Name: ____________________________________________________ Hr.______
Guided Notes: Northern and Western Europe
The countries of northern and western Europe have had a tremendous influence throughout the world. Great Britain
and France were among the greatest colonial powers. They spread their languages, educational, and political
systems worldwide.
~ Holt; World Geography Today
Places to Know:
British Isles
England
Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
The British Isles are made up of two independent countries:

Republic of ___________________.
o occupies all but the northern part of the island of Ireland

___________________________________ (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
o often referred to as _________________ or ____________________________
o consists of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
Cities
Ireland’s capital and largest city is ______________________.
The capital of the United Kingdom is _________________________. It is also the largest city, the
cultural center, and the world _______________________________.
History
Lowland Britain has developed a complex _____________________________.
About 5,000 years ago, the earliest settlers left their mark with monuments like
______________________.
Later the ____________________ (ancestors of the Scots, Welsh, and Irish), occupied the island.
Then the _________________________ came and built fortified towns.
And after, ____________________ (Angles and Saxons) drove the Celtic people to the highlands.
______________________ from Scandinavia raided the coastal areas and also built settlements.
In 1066, _______________________________ conquered England (William the Conqueror).
Normandy is now part of ________________________.
Each of these peoples left an imprint on lowland Britain. This process of settlement by successive
groups of people, with each group creating a distinctive cultural landscape, is called
_________________________________________.
The British Empire
In the 1600s and 1700s, British explorers and settlers founded ___________________ around the
world. By 1801, England had brought Ireland, Scotland, and Wales into the ______________
___________________. The colonies provided ________________________for British industries
and served as _________________________________. The empire spread the _____________
_____
_____________________________________________________________________.
The colonies that became the ________________________ were part of the British Empire when
they declared independence in 1776. Over time, most of the other colonies gained independence
as well.
Ireland gained independence in 1921, after it suffered from a _____________________________
(a widespread shortage of food that leads to hunger and starvation). About __________________
Irish died and many _______________________ to other countries, including the United States.
Cultural Geography of the British Isles
Language – Main language is ____________________; however, a small number of Irish and
Scots speak _____________________.
Government – Both Ireland and Britain are ___________________________, but are organized
differently. Ireland is a ________________________, and the _________________ is the head
of state. Britain is a __________________________________ where the __________________
is the head of state, but a ____________________________ led by a Prime Minister serves as
the lawmaking branch of government.
Religion – (biggest difference) The majority of the Irish are _____________________________
but the United Kingdom is mainly ________________________. This difference has caused a
great deal of violence between __________________ and ______________________________.
France
Places to Know:
Paris
Seine River
Lyon
Alps
French Riviera
Corsica
Cities
Paris is the capital and primate city of France (that is a city that ranks first and dominates a
country in terms of economy and population.)
Paris is one of Europe’s largest and most important cities:

About _____________________ people live in the metro area

Founded more than 2,000 years ago on the ________________________

A center for fashion, French culture, and ______________________
History and Culture
France is one of Europe’s largest and __________________________________ countries.
Like the United Kingdom, France was carved out by the successive waves of migrants… including
the ________________________________________________________________________.
Cultural Geography of France
Language – Main language is __________________; although a small percentage speak
_______________________________________________________.
Government – France has a _______________________________________. There is a
_________________________ and a _______________________. The president appoints a
__________________________________ who runs the government.
Religion – 90% of France’s population is _______________________________.
Economy – France’s economy is highly diversified. In addition to fashion design, the French
produce cosmetics, jewelry, glassware and _______________________________ in the world.
_____________________ is especially important. In addition to visiting Paris, people ski the
________________________, and enjoy the _______________________ (Mediterranean coast.)
Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg)
Places to Know:
North
Sea
Belgium
Netherlands
Luxembourg
Amsterdam
Germany
Flanders
Wallonia
France
Cities
Brussels is the capital of Belgium. It is the location of the headquarters for the
________________________________. It is also the headquarters of ____________________
___________________________________________and other international corporations.
Brussels is known as one of Europe’s most ______________________________ cities, meaning
that it is characterized by many ___________________________________.
____________________________ is the capital of the Netherlands.
____________________ is also in the Netherlands. It is one of the busiest __________________
in the world.
History
Belgium, the Netherlands (Holland), and Luxemburg make up the Benelux countries.
Because of their position between three powerful countries _______________________________
________________ – all three of the Benelux countries have been fought over by foreign powers.
After _____________________, the Benelux countries established a political and economic union
that eventually led to the creation of the __________________________ (which we will look
closer at later).
Physical Geography
Similar to Louisiana, large areas of the Netherlands are _________________________________.
The ______________ (people of the Netherlands) have created an elaborate system of ________
__________________ to reclaim the land they have lost to the North Sea. In fact, after
________________________________, delegates from Louisiana went to the Netherlands to
study their _______________________________.
Cultural Geography of Benelux
Language – ________________ is spoken in the Netherlands and in northern Belgium. In
Belgium, the dialect is called ____________________. Although __________ speak Dutch,
______________________ is also spoken frequently.
The northern coastal region of Belgium (where Flemish is spoken) is called _________________.
The French speaking Belgians in the southern portion of Belgium are known as
______________________, and the region is known as __________________________.
Government – The Benelux countries have a __________________________________.
Economy – Belgium’s economy is based on industry, agriculture, _________________________,
and ________________________. The Dutch economy in the Netherlands is known for its world
famous _____________________ and ____________________ The population is well educated,
productive, and supported by expensive government _________________________.
Luxembourg has _________________________________ in the world - $36,400. It is a steel
producing country, but _________________________________ is the most important industry.
Scandinavia
Places to Know:
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Finland
Iceland
Lapland
Cities
Due to the extreme ___________________, most Scandinavians live in the southernmost parts of
their countries and about 85% live in _________________________________.
•
_________________________ is the capital of Denmark.
•
________________ is the capital of Norway.
•
_____________________ is the capital of Finland.
•
_____________________ is the capital of Sweden.
•
______________________ is the capital of Iceland.
Greenland and Iceland
Greenland is not really green. _______% of the island is covered in a thick ice cap and the interior
of the island is _________________________ (cannot support human life and settlement). Most
residents live along the _______________________________. It is a self-governing territory of
_______________________________.
_______________ is greener than its name implies. Residents live on the __________________
because the island’s interior is also uninhabitable. There is a lot of _________________________
on the island. ____________________, hot springs that shoot water into the air are plentiful. This
hot water is used to ______________________________________________________.
Lapland
Lapland stretches across northern __________________________________________________.
The region is mainly ________________ and is populated by _____________ – or Sami, who
probably originated in Asia. Their economy is traditionally based in ________________________.
History
The Scandinavian countries are the ________________________ countries in Europe. The region
is infamously known for the fierce ______________________________ who raided the shores of
Europe. Viking ______________________ featured many technological innovations. They were
lighter, faster, easier to sail, and more durable than other ships of their time.
Cultural Geography of Scandinavia
Language – Except for _____________________, Scandinavian languages ________________
________________________. Speakers of Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian can generally
understand one another.
Government – All of the Scandinavian countries have _______________________________.
_____________________________, where the government owns the means of producing goods,
is becoming more and more prominent.
Religion – Almost all Scandinavians are __________________________________.
Putting it all together…
Places to Know:
North
Sea
Germany
Atlantic
Ocean
Spain
British Isles
England
Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Paris
Seine River
Lyon
Alps
French Riviera
Corsica
Belgium
Netherlands
Luxembourg
Amsterdam
Flanders
Wallonia
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Finland
Iceland
Lapland