Question

100 POINTS!!!

In a paragraph of 125 words, discuss the relationship between history and geography for one of the places studied in this lesson.In a paragraph of 125 words, discuss the relationship between history and geography for one of the places studied in this lesson.


In this lesson, you've learned that a number of relationships exist between Eastern Europe's history and geography:

The Balkans provides a land bridge between Europe and Asia and is a route between the Mediterranean and Black Seas.
The region of the Balkans was divided between the Roman and Byzantine Empires.
Muslims ruled the peninsula by the 1400s.
The assassination of the Archduke Ferdinand led to World War I.
After the war, the culturally diverse nation of Yugoslavia was formed. This nation eventually became the nations of Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Croatia, and Macedonia.

The Baltic states' location along the Baltic Sea was beneficial in the areas of trade and transportation, but made it susceptible to invasion.
The countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania spent much time under Russian and Soviet control.
After regaining their independence, they formed alliances for protection:
Peacekeeping Battalion (Baltbat),
NATO, and
EU.

Ukraine's location between Asia and Europe factored into its history. It suffered much as a result of Soviet control:
Famine resulted from the collectivization of its farms.
Radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl disaster damaged the health of its people and its environment.

Russia's geographic features protect its lands and enabled its expansion.
By the early twentieth century, it ruled most of northern Eurasia and became the Soviet Union.
The Soviet Union grew to include fifteen republics.
The Soviet Union became a world power, entering into a "Cold War" with the world's other superpower, the U.S.

The Cold War was a period of great unrest in Eastern Europe and the world.
The world's superpowers tried to expand their influence into the less-economically developed areas.
Problems within the Soviet Union and rebellion by its republics brought the end of the Soviet Union and the Cold War.

Answer 1

The Balkans region is surrounded by mountains and connects Europe with Asia. The land bridge is a route between the Mediterranean and Black Seas and is divided between the Roman and Byzantine Empires. By the 1400s, the peninsula was ruled by Muslims. The assassination of Archduke Ferdinand led to World War I and Yugoslavia was eventually formed. Similarly, the Baltic States have a location along the Baltic Sea, which provided trade and transportation benefits but also made them susceptible to invasion. These three countries spent much time under Russian and Soviet control. After regaining independence, the nations formed alliances such as the NATO for protection. Meanwhile, Ukraine, which lies between Asia and Europe, suffered economically under Soviet control with famine and radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl disaster. Finally, Russia's geographic features protect its lands and enabled its expansion. It ruled most of northern Eurasia and became a world power along with the U.S. during the Cold War. Problems within the Soviet Union and rebellion by its republics brought the end of the Soviet Union.