Islam also have influenced European culture.

Today, Jewish communities thrive in ____________ major European cities, and Muslim immigrants are pouring into the region by the thousands.

For the most part, Europeans of different faiths live together _____________________.

In some cases, though, religious differences have led to _____________________.

Examples are the Catholic–Protestant hostilities in _______________________ Ireland and the troubles among Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Muslim groups on the Balkan Peninsula in the 1990s.

The ____________ have flourished in Europe for centuries.

Chapter 12 Notes- Europe Today

Essential Question- What factors help make a region an important world economic center? _____________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section 1- Northern Europe The United Kingdom

____________ regions make up the United Kingdom: England, Scotland, and Wales on the island of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland on the nearby island of Ireland.

Everyone in the United Kingdom is considered __________________, but people sometimes differentiate by referring to the English, the Scots, the Welsh, or the Irish.

The island of Great Britain is separated from the rest of Europe by the ______________________________.

England’s ________________________ farms are in the rolling fertile plains in the eastern and southern parts of the country.

__________________ herding is found in the rough highlands and mountains in Scotland and Wales.

The United Kingdom exports manufactured goods and machinery and is increasing its computer, ________________, and service industries.

__________________ is a world center of finance and business.

Oil and natural gas, extracted from fields beneath the North Sea, are the leading __________________ sources, as well as valuable exports, for the United Kingdom.

The government of the United Kingdom is a _________________________ monarchy.

A king or ________________ serves as head of state and takes part in ceremonies, but elected officials run the government.

The British trace this form of government to the early 1200s when King John of England signed the _______________________ a document that took away some of the king’s powers.

The United Kingdom is a __________________________ democracy as well as a constitutional monarchy.

Voters elect members of ____________________, and the leader of the party with the most elected officials becomes prime minister, or head of the government.

Parliament is a ___________________________ body that arose in 1628.

One of its first acts was to force King Charles I to sign the Petition of _______________, reducing the power of the monarchy.

Parliament gained more power in 1689 through the _____________________ Bill of Rights.

Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have regional __________________________ that control matters such as health care and education.

Almost all of the United Kingdom’s _________ million people live in cities and speak English, although Welsh, Scottish and Gaelic are spoken in some areas.

Most are _____________________________ Christians.

During the 1700s and 1800s, the United Kingdom had a powerful empire, and British _________________ spread to many lands.

The Republic of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland is a _____________________ country that occupies the southern five-sixths of the island of Ireland.

It won its independence from the United Kingdom in ________________, but the British still control Northern Ireland.

The interior of Ireland is a lowland plain with gently rolling _______________.

The coastal areas are ________________ highlands and towering cliffs.

Low-lying areas are rich in __________, or plants that have partly decayed in water.

Peat is dug from ___________, or low swampy lands.

It is then dried and can be burned for _______________.

Irish farmers raise sheep and cattle and grow vegetables such as sugar ____________ and potatoes.

Other Irish citizens work in industries that produce clothing, pharmaceuticals, and ____________________ equipment.

In recent years, the productivity of the Irish workers has helped Ireland’s __________________.

_________________________ is a measure of how much work a person does in a specific amount of time.

More goods produced mean more profits and _________________ wages.

The Irish trace their ancestry to the _____________ who settled the island hundreds of years ago.

Irish __________________, a Celtic language, and English are Ireland’s two languages.

About _________ percent of the Irish live in cities or towns.

Nearly one-third live in _________________, the capital.

Catholics in the Republic of Ireland and Protestants in Northern Ireland have disputed for many years over whether to unify the __________ countries.

In 1998 the two sides agreed to end the ______________________, but the issue still is not resolved.

Scandinavia

________________________, the northernmost part of Europe, is made up of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland.

Warm winds from the North Atlantic give Scandinavia’s southern and western areas a ___________ climate.

Central Scandinavia has long, _________ winters and short, warm summers.

The region near the ___________________ Circle is always cold.

It has summer days when the sun ______________ sets and winter days when the sun never rises.

Scandinavia’s landscape is varied because of its __________________ size.

The region has islands along the coasts, lowland plains, mountains, forests, and lakes as well as barren tundra that remains ___________________ most of the year.

Two tectonic plates are pulling apart near the island of _______________, allowing hot magma to rise to the surface.

This creates hot springs and ______________, which are springs that shoot hot water and steam into the air.

Norway is known for its many beautiful ______________, or narrow inlets of the sea.

Fjords provide inland __________________ that supply fish for food and export.

The countries of Scandinavia are _____________________ and prosperous, with an economic mix of agriculture, fishing, manufacturing, and service industries.

Oil, natural gas, and hydroelectric power are the energy sources for ________________, Finland, and Sweden.

Iceland taps molten rock beneath the surface to make ______________________ energy, or electricity produced by natural underground sources of steam.

Sweden has reserves of iron ore that it uses to produce _________________ for a variety of products, including Saab and Volvo cars.

_____________________________ is important in Finland and Denmark, as are wood and wood product industries in Finland and Sweden.

Most Scandinavians belong to the Protestant ______________________ Church.

During the Middle Ages, Scandinavian sailors and traders known as ________________ laid the foundation of the modern nations.

Today Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are _________________________________ monarchies.

Finland and Iceland are republics with _________________ presidents.

The Scandinavian countries are ___________________ states, providing health care, child care, elder care, retirement benefits, and help for the needy.

In return for these services, the people pay some of the _____________________ taxes in the world.

Section 2- Europe’s Heartland France and the Benelux Countries

France, the ____________________-largest country in Europe, includes the vast Northern European Plain, southern mountain ranges, and important rivers, such as the Seine and the Loire.

France’s agriculture is characterized by ___________________________, or the focus on certain activities to make the best use of resources.

Two areas of specialization are growing ________________ for making wine and raising dairy cattle and sheep for milk to make cheese.

Workers in industrial areas make cars and ___________________, chemicals, textiles, and processed foods.

High-technology industries and ___________________ are also important to the economy.

The majority of the population speaks _____________________ and is Roman Catholic.

_______________ is France’s second religion, as a result of recent immigration from Muslim lands in Africa.

Most of France’s 60.7 million people live in _________________ areas, including almost 10 million in Paris.

France is a democratic republic with both a _______________________, elected by the people, and a prime minister, appointed by the president.

The president has a great deal of ________________ and can even dismiss the legislature, forcing new elections to be held.

Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg—the _____________________ countries—are low, flat, and densely populated.

Most people live in ________________, work in businesses or factories, and enjoy a high standard of living.

All three nations are __________________________ democracies with monarchs as heads of state.

Belgium, with few natural resources of its own, imports raw materials to make and export vehicles, chemicals, and _______________________.

________________, the capital of Belgium, is headquarters of the European Union (EU).

___________________ is the center of the world diamond industry.

Some of Belgium’s people speak __________________, some speak French, and some are bilingual, speaking both Dutch and French.

The people of the Netherlands are known as the _______________, and about 90 percent live in cities and towns.

They work in service industries, manufacturing, and trade and also export _____________, vegetables, and flowers including about 2 million tulip bulbs each year.

About 25 percent of the Netherlands lies _____________ sea level.

The Dutch have built ______________, or banks of soil, to control and confine the sea.

Then they pump the wetlands dry, leaving drained land called _______________, which has rich farming soil.

Luxembourg, whose people have a mixed French and ________________ background, is one of Europe’s smallest countries.

Many multinational companies, or firms that do business in several countries, have their _____________________________ here.

Germany and the Alpine Countries

Germany’s physical features include the flat Northern European Plain; rocky highlands containing rich coal deposits; the forested Alps; and the Danube, Elbe, and Rhine Rivers, which are major __________________________ routes.

Germany was created from a _________________________ of states in 1871, but after World War II, it was split again into Communist-ruled East Germany and democratic West Germany.

After the collapse of communism, the two parts of Germany were ______________________ in 1990.

Germany today is a _________________ republic, or a system in which the national and state governments share powers.

An elected president serves as Germany’s _______________________ head of state, but the country’s chancellor, chosen by Parliament, is the real head of government.

Germany has the _________________ population in Europe, with nearly 90 percent of the people living in urban areas.

Almost all of the country’s people are ________________ Germans, Protestant or Catholic, and speak German.

Immigrants from eastern Europe and _________________ include many Muslims and Jews.

Germany is a _______________ economic power and a leader in the European Union (EU).

Its economy is driven by ________________________ and by industry, especially the manufacture of steel, chemicals, cars, and electrical equipment.

German firms, investing ________________ for research and development of desirable and competitive products, avoided a decline in manufacturing in the late 1900s.

In 1990 East and West Germany agreed to ______________________, or joining together under one government.

The _______________ countries are Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein.

Liechtenstein is a tiny country of only ________ square miles (161 sq. km)—smaller than Washington, D.C.

Switzerland, an important country internationally, practices _____________________, or refusal to take sides in wars.

Many different ethnic groups and religions and _________ national languages are found in Switzerland.

Switzerland is known for producing electronic equipment, chemicals, fine ________________ and watches, chocolate, and cheeses.

A large part of the economy is dependent upon ___________________ services.

Austria’s primary resources are ____________________ and iron ore that come from the mountains, and its rivers generate hydroelectric power.

The country produces machinery, chemicals, metals, and ____________________ but also has strong banking and insurance industries.

The people of Austria mainly speak _______________ and are Roman Catholic, and most live in cities and towns.

____________________, the capital, has long been a cultural and learning center.

It is a popular destination for ________________________.

Section 3- Southern Europe Spain and Portugal

Spain and Portugal are located on the __________________ Peninsula.

They share it with tiny _____________________, nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains.

Most of Spain is covered by the __________________, a dry plateau surrounded by mountains.

Dry farming, or leaving the land ________________________ every few years so that it can store moisture, allows wheat and vegetables to be grown in this area, which has little rain.

Spain’s mild climate along the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea provides ideal conditions for the growing of ________________ fruits, olives, and grapes.

___________________ Spanish is Spain’s official language, but some regions have their own languages.

In the Pyrenees, the __________________ people speak Euskera, a language that is unrelated to any other in the world.

Most of Spain’s 43.5 million people live in urban areas, such as _______________, the capital, and Barcelona, the leading seaport and industrial center.

Most are Roman ___________________, although a large number of North African Muslims have migrated to Spain in recent years.

After years of rule by a dictator, Spain became a ___________________________ in the late 1970s.

In recent times, Spain’s democratic government has given the different regions of Spain greater ___________________, or self-rule.

In the Basque region of the country, many people want to be separate from Spain and have used __________________ to try to achieve this goal.

Similarly, Spain was shaken in 2004 when terrorist attacks by suspected Muslim militants killed __________ people on Madrid trains.

Most Portuguese live in ______________ villages on the Atlantic coast, where some earn a living by fishing.

Important crops are grapes for wine making and ____________ trees that provide cork.

Closeness to the ocean helped __________________ become a sea power during the 1500s.

Portugal has a ______________________ government, and its economy is growing stronger through subsidies from the European Union (EU).

___________________ are special payments a government makes to support a particular group or industry.

Italy

Italy and its island of _______________ are on the Mediterranean Sea.

The Alps tower over northern Italy, and the ________________ Mountains form a backbone through the country and into Sicily.

Northern Italy has a leading industrial economy, producing cars, technical instruments, __________________________, clothing, and high-quality goods.

The north’s fertile __________ River valley is a rich farming region, producing grapes, olives, and livestock.

Southern Italy is ____________________ and less industrialized than northern Italy.

Many people have left the south to find work and a better life _____________________.

About 90 percent of Italy’s 58.7 million people live in urban areas, speak ____________________, and are Roman Catholic.

_______________, the capital, was once the center of the Roman Empire.

Today it is home to the country’s democratic ____________________ form of government.

Greece

Greece extends from the __________________ Peninsula into the Mediterranean Sea and includes not only the mainland, but also about 2,000 islands.

Agricultural production is declining in Greece, but some farmers still raise _____________, goats, wheat, and olives.

In recent decades, Greece has developed new industries. Greece also has one of the world’s largest _____________________ fleets.

About 60 percent of Greeks are urban dwellers with nearly a third living in or around ______________, the capital.

The Greeks speak a form of Greek similar to that spoken in __________________ times.

Most are Greek _____________________ Christian.

Greece is a democratic republic and a member of the _____________________ Union.

Section 4- Eastern Europe

Poland, Belarus, and the Baltic Republics

___________________ borders the Baltic Sea. The Carpathian Mountains rise on the southern and western edges of the country, but most of Poland is a fertile lowland plain.

After World War II, a Communist government came to power in Poland and set up a command economy, in which the __________________________ decides what, how, and for whom goods will be produced.

Poland’s postwar government produced few products for consumers, which led to __________ shortages.

The Poles wanted a better life, and, in the 1980s, workers and farmers formed ________________, a labor group that supported peaceful democratic change.

Communist leaders allowed ____________ elections in 1989, and a new democratic government was formed.

This event helped bring about the fall of Communist governments that had long ruled in __________________ Europe.

Poland quickly moved toward a ___________________ economy, a system in which individuals and businesses make the decisions about how they will use resources and what goods and services to make.

Poland is one of the world’s top producers of _____________ and potatoes, but industries are growing, too, making use of coal and other minerals.

Many people are moving from rural areas to the cities of _____________________ and Kraków.

_____________________, independent now but once part of the Soviet Union, still has strong ties to Russia.

Its leaders favor strong government and a ________________________ economy.

Belarus has few resources other than _____________________, a mineral used in making fertilizer.

Industries include processing fertilizer and manufacturing trucks, _____________, televisions, and bicycles.

Government-controlled farms produce vegetables, _________________, and other crops.

Most people in Belarus are Eastern Orthodox _____________, two-thirds of whom live in cities, such as Minsk, the capital.

The Baltic Republics—____________________, Latvia, and Estonia—lie on the shores of the Baltic Sea.

These Baltic countries became independent when the Soviet Union broke apart in _______________ and have large Russian minority populations.

Most people in Estonia and _________________ are Protestant, while Roman Catholics make up the majority in Lithuania.

All three Baltic Republics have seen strong economic ________________ since the mid-1990s.

Their well-developed economies are based on dairy farming, beef production, fishing, shipbuilding, and the manufacture of _______________________________ equipment.

The Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary

The ______________ Republic has a landscape of rolling hills, lowlands, and plains bordered by mountains.

Large fertile areas make the country a major ________________________________________ producer.

Although Communists controlled the government for years, the Czechs rapidly moved from a command economy to a free ______________ economy in the 1990s.

Czech factories produce machinery, vehicles, __________________, textiles, beer, and crystal.

Rapid industrialization, however, has caused ___________________________ problems.

The Czechs have a relatively ____________ standard of living.

Most of the country’s people live in cities, such as _________________, the capital.

_____________________ is a popular vacation spot with its mountains, forests, and lakes.

Independent since 1993, the Slovaks are moving __________________ to a free market economy.

Most Slovaks are devout _________________, and nearly 60 percent live in towns and cities, such as Bratislava, the capital.

___________________, once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, later came under Communist rule.

Today it is a democracy headed by a ____________________.

Its capital, ____________________, straddles the Danube River.

Hungary’s language is ______________________.

The people descend from the ____________________, who moved into the area from Central Asia about 1,000 years ago.

Hungary has few natural resources besides its fertile farming land, but it imports raw materials for manufacturing and then exports _______________________, food products, and other goods.

Countries of Southeastern Europe

Ukraine is the ______________________ country in all of Europe.

It lies on a lowland plain near the __________________ Sea, with the Carpathian Mountains along its southwestern border.

Ships carrying goods to distant markets navigate the ______________________ River.

Ukraine’s western region is agricultural and produces grains, fruits, vegetables, _________________, and sheep.

Most of the people in the west are of Ukrainian _____________________.

The eastern region, with its own _____________ and iron ore, is industrial, producing cars, ships, locomotives, and airplanes.

The people here are mostly ethnic _____________________.

Ukraine became independent when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, but now ethnic divisions ________________ the country.

______________________ drove out the Communists in a bloody revolt in 1989.

With a wealth of natural resources, such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas, Romania’s industrial output is rising after a deep economic _______________________.

Romans once ruled this region, and the Romanian language is based on the _____________ spoken in ancient Rome.

In rural areas, farmers grow grains, grapes, and other crops. Many of Romania’s citizens are Eastern Orthodox ___________________________.

_______________________ is sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania.

As Europe’s ___________________ country, Moldova has productive farms but little else, due to few mineral resources and limited industry.

Farming, manufacturing, and ___________________ form the base of Bulgaria’s economy.

Most Bulgarians are Eastern Orthodox Christian, but a sizable minority is ____________________.

___________________, on the Adriatic Sea, is the only country in Europe with a majority Muslim population.

In Albania, farmers outnumber factory workers.

It is one of the ____________________ countries in Europe.

Slovenia, _________________, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro are part of the Balkan region.

All of these countries came into existence in the 1990s, pulling apart from a Communist country called __________________________.

When Yugoslavia dissolved, ____________________ broke out among the regions, with Serbia striving to dominate.

The heaviest fighting took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the Serbs carried out _______________ cleansing, or removing or killing an entire ethnic group.

Slovenia is one __________________ country that has experienced economic growth since it gained independence.

Slovenian industries produce machinery, appliances, vehicles, and _____________________ supplies.