NE - Northern and Eastern Europe Module Overview

Northern and Eastern Europe

Picture of Fira at Santorini Island, Greece taken from the north side.

Introduction

Europe, unlike many of the other continents, is made up of many peninsulas and islands. In this module we will explore the Northern peninsulas and islands, as well as the Eastern landlocked countries. Throughout the module we will evaluate how cooperation and conflict among people have influenced the division and control of the earth's surface. 

 

Essential Questions

  • How does climate and the availability of fresh water impact human settlement patterns?
  • How has culture influenced the development or formation of countries?  
  • How have resources and religion influenced modern conflicts?

 

Key Terms

  • Bogs - land that is marshy and has little elevation.
  • Christianity - the religion of Christians. A monotheistic religion founded on the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
  • Communism - a political system where the government controls the economy and society.
  • Fossil fuels - a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms.
  • Eastern Orthodox - the faith, practice, and church order of the Greek Orthodox Church. Adherence to the forms of Christian doctrine and practice which are generally regarded as Eastern or Greek Orthodox rather than Protestant or Catholic.
  • European Union - The European Union is a political and economic union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe.
  • Infrastructure - the physical buildings, roads, and utilities of a country.
  • Islam - the religion of Muslims. A monotheistic religion revealed by the prophet Muhammad.
  • Landlocked - a country without access to an ocean or sea.
  • Mineral - a naturally occurring inorganic element such as: salt, gold, silver.
  • Muslim - A follower of the religion of Islam.
  • Current - a continuous, directed movement of seawater.
  • Peninsula - is a piece of land which extends from a larger body of land and is bordered mainly by water.  
  • Polders - a stretch of land reclaimed from the sea or a lake.
  • Protestant - a form of Christianity separate from Roman Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy. Some of the major protestant branches include the Baptist, Methodist, and Lutheran faiths.
  • Scandinavia - includes the countries of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
  • Shield - an area of rolling hills that was formed by receding glacial ice sheets. Its thousands of lakes are linked by rivers.
  • Slavs - the people of Eastern Europe who speak Slavic languages.
  • Slavic languages - the languages native to the Slavic peoples from Eastern Europe. Russian, Polish, and Bulgarian are examples of Slavic languages.
  • Soviet Union - (officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) was a socialist state in Eastern Europe and Asia that existed from 1922 to 1991.
  • Supranational - a type of multinational political union

 

RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.