Primary Document Exercise—Comparing Maps
Teacher Page
Overview:
The goal of this activity is to give students an understanding of the
location of European countries and how these countries perceived one
another.
Objectives:
Students will:
 Compare countries shown on the c. 1911 cartoon map to those
found on the 1911 political map of Europe.
 Determine English translation of German words from 1911
cartoon map using the 1911 political map of Europe.
 Contrast map of 1911 Europe to a current (c. 2005) map of
Europe.
 Create comparative map of Europe c. 2005 to Europe 1911.
Materials Needed:
Handouts for each student (Cartoon Map and 1911 Political Map). (If
possible, have students use these maps from the PowerPoint slides on
their computers. If students have the PowerPoint slides on computer
screens, they can enlarge the view!)
Up-to-date (c. 2005) political map of Europe from an atlas for each
student or for each small group of students.
Blank outline map of Europe.
Color pencils and thin black marker.
Lesson Strategies:
1. Begin by passing out the Cartoon Map and 1911 Political Map to
students. The directions instruct students to use the documents to get
place names from the German Cartoon Map and to translate them into
English. Students will record their answers on the answer sheets
provided.
2. Discuss the caricatures drawn to represent each country or empire.
In what ways so they portray strong or weak countries/empires?
Some countries/empires, such as Austria-Hungary and Germany are
holding weapons and look prepared and strong. Others, like Bulgaria,
look overwhelmed and small in comparison.
Which country/empire is shown to be the most threatening?
Russia is overbearing and ready to swallow up the others.
3. Upon completion of the translation exercise, have students
reference the c. 2005 map of Europe. How have political boundaries
changed in Europe since 1911? Which countries are not shown on
today’s map? Which countries have been added to the map?
European countries now exist where empires were shown on the 1911
maps.
Austria-Hungary has become Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Czech
Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia,
German Empire has become Germany and Poland
Russia is now Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, and
Estonia. (Part of the territory of today’s Poland was under control of
the Russian Empire.)
Ottoman Empire has become Turkey (primarily located to the west of
the Bosporus on the Black Sea; little of Turkey remaining in Europe),
Albania, Serbia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina..
4. Hand out a blank outline map of contemporary Europe (c. 2005) to
each student. Have students label each country of today’s Europe.
(Students may number each country on the blank outline map and
create a key with the country number and country name.) Next have
students use color pencils to shade the political map of Europe 1911
on top of the contemporary map of European countries. Outline each
country/empire’s 1911 border using the black marking pen.
5. Discuss the importance of territory to a country or an empire’s
strength. Consider Belgian’s importance in Africa and its size in
Europe. Consider Britain’s importance world-wide and its size.
Consider Russia’s size and its importance as an imperial power.
Belgium, The Netherlands, and Britain were rich and powerful during
this era and on up until WWI. Though small, these countries
prospered through their savvy trade ties and the colonization of lands
in Africa and Asia.
Russia, however, lost much of its power as civil unrest drew attention
from expansion to the empire’s internal turmoil.
German Place Names from Cartoon Map:
English Names:
Countries
Gross-Britannien
Russland
Osterreich-Ungarn
Deutschland
Schweiz
Spanien
Frankreich
Portugal
Italien
Turkei
Griechenland
Rumanien
Bulgarien
Belgien
Niederlande
Ireland
Countries
Great Britain
Russia
Bodies of Water
Nord-See
Atlantischer Ocean
Mittelandisches Meer
Schwarzes Meer
Ost-See
Bodies of Water
North Sea
Atlantic Ocean
Austria-Hungary
Germany
Switzerland
Spain
France
Portugal
Italy
Turkey
Greece
Rumania
Bulgaria
Belgium
Netherlands
Ireland
Mediterranean Sea
Black Sea
Baltic Sea
Europe, 1911.
Map of Europe, 2005