Rebuilding the Balkan Countries

Chapter 7, Section 3

Consumer Goods Clothing, shoes,

and other goods that people use.

Ethnic Cleansing Forcing people of

other ethnic groups to leave their homes. Oftentimes these peoples died or were murdered.

Refugees People who flee to another country to

escape danger or disaster.

Mosques Muslim

houses of worship

Romania The Carpathian Mountains take up about one-third

of Romania’s land area. Economic activities include farming,

manufacturing, and mining. The forested mountains and central plateau

contain deposits of coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

About 56% of the people live in towns and cities. The capital and largest city is Bucharest.

Bulgaria Bulgaria’s land is mountainous. Its economy relies agriculture and

manufacturing. The Bulgarian language is similar to

Russian. Sofia is the capital and largest city.

Former Yugoslav Republics The republics used to be on country called

Yugoslavia. Disputes among ethnic groups tore the

country apart. Five countries emerged: Slovenia, Croatia,

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and Macedonia.

Slovenia Slovenia is the most peaceful and

prosperous of all the republics. It has the regions highest standard of living. Most Slovenians are Roman Catholic.

Croatia Zagreb is the capital. Croatia supports agriculture and industry. War between the Croats and Serbs has

damaged many places in Croatia. Croats are Roman Catholic and Serbs are

Eastern Orthodox Christians.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Mountainous and poor – this country has

an economy based mainly on crops and livestock.

Sarajevo is the capital. Many Bosnians are Muslim others are

Croats or Serbs. The Serbs started a bitter war in Bosnia

and now the two regions are split.

Serbia and Montenegro The economies are based on agriculture

and industry. The largest city is Belgrade.

Macedonia The capital is Skopje. Macedonia is a mix of different ethnic

groups including a huge wave of refugees from Kosovo who fled Serb forces in Serbia.

Albania Mountains cover most of Albania. Although it has valuable mineral resources,

Albania is a very poor country because it cannot afford to mine them.

Most Albanians live in the countryside. The capital is Tirana 70% of Albanians are Muslim and the rest

are Christian.

Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova

Chapter 7, Section 4

Steppe Gently rolling, partly wooded plain

Potash A mineral used in fertilizer

Ukraine The Carpathian Mountains rise

along the southwestern border. Farther east, a vast steppe covers the country. Numerous rivers flow across the steppe.

It is called the “breadbasket of Europe” because it has rich, dark soil and very productive farms.

In the 1930s, Joseph Stalin brought the farms under government control which caused a famine.

The capital is Kiev.

Belarus In Belarus you would see

stretches of birch tree groves, forested marshlands, and villages surrounded by fields.

Communist Party leaders are still in control in Belarus.

Belarus is still linked to Russia’s weak economy so foreign companies been unwilling to do business there .

The capital is Minsk.

Moldova Farmers grow sugar

beets, grains, potatoes, apples, tobacco, and grapes.

Most people from Moldova trace their culture to Romania.

Moldova’s culture is still based on a rural way of life.

The capital is Chisinau.

Assignment – Complete chart for a grade

Country Capital Gover-ment Religion Economy Land

Romania

Bulgaria

Slovenia

Croatia

Bosnia/Herzegovina

Serbia and Montenegro

Macedonia

Albania

Ukraine

Belarus

Moldova