Primary Document Exercise—Comparing Maps
Student Worksheet:
1. Study the Cartoon Map of Europe Pre WWI. Compare this map to
the Political Map of Europe, 1911.
The place names written on the Cartoon Map are in German. Use the
Political Map Europe, 1911 to translate the German names into
English. Record your responses on the sheet provided.
2. Study the caricatures drawn on the Cartoon Map to represent each
country or empire.
In what ways do the drawings portray strong or weak
countries/empires? Explain.
Which country/empire is shown to be the most threatening? Why?
3. Compare the 1911 Political and Cartoon maps to a modern (c.
2005) map of Europe.
Which empires no longer exist?
Which countries have remained the same?
4. On the blank outline map provided, label the countries of today’s
Europe. (Number each country on the blank outline map and create a
key with the country number and country name.) Next use color
pencils to shade the Political Map of Europe, 1911 on top of the
contemporary map of European countries. Outline each
country/empires of 1911 using the black marking pen to clearly show
boundaries.
5. Discuss the importance of territory to a country or an empire’s
strength at 1911.
Consider Belgian’s importance in Africa and its size in Europe.
Consider Britain’s importance world-wide and its size.
Why were Britain and Belgium strong even though they were small
countries?
Consider Russia’s size and its importance as an imperial power. Why
did Russia’s power as an empire builder lessen by 1914?
German Place Names:
Names:
English
Countries
Gross-Britannien
Russland
Osterreich-Ungarn
Deutschland
Schweiz
Spanien
Frankreich
Portugal
Italien
Turkei
Griechenland
Rumanien
Bulgaria
Countries
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Bodies of Water
Nord-See
Atlantischer Ocean
Mittelandisches Meer
Schwarzes Meer
Ost-See
Bodies of Water
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Europe, 1911.